There is no shortage of talent in Palestine. There never has been.(Palestinian talents have never been the problem……Access has.)
What has existed, for far too long, is a shortage of pathways. A gap between what Palestinian professionals are capable of and what the global market has been willing, or structurally able, to offer them. A disconnect between world-class engineers, designers, marketers, and operators on one side, and the companies that need them on the other.
That gap is now being bridged and The Untapped Talent Pool Global Companies Are Starting to Notice.
Apricot International and Gaza Sky Geeks (GSG) have formalized a partnership built on a shared conviction: that geography should not determine opportunity. Together, the two organizations are creating a complete, end-to-end process through which Palestinian talent can access global employment, and through which global companies can access some of the most skilled, dedicated, and resilient professionals in the world.
This blog is for both of those audiences. Whether you are a company looking to hire or a professional looking for a way forward, we want to explain exactly what this partnership is, how it works, and what it means for you.
Who Gaza Sky Geeks are
Gaza Sky Geeks (GSG) a program of the international NGO Mercy Corps is Palestine’s leading tech hub dedicated to unlocking opportunities for Palestinian talent through skills development, employability, and digital work. Founded in Gaza over 14 years ago,GSG began as a startup accelerator and has since evolved into a dynamic ecosystem supporting thousands of aspiring programmers, coders, job seekers, freelancers, and tech professionals across all of Palestine both Gaza and the
West Bank..
At the heart of GSG’s mission is strengthening employability and creating clear pathways from skills development to sustainable careers and businesses. Each year, GSG trains and supports more than 5,000 Palestinian graduates and professionals through a wide range of programs designed to equip individuals with in-demand technical and professional skills. These programs span coding, machine learning and AI, cybersecurity, data engineering, quality assurance and testing, digital marketing, graphic design, motion graphics, customer support, freelancing and remote work, English language development, and career readiness. Through these interventions, participants gain not only technical expertise but also the practical skills needed to successfully access and thrive in the global digital economy.
GSG plays a critical role in bridging the gap between talent and opportunity by connecting individuals to remote work, freelance markets, internships, and employment opportunities with local and international employers. This work has contributed to the development of a growing pool of highly skilled Palestinian talent, with thousands of professionals across a wide range of digital fields now working with clients and companies around the world.
In parallel, GSG supports approximately 50 Palestinian technology companies each year to expand their digital products and services beyond Palestine through mentoring, business development support, market access opportunities, and ecosystem connections. By supporting both individuals and businesses, GSG is helping build a thriving digital economy that showcases Palestinian talent, innovation, and competitiveness on the global stage.
Despite the significant challenges faced since October 2023, GSG has continued to deliver programs and support systems that sustain learning, income generation, and access to opportunity. By adapting to crisis contexts, GSG reinforces its commitment to continuity, resilience, and long-term economic empowerment.
Who Apricot International are
Apricot International is a global talent platform headquartered in San Francisco, built to connect mission-aligned companies with vetted professionals from Palestine and the wider MENA region. They operate on a simple but powerful belief: that the world has been missing out on an entire generation of talent, and that fixing that is both the right thing to do and good business.
Founded in 2024 by Azza Hararah and Brandon Pampuch, Apricot handles everything that makes international hiring complicated. Their scope covers contracts, compliance, payroll, and invoicing. Companies do not need to set up a legal entity in a foreign country. They do not need to navigate the complexities of paying internationally across conflict-affected regions. Apricot absorbs all of that and delivers a single, clean monthly invoice.
Their talent network spans 10,000+ vetted professionals across 12+ countries and 30+ job titles that are not limited to only technical roles. Most have 5+ years of experience in tech and startup environments, and many have prior experience working with American and European companies. The caliber is there, and Apricot's purpose is to make it accessible.
Since launching, they have placed 150+ candidates and closed 100+ deals, with clients ranging from early-stage startups to established tech-driven organizations across the US and Europe.
Why this partnership exists
Here is the honest reality: GSG and Apricot were each solving one half of the same problem.
GSG has longstanding ties to the Palestinian community. They know the talent. They train it, vet it, and believe in it. But when international companies want to hire someone from Gaza or the broader region, they frequently run into quite a few blockers. Direct payments are difficult or impossible. Setting up local entities is prohibitively complex. The legal and logistical friction is enough to turn away even the most well-intentioned hiring team.
Apricot, on the other hand, has the infrastructure to make those hires happen. Their scope covers contracting, paying, onboarding, and managing the ongoing relationship compliantly. What they are continuing to build is their reach into the Palestinian talent community specifically.
Together, the two organizations form a complete picture.
GSG sources, vets, and matches Palestinian talent. Apricot handles the contracting, payroll, and payments. A company that wants to hire from Gaza does not need to figure out two organizations. Instead, it works with one seamless process that bridges talent sourcing and operational execution.
The partnership also carries a shared mission beyond the mechanics. Both organizations believe that economic participation is one of the most meaningful forms of support available to people in conflict-affected areas. A stable remote income does not just pay bills. It rebuilds agency. It creates professional continuity. It is, in many cases, a lifeline.
How the GSG x Apricot partnership looks like in practice
For anyone wondering exactly what this looks like in practice, here is the process:
Step 1: A company approaches GSG
A company interested in hiring Palestinian talent reaches out. GSG explains the partnership model and shares information about Apricot's payment and contracting infrastructure. If the company is open to the fee structure and the monthly invoicing arrangement, the process moves forward.
Step 2: GSG sources and vets the talent
GSG draws from its talent pool, conducts skills screening and compliance checks, and matches a candidate to the role. This includes aligning on scope, engagement type (whether monthly fixed, hourly, or project-based), and pay expectations.
Step 3: The formal handoff to Apricot
Once a match is confirmed and the client has agreed to proceed, GSG introduces both the company and the candidate to Apricot. This is the key operational transition. Apricot takes over all responsibility for contracting, payroll, and billing from this point forward.
Step 4: Apricot contracts and onboards
Apricot drafts and issues contracts to both the client and the candidate, sets up the billing schedule, and manages the onboarding process. The company receives a single monthly invoice. The candidate gets paid. GSG steps back from day-to-day operations unless there is a need for clarification.
Step 5: Ongoing management
Apricot manages the full engagement from this point: payroll execution, timesheet management if applicable, contract amendments for any changes in scope or duration, and offboarding at the end of an engagement.
For companies, this means no legal exposure, no foreign entity requirements, and no administrative complexity. And for candidates, this means reliable, compliant payment and a professional engagement that reflects the quality of their work.
What this partnership means for Palestinian professionals
If you are reading this as someone who is looking for an opportunity, we want to speak to you directly.
The challenges facing Palestinian professionals right now are real, and they are not small. Whether you are based in Gaza, in the West Bank, or in the diaspora, the path to stable, meaningful remote work can feel unnecessarily difficult. The world is full of demand for the skills you have built. The obstacle has never been about capability. It has been access.
This partnership is designed to create that access.
Through Gaza Sky Geeks, you have a community that knows you and advocates for you. Through Apricot, there is now an infrastructure that converts a match into a real, paid, contractually protected role with an international company.
For those currently in GSG programs or who have graduated from their courses, the pathway is direct: your profile and skills are known to an organization that is actively introducing candidates to global companies. And for those who have not yet connected with GSG or Apricot, both organizations welcome talent from across the MENA region.
Additionally, Apricot's partnership with Re:Coded and Coursera provides free access to 18,000+ courses for professionals in the talent network, with top domains including Data Science, AI, Computer Science, Business, and Cybersecurity. Over 7,900 active learners have already logged more than 26,000 hours through this program. Upskilling while you work toward your next opportunity is built into the model.
The opportunity is here, and so is the infrastructure.
What this partnership means for hiring companies in the USA
If you are a founder, a hiring manager, or a team lead at a company in the USA that wants to grow, this partnership offers something straightforward: a way to hire exceptional people, compliantly and quickly, from a talent pool that most of your competitors have never considered.
Here is what companies that have worked with Apricot consistently report: the talent exceed expectations.
These are not junior order-takers. They are experienced professionals who bring both technical depth and a genuine investment in the work they are part of. As Lina Barkawi, founder of Lina's Thobe, put it after working with an Apricot-placed hire: you are not just hiring someone, you are building a relationship with a person who believes in what you are building and will show up accordingly.
The practical case is also strong. Apricot delivers a shortlist of pre-screened candidates within 72 hours of receiving a job description. Most roles are filled within 14 days. There is no need to set up a foreign entity, no legal exposure to navigate, and no administrative overhead from managing multiple contractors. One monthly invoice covers it all.
For companies with ESG or DEI reporting requirements, every hire through this partnership also generates measurable inclusive hiring data. This is impact that shows up in your reporting, not just in how you feel about the hire.
The candidate pool spans backend engineers, frontend engineers, full-stack developers, UX/UI designers, product managers, digital marketers, content writers, data analysts, operations coordinators, and more. If you have a role, there is a strong chance there is a candidate here who can fill it.
The bigger picture
The goal here is not goodwill. It is employment.
Two years ago, before Apricot was formally established, GSG was already pointing its community toward Apricot's early work. No formal agreement. No press release. Just one organization recognizing that another was doing something worth paying attention to. That trust has since been built into a structured collaboration — shared social media, joint announcements, and regular reporting on placement outcomes so both communities can see exactly what is happening.
Think about it. GSG brings years of relationships, deep knowledge of the Palestinian talent community, and a rigorous vetting process. Apricot brings the contracting infrastructure, the compliance layer, and the client network to make international hiring actually work. Neither organization had the full picture alone. Together, they do.
For companies, that means becoming part of something larger than a single hire. For professionals coming through this process, it means gaining more than a job. It means access to a global professional network, to upskilling resources through Re:Coded and Coursera, and to an organization that treats their career as something worth investing in.
That is what this looks like when it works. And it is available now.
Get involved
For companies: If you are ready to hire Palestinian talent compliantly and quickly, reach out to Apricot International at apricotinternational.org or email contact@apricotinternational.org. You can also explore the GSG x Apricot partnership one-pager to understand the process before your first conversation.
For candidates and professionals: If you are a MENA-based professional looking for global remote opportunities, connect with Gaza Sky Geeks through their programs and community, or submit your profile directly to Apricot's talent network. The door is open.
For anyone who wants to support: Share this. The more companies know this process exists, and the more professionals know they have a pathway, the more this works.
By:
Rifah Nawar
