MEPI in the Palestinian Territories

The following lists ongoing and completed programs in the Palestinian Territories, as well as providing a link to Regional Programs, where an organization is working in two or more countries simultaneously. Wherever possible, we have provided a link to the organization’s home page. 

Ongoing Programs

The following programs are specific to the Palestinian territories (unless otherwise identified).  [MEPI reform pillars are listed parentheses].

 
Cultural Center of Narsan (NRSAN): “Building Youth Capacity in Democracy & Citizenship” – NRSAN is promoting democratic practices and women’s political participation by empowering civil society activists to run workshops, training sessions, advocacy efforts, and public awareness campaigns within the Yatta area and 30 surrounding villages in Hebron.  Through this project, local leaders are being taught how to promote their own reform efforts.  The trainees and NRSAN then implement activities, including educational campaigns and radio and TV programs, designed to have a positive impact on their communities.

International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC): “Raising Jerusalemite Awareness on Urban Rights” – IPCC is promoting public awareness within Palestinian communities on issues related to housing rights in an effort to overcome administrative obstacles and more effectively deal with urban planning challenges.  By holding public meetings and publishing manuals that address proper and legal paths toward securing civil liberties, IPCC hopes to help solve collective problems facing many people in East Jerusalem.  In particular, this project focuses on areas near the Old City, where house demolitions have increased during the last few years. 

Juhoud for Community and Rural Development: “Promoting National Volunteer Coordination” – This project aims at establishing an effective nationwide coordination unit to stimulate interest in and increase accessibility to volunteerism.  Once formed, the “volunteer coordination unit” will lead a recruiting campaign, advertise volunteer positions for organizations, and provide literature and other resources as a means for women and youth to become more involved in reform activities at the local level.  With this grant, Juhoud is also organizing a national conference on volunteer work in the West Bank.

Near East Foundation (NEF): “Women + Jobs + Banks = Better Economy” – In an effort to increase cash flow to local economies by generating self-sustaining jobs, this project is creating a network of mobile bankers and training them to better understand issues of credit, loans, and other banking procedures.  The participants, who are primarily women, will promote bank loans to clients in rural areas and facilitate the loan application process between clients and banks.  NEF also is developing and providing participants with a guidebook on applying for loans, while financially supporting them as they begin their work as mobile bankers.

Society Voice Foundation (SVF): “Enhance Women’s Leadership and Civic Democratic Participation: Campaigning to Stop Honor Killings” – This project plans to empower 150 young Palestinians – primarily women with media, public relations, and journalism backgrounds – to lobby for legislation criminalizing “honor killings” and all forms of violence against women.  After conducting an analysis of current legislation on honor killing crimes, in which women and young girls are sacrificed by their family members, SVF will lead workshops and training sessions to develop advocacy skills among project participants.  A steering committee will then be formed to recommend amendments to existing legislation or advocate for a new draft law.