2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"
19th Edition
Ramallah Municipality: Makani Innovation Hub: A Catalyst for Community-Driven Innovation
The Makani Innovation Hub, established by Ramallah Municipality in 2024, is a transformative initiative aimed at fostering a sustainable local economy by supporting startups, young entrepreneurs, and marginalized groups, especially women, youth, and people with disabilities. It offers affordable, high-quality services, including flexible co-working spaces, meeting rooms, training facilities, and community events.
Spanning 1,200m², the hub includes private offices, dedicated desks, hot desks, and a cafeteria, all in a central, accessible location, empowering entrepreneurs in a challenging economic environment marked by high unemployment and political instability. Targeting startups, freelancers, consultants, the hub is inclusive and mobility-friendly, with special pricing for students to ensure equal access.
A participatory approach engages the community through open feedback channels and an online booking platform, enabling members to manage subscriptions and participate in events. In just three months of operation, 162 individuals attended events like workshops and training sessions, with 22 monthly members and 70 visitors. Notably, 60% of participants were women, highlighting the hub's role in promoting gender equality.
The hub has provided a vital, affordable place for entrepreneurs to grow, especially during tough economic times. Sustainability is supported by the active involvement of the mayor and city director, whose leadership and flexibility ensure the hub's continued success. The city council has allocated an annual budget for the hub's development, and its progress is monitored through monthly reports. Member feedback is used to refine services, ensuring continuous improvement.
The second phase of the hub will launch the City Challenge program, aligning the hub's activities with the municipality's goals of sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. This program will challenge startups to address real city problems, further strengthening the hub's role in local development.
Beyond physical space, the hub has created a collaborative network involving incubators, NGOs, and government bodies, contributing to the city's economic and social growth. By involving citizens in decision-making, the hub also reinforces participatory democracy and local governance.
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