GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Ministry of National Economy in the West Bank city of Ramallah is encouraging women to apply before the end of February for the Food of Our Homes competition.

The competition targets women working in food production in the West Bank, either to apply on their own or as part of a women's group, association or cooperative. The competition aims to support products made by women and shed light on the food production industry.

The technical criteria for selecting the winners will focus on the quality of the product and the method of manufacturing and packaging; samples will be checked to ensure safety and excellence. The results will be announced at an official ceremony in early May.

The competition comes as part of the ministry's strategy to create a competitive Palestinian market, protect and develop national products, and strengthen and empower women financially, particularly in the food sector. This opportunity for female entrepreneurs is significant since unemployment among women in the West Bank and Gaza Strip reached 47.4% in 2018, according to data by the Central Bureau of Statistics.