Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The programme aims to improve resilience for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, Gaza and Area C through reduced development gaps and enhanced access to sustainable and quality services and economic opportunities in the targeted areas.

Expected results

Output 1: Access to sustainable and resilient livelihoods in East Jerusalem improved through diversified economic activities, youth and women empowerment, facilitated access to service delivery and enhanced institutional support to foster social cohesion and Palestinian identity

Output 2: Vulnerability of communities reduced in Gaza through investment in sustainable solutions for employment, youth and women empowerment, and transition to renewable energy

Output 3: Increased access to land and cluster-based economic activities and improved service delivery, particularly for women and youth, with a focus on marginalised communities and neglected areas in and around Area C

Output 4: Improved leadership and capacity of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in coordination, policy and planning functions integrating socioeconomic recovery responses and the Prime Minister’s cluster development approach with improved government-to-government services

Target group / Beneficiaries

The programme will target 3 areas in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), East Jerusalem, Area C and peri-urban and rural areas in the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. The target beneficiaries comprise 11.000 beneficiaries including around 4000 youth, 80 communities, 500 businesses, 140 public institutions (schools, health centers, etc) and civil society organizations (CSOs) across oPt. Of those beneficiaries approximately 1,000 can be attributed to ADA’s funding share.

Activities

• Improving comprehensive urban planning and urban development in East Jerusalem from identifying land, zoning and planning, to financing and management

• Supporting a competitive and inclusive labour market and local economy, targeting youth and women

• Improving supply and access to various quality services from Palestinian institutions and organisations

• Linking short-term dignified jobs to community resilience and sustainable development

• Fostering a new generation of youth to become inspirational leaders for the future, closing the labour skills gaps with supported skills development and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) support in potential growth markets

• Verifying community economic development and local governance needs in line with the community transition strategy

• Facilitating sustainable economic development, and private sector investment and engagement in around Area C

• Improving service provision for economic activities and livelihood support while addressing the governance gap

• Technical assistance and guidance for PMO to guide, coordinate, finance and track socioeconomic responses and the PM’s cluster development approach

• Facilitating technical coordination across ministries to centralise government efforts and strengthen line ministries’ capacities to effectively meet emerging needs

Context

Over 50 years of the Israeli occupation have had a lasting severe and differentiated effect on Palestinian communities, societies, and institutions putting into question the viability of a contiguous Palestinian State. Spatial fragmentation and isolation have also manifested as national, community and psychological fragmentation and separation between and across Palestinians in the East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza. Fragmentation is a key challenge to overcome, which has produced varying community needs and capacities to meet those needs across the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. The lack of Palestinian sovereignty in Israeli controlled Area C, Hebron Area H2, Seam Zones, Gaza and East Jerusalem has resulted in the particularly precarious and ongoing vulnerability that characterize the daily lives of these communities. As a result, there are growing gaps to development across Palestine and eroding trust between the Palestinian people and the government in the absence of a clear political and economic vision. Simultaneously amidst the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the socioeconomic impact will be significant with already high levels of poverty and unemployment, disproportionately affecting women and youth. As such, supporting the government’s leadership and capacity in setting the key developmental priorities in East Jerusalem, Area C and Gaza is at the centre of the proposed programme.