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Benedetta Steri Renata Capella Soler Tetsuo Kamitani Alan Hartwell Baird Parissa Hatami Cranmer Ziba Bojidar Pinek Bojo Eliana Salto Martinez Montserrat Casanovas Olivares Laura Fragiacomo Desta Kassa Tsehaitu Regina Russo Deidre Antoine Pham Viet Dung Diederik Willems Maki Sato Youssef El Barodi Pablo Alcocer Vera Tom Leo Lieven Van Loon Enrico Sorrentino Stefania Fantuz Marcellino Terumi Shikata Amina Hamchari Ricardo Luis Carugati Jean Luc Bories Susumu Yoshida Miguel Murado Vincent Schneegans Fabrizio Chiarini Piero Pedralli Francesco Colosimo Mona Ghali Anna Helena Louise Englund Garcia Isabel Camacho Katrien Meersman Gabriela Elroy Maria Mohammedi Mariam Magali Diallo Christine Messier Mats Eriksson Mohammed Arouki Fatimah Butmeh Tareq Abu El-Haj Hadeel Budeiri Ziad Obaid Saed Abo Esa Mahar Al-Shihabi Ibrahim El-Aff Mohamed Shaat Marwan Bashiti Dania Darwish Faten Zaqout Mohammad Khattab Hassna Dajani Abeer Musleh Mohmoud Barghouth Wafa Khoury Noor Shogo Mohammad Salameh Haneen Abu Faris Mohammed Eid Hani Dajani Despina Constandinides Johnny Asmar Tayseer Mushtaha Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Rania Baramki Areen Ruman Ahmad Hidmi Lina Taha Talal Kalouti Mubin Tirhi Khaled El-Ghoul Tamer Qarmout Rana Sarhan Mawya Yasin Mary Musleh Adibeh Bawatneh Rasha Baghdadi Sameh Hijazi Bader Zama’era Nida Heneity Nida Hamayel Majdi Jabr Rafif Malhas Yousef Al-Hajjar Faten Khoury Hanna Atallah Mass’oud Safi Rania Isaac Fadi Salsa’ Yazeed Shraim Ibrahim Atari Karen Akoka Rami Naser Eddin Sahar Othman Sana’ Abo Sau’d Inas I’lian Samah Jaouni Shireen Musleh Salah Abu-Eisheh Haytham Hamadneh Hazem Yaseen Samer Tarazi Hani Farah Yousef Amra Omar Qourah Therese Makhalfeh Rami Sulaiman Mohammed Qasen Rabie Abu-Latefah Issam Haj Hussein Shadi Al-Qatrawi Tahani Abu Dakka Isam Al-Khatib Iyad Nasr Saed Mehana Luna Abu Swaireh Samer Barghouti Sami Abu Sultan Iyad Abu Rub Wiam Erikat Abeer Awad Abeer Abed El-Nabee Myara Abu Hashim Hala Quishawi Naema Mabed Anwar Harb Shereen Kohail Fiada Shafi Janet Salaeh Maher Freijat Mary Abu Rukbeh Saadeldin Halawani Suheir Ayyash Ramzi Zaghloul Ibrahim Odeh Wassim Khazmo Hashim Al-Hussaini Hussam Al-Hudhud Awad Duaibes Naim Kamel Shafiq Yousef Wael Zahab Hussein Al Titi Hassan Dowani Ahmad Al- Wazir Tareq Shwaiki Ahmed Iftaiha Tahani Jawad Tahboub Rana Riady Wael Jebril Dina Farouni Hanadi Mosad Ghada Al-Madbouh Maha Iraqi Ibrahim Abu-Srour Mazen Hanada Said Au Ghazza Yazdan El-Amawi Munjid Blaibleh Khaldoun Oweis Uraib Zalatimo Hassan Nasser Kanar Al-Qadi Moheeb Shaath Ibrahim Yousif Suhir Farraj Thafer Mohammad Muawia Halabi Ibrahim Natil Khanom Baghdadi Abed Yassin Majdi Al-Najjar Mohamed El-Sharif Elie Abdallah Maha Al-Shawa Omar Abed Loay Ikhlaif Shadi Hmeidan Yakoub Sabateen Mohammed Nafe’ Shadi Abu-Khater Ahmad Abu Nada Mustapha Saloua Mohammed Abu Ramadan Dima Mohammad Bayan Abed Hanadi Hidmi/Darwish Nidal Dwikat Luna Shamieh Shereen El-Sabbagh Faten El-Kafarna Khaldoun Abu Ayyash Khaled El-Hawwash Jamil Ijha Islam Awad Nada Al-Masri Khaled Hussein Moataz Tanous Ghassan Qishawi Ranad El-Khoudary Samah Odeh Rae’d Al-Sharif Jihad Kfafi Hamzeh Abdo Rawan Sharaf Maher Abu-Gaith Iman Tirhi Sari Tahhan Issa Rabadi Akram Djouda Hadeel El-Farra Hana Nassrawi Sahar Mukhemer Fawaz El-Alami Wedad Naser Hanan El-Dibari Mohammad Abu-Baker Abdel Azim Al-Khalout Eyad Elyan Khalid Suleiman Majdi Daana Hussein El-Surakhy Osama Abu Eita Bahaa Sultan Rasha Mitwalli Maya Nasser Shahdia Abu-Shawish Ghada Andrea Abdallah Mustafa Jehad Aweedat Tahany Hertany Loay Rayyan Fida Shafi Emad Jaouni Ohud Abu-Zahra Mahmoud Abu-Sbaih Lama Arda Smah Murad Nashat Hasan Tahani Hassanain Nada Al-Shakhshir Hana Khayyat Raed Tharf Kazem Matouk Wesan Al-slaibi Jehan Shouli Ameed Awad Amer Abu Zeid Asem Hamad Noah Al-Khmoor Ra’ed Hanania Iyad Ajaj Charlotte Le Bos-Schneegans Giuseppe Calandruccio Narayana Gajuryal Michael Chamberlain Grant Nabil Razzauk Eman Kafri Ruba Hazboun Marina Tarazi Ala Shahin Mohammad Asa’ssa Nisreen El-Amash Yahia Abu Sharif Rawan Natsheh Peter Nasir Suzan Sahori Simona Palenga Vicktoria Metcalfe Johanne Van Dijik Stuart Shepherd

نو� �1 نشكر كل من ساهم ( �جنا� هذ� �لعمل: �لكاتب: سونيا جنا� - �ملدقوقو� �للغويو�: ��نيه ���يش، �يها� شنطي، مد �حايكة - تصوير: ستيف سابيال، جو�D عا��، متطوعو �ألمم �ملتحد@ - فريق �لدعم: ִדا> طهبو�، �يانا منو� - تصميم جر�فيكي: تو�بو �يز�ين.

We would like to acknowledge the members of the team who worked on this publication:Writer: Sonina Najjar, Editors: Dania Darwish, Ehab Shanti, Mohammed Zahaikah - Photographers/photos: Steve Sabella, George Azar, UN Volunteers - Support Team: Tahani Tahboub, Diana Nammour - Design: Turbo Design

"I am pleased to introduce this exposé on the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), which seeks to reflect the significant contributions made by UNVs towards the development of the Palestinian people.

As will be seen from this chronicle of many achievements, there is virtually no major sector or institution which has not been touched by the UNV’s helping hand. From helping entities such as the Prime Minister’s Office to grass roots organizations such as the Sharek youth programme, the UNV Programme in the oPt has left an indelible mark on the Palestinian development landscape.

The success has resulted from the dedication of the UNV Programme Manager and his team, as well as from the hundreds of volunteers who contribute their energy and time to helping others. They are truly a reflection of the spirit of volunteerism.

Volunteerism is not only universal, but is as old as humanity. As the renowned Muslim scholar, Ibn Khaldun, discovered some 750 years ago, civilizations rise when there are shared common values around which a society is established, and fall when those values erode. Volunteerism is the essence of those common values. It is the glue that holds a society together.

Recently, thinkers have coined the paradigm of social capital. One of the most important indicators of this capital is the degree of voluntary participation and the strength of the voluntary sector. Thus, volunteering is not only a form of civic engagement, but is also a form of active citizenship and democratic participation.

Indeed, if the UNV Programme in oPt that has touched so many sectors related

to Palestinian nation-building serves as indication of Palestinian progress on the ground, one may proudly observe that the Palestinians are building a vibrant and dynamic society based upon the values of community service that is a model for vitality in the region”.

Timothy Rothermel

Special Representative

United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian PeopleUNDP / PAPP

Jerusalem

The United Nations Volunteers Programme

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The 1st Palestinian Conference for Inauguration Policy Development on Volunteers.

in the oPt has contributed significantly to changes in attitudes towards environmental protection and management. This holds true for the green peace campaigning in the Wadi Gaza area, environmental groups advocating country wide for the protection of endangered species, and community members participating in local development projects to improve the urban and rural milieu through improved waste management. Another example of the latter is the on going Environment Action Plan project (a joint project for $500,000 funded by Japanese Trust Fund, UNV, Near East Foundation, UNDP/PAPP and Assira Al Shamaliya and cluster) which will establish a self-help project for systematic waste-sorting and recycling system that removes rubbish and improves sanitation in a relatively needy suburb of the northern West Bank areas.

The UNV Programme in oPt is unique in both the range of participants and the scope of work involved. Since the inception of the UNV Palestinian programme in 1994, over 348 International and National volunteers have joined the efforts to rebuild the communities that are in great need of rehabilitation. They have introduced a special sense of civic responsibility to their coworkers and to young people in particular. Often, graduated from universities with at least three years of relevant experience in their area of specialization, those National Volunteers are eager to contribute their skills and to gain exposure in their field of expertise. UNV modality is often a very good opportunity for them to familiarize themselves with the employment market.

Transcending Frontiers Towards Positive Change

The importance of volunteerism has long been acknowledged throughout the world of international aid and development institutions and organizations, but it is only since the International Year of Volunteers (IYV) in 2001 that the value of this movement and its crucial role in expanding aid programmes in developing countries has been more widely understood.

One of the United Nations’ most valuable assets in the realization of projects, programmes and the Millennium Development Goals has been the expertise and commitment provided through the UNV Programme and its volunteers. Every year millions of individuals dedicate their time to empower others, build solidarity and protect the vulnerable. The recognition of the positive strides volunteerism has achieved in developing countries led to the establishment of the UNV Programme in 1970, as the UN organization that advocates human development internationally by promoting volunteerism. Administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN’s global development network, the UNV Programme has mobilized 5,000 qualified women and men spanning 150 nationalities on a yearly basis, crossing frontiers with the common commitment of assisting those in need.

The UNV Programme has been at the vanguard of sustainable development through inclusion, participation, ownership, solidarity and social cohesion. Since its early stages, the Programme has successfully infused sectors lacking qualified volunteers with a much needed boost in complimentary assistance. The UNDP eagerly

endorses the gracious contributions of individuals who strive for the well-being of their society and has continued to regard volunteerism as the ultimate expression of the ideals embodied by the UN. The UNV modality exemplifies this spirit of volunteerism by nurturing the willingness of volunteers to provide relief and strengthen the level of self-reliance within civil society. UNDP/PAPP has demonstrated its willingness to harness volunteers efforts and effectively channel them towards active citizen participation in sustainable development, an important component within any organization that strives to extend its reach.

The Palestinian United Nations Volunteers Programme is widely recognized for the mobilization of UN Volunteers and the large-scale promotion of volunteerism in the occupied Palestinian territory. The volunteers Programmes and activities have been an important component of the progress made in most development areas. Moreover, the contribution of volunteers will continue to be essential in order to attain the set goals and reach the targets for 2003-2005. In this respect, National Volunteers activism

The United Nations Volunteers Programme

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The United Nations Volunteers Programme

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A participant in one of the cleaning campaigns in the old city of Jerusalem.

National volunteers serving with Sharek during a meeting with UNV team.

Following the conclusion of the mourning period marking President Arafat’s death, The National Festival for the Recognition of Palestinian Volunteers was held in Ramallah.

UNDP, UNV, Sharek Youth Forum and numerous other renowned organisations and institutes, organised the event in celebration of International Volunteer Day on December 5th. The festival was organized in an attempt to bring new life into the perception of volunteers work, to strengthen understanding and raise awareness of its importance, focusing specifically on volunteerism within the Palestinian territories.

The idea was to show appreciation to all Palestinian volunteers who, despite ongoing difficult circumstances they face due to the political and economical turmoil surrounding them, continue

to show strength and solidarity to their people by volunteering in many fields and situations. The aim of the festival was also to encourage new and potential volunteers and raise fresh awareness of the concept of volunteerism. The idea that people have of volunteers work is different than it used to be, and the concept has begun to lose its appeal.

This publication is a magazine about the UN volunteers in Palestine. The magazine will highlight those of remarkable contribution and distinguished efforts volunteerism. Different articles about UN volunteers in addition to an introduction about the programme with facts and figures are included. Umbrellas and mugs were also produced and distributed with cards and crayons among children and partners as part of the UNV promotional campaign.

Throughout the years, the challenges posed by the development sector led to the United Nations member states’ collaboration in the redress of development issues. In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the process of debate and reformulation of strategies resulted in the promotion of a more streamlined and efficient approach through the Millennium Declaration and the introduction of the Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs). The Summit’s Millennium Declaration outlined a ‘road map’ placing greater emphasis on human rights, good governance and democracy. World leaders agreed to a set of time-bound, measurable targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. Placed at the core of the global agenda, they are now referred to as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), most of which should be achieved by 2015, using 2000 as a benchmark.

Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has and will require the solidarity, skilfulness and creativity of the United Nations Volunteers (UNVs), complimenting the endeavours of national governments and the international community in the global effort to meet the MDG targets. Devoting their work across a broad range of development, the UNVs are at the heart of the MDGs, making their mark and moving forward with the Millennium Declaration.

The UN & the Millennium Development GoalsGuidelines for Sustainability

"It is not at the United Nations, or by the work of the organization’s officials, that the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. They have to be achieved in each of its Members States, by the efforts of their governments and peoples”.

Kofi Annan,

Secretary-General of the United Nations

The United Nations Volunteers Programme in the Palestinian territories, in cooperation with its partners in development as well as with the local authorities and the institutions of the local society, had worked to increase awareness regarding the importance of voluntary work from a developmental point of view as well as the possibility of enrolling the cooperative movement in the consultative and technical aspects in addition to assuring that individuals, small groups, institutions of the civil society, and local NGO’s play an effective role in the framework of the voluntary activities.

Almost a decade of “International Volunteer Day” annual celebrations and activities; organized by the programme and involving local institutions, organizations and NGOs; have served as a much deserved tribute to volunteerism around the world.

International Volunteer Day "IVD" 2004

"In recognition of the positive impacts of volunteerism, the fifth of December was proclaimed International Volunteers Day (IVD), by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. However, due to the death and the mourning of Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, all IVD 2004 celebrations in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), were cancelled. Instead, different activities and workshops regarding volunteerism, the Millennium Development Goals, artistic endeavors by children and youth, planting trees and cleaning campaigns took place throughout the week, noting the remarkable achievements of volunteers.

The United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in oPt extends sincere condolences to the Palestinian people and the family members of the late President.

Mounir KleiboUNV Programme Manager

Activities held across the country to honor the work of UN Volunteers (UNV) with workshops held in Hebron, Tulkarem, Jenin, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem highlighting a range of topics about volunteerism and MDG goals for an audience of students varying in ages. Moreover, a symposium about the importance of voluntary work took place in the town of Allar.

Different cleaning campaigns took place in the West Bank villages of Kufur Dan and Al-Nabi Elias.

An Art Gallery, a Beautification day organized by Sharek Youth Center, and Murals at the Disabled Rehabilitation Center in Bethlehem were part of the activities.

In addition, the Old City Youth Association theater team prepared and performed sketches focusing on rehabilitating the Palestinian society through the power of volunteerism for an audience of about 150 children and adults. Furthermore, cleaning campaigns swept the West Bank villages of Kufur Dan and Al-Nabi Elias.

International Volunteer Day in the occupied Palestinian territories

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The United Nations Volunteers Programme

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Late President Yasser Arafat with national volunteers.

Ensure environmental sustainability

Volunteers activism has contributed extensively to changes in attitudes towards environmental protection and management; volunteers globally has:

Develop a global partnership for development

Civil society constitutes a key element in the global partnership for development as it encompasses a large component of formal and informal volunteers organizations such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that work at the grassroots and global levels. By engaging as partners in global alliances, volunteers groups help ensure that their advocacy work, directed towards policy makers, is anchored in grassroots realities; volunteers globally has:

Generated awareness of child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDs and other diseases through campaigns, education in local schools and the dissemination of information at all levels.

Facilitated information and tools to community leaders.

Empowered female community health volunteers to manage health issues.

Addressed the need of community owned health facilities.

Promoted Global Development Awareness campaigns.

Assisted with local initiatives.

Prompted social mobilization to achieve MDGs.

Trained policy makers at the local level.

Coordinated programmes.

Created motivational workshops regarding volunteerism directed at civil society to participate volunteers work.

Innumerable mothers and children throughout the world have benefited from the assistance of volunteers health workers. In addition to the direct economic value of volunteering in health care, the training and experience acquired by the volunteers contribute to an improved knowledge and awareness of disease prevention in the daily routine of their target communities, volunteers globally has:

"Voluntary action and volunteers add great value and will be indispensable in meeting the MDG targets. To succeed in advancing sustainable development in today’s world, we need to share ideas and tap the ingenuity, solidarity and creativity of millions of ordinary people. And indeed, each of us should make that personal decision to get engaged”.

Mark Malloch Brown

Administrator, United Nations Development Progarmme

Instigated awareness campaigns on biodiversity, eco-systems, air/water and soil pollution.

Educated people about the environment. Led to social mobilization and changes in behavior regarding the environment.

Promoted recycling at different levels including households and schools.

Helped develop awareness on the conservation of resources and environmental issues at the local community level.

Participated with and supported local environmental protection groups.

Established reserves with the local population for their protection.

Realizing a Universal Vision through the Spirit of Voluntarism

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Social cohesion brought about by volunteers action and self-help Volunteers groups is an important ingredient in the fight against poverty and hunger.

Volunteers globally has:

Achieve universal primary education

In the field of primary education volunteers globally has:

Promote gender equality and empower women

Volunteers continue to be instrumental in gender equality and the empowerment of women. While there is still a great need for improvement, many gains have been achieved during the past few decades, and volunteers activism has contributed significantly to changing societies’ attitudes towards women, volunteers globally has:

Reduce child mortality Reduce the mortality rate among children under five by two thirds.

Improve maternal healthReduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters.

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Volunteers have been making positive strides in achieving the fourth, fifth and sixth MDGs.

Contributed to working with Community Board Organization CBOs.

Focused on intra-gender issues. Provided vocational training for females. Spread awareness on equity and equality. Worked with and empowered grass-roots women’s groups.

Strengthened local knowledge. Promoted gender sensitization among males. Offered self-help educational opportunities. Generated awareness on the importance of education for girls.

Facilitated campaigns for gender equality.

Promoted cooperatives and local skills in business.

Provided advice on sustainable agricultural practices.

Led to the formation of local community organizations.

Supported local organizations in developing income generating activities.

Equipped groups with skills in entrepreneurship.

Encouraged and promoted local products. Initiated integrate.

Assisted in the building of schools and ensured their maintenance.

Supplied volunteers teachers. Provided training to teachers. Enhanced primary and vocational education. Formulated programmes related to adult education.

Instigated awareness among parents regarding the importance of education.

Encouraged rural children to study.

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Two Palestinian school girls - Achieve universal primary education

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and reduce child mortality

Launched in the oPt in 1994, the UNV Programme, under the umbrella of UNDP/PAPP, has been a pivotal vehicle towards successfully accomplishing UNDP/PAPP’s overarching mission regarding the fulfillment of the MDGs, raising the awareness of UNVs regarding the MDGs and, ensuring the full alignment of volunteers action with respect to the development of the Palestinian people and their process of nation building across a wide scope of sectors. Recently, the UNV Programme has been at the forefront of contributing to the success of the Reform Process by positioning key volunteers in PA ministries, commissions and volunteers oriented non-governmental and civil society organizations. Volunteers have been engaged in building institutional capacities, as well as, in technically strengthening the project management and administration of Palestinian counterpart institutions.

“The results of the UNV Programme are clearly visible throughout the oPt. Hundreds of volunteers have provided assistance in environmental sustainability initiatives, community development projects, capacity building in the Palestinian National Authority institutions and the non-governmental organization (NGO), sector. The special placement and valued assistance of international and national volunteers have led to important advances in these areas”.

Volunteers are involved in a diversity of technical and consultation fields ranging from the promotion of democracy and human rights, public and mental health, management, finance, environment, sports, information technology, media and communications,

among other areas. The UNV Programme has collaborated with sister agencies including the World Bank Group, International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Over sixty PNA ministerial, NGO, civil society and private sector institutions have benefited from the UNV programme. The participatory spirit of local and international volunteers action has been a powerful tool, serving to engage local populations and ameliorating the hardships faced by Palestinian society. Such involvement has facilitated local ownership of development processes, subsequently ensuring greater sustainability of the outcomes of development programmes. Most importantly, the UNVs utilize the strengths already present within Palestinian society to further rebuild and manage current difficulties. The exceptional quality and transparent services of the UNV Programme have gained the trust of local institutions and increased demand for additional volunteers.

Unfortunately, due to the Israeli occupation, many International volunteers have been obliged to leave the oPt in times of uncertainty. Nevertheless, their commitment to the UNV Programme and to their work in the oPt has often resulted in the continuation of their services and a greater awareness about volunteerism. Fortunately, numerous objectives were reached with the cooperation of solid partners such as the Palestinian line ministries, NGOs and the donor community.

The United Nations Volunteers Programme in the occupied Palestinian territories

Providing Resources for Local Needs

“Through UNDP/PAPP, United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) have been able to channel their knowledge and experience towards the improvement of various sectors in oPt. As one of the beneficiaries of the programme, the UNDP/PAPP Administration has had the privilege of witnessing first hand the sense of dedication and civic responsibility that international and national UNVs bring to the field. UNVs have repeatedly and selflessly responded to UNDP/PAPP’s call for much-needed assistance in various aspects of development, including the fine points of logistics and procurement, tasks essential to the delivery of urgent services to the Palestinian people during these difficult and tyring times. Volunteers have been able to infuse their skills into the various sections supported by the UNDP/PAPP Administration, and immediately produce a positive impact through their tireless work and ability to respond immediately in high pressure situations. While requiring little training, it is clear that UNVs have been able to assume the responsibilities assigned to them and deliver tangible results.

Despite the precarious security conditions in recent years that have made mobility in the territories a challenge, the Administration at UNDP/PAPP has taken important steps to help alleviate the problem by providing visas, permits, IDs and transportation so that both international and national UNVs have free access to those communities and areas most in need of their services”.

Khaled Shahawan – Deputy Special Representative (Operations)

As an integral component of the UNDP, the essential mission of the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP), is to strive towards the fulfillment of the MDGs with respect to the development of the Palestinian people. Based in East Jerusalem, with an office in the Gaza Strip, PAPP’s field operations began in August 1980 as a response to the UN’s support of the economic and social development of the Palestinian people. Confronted with a humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli military occupation, thousands of Palestinians resorted to living in refugee camps without the most basic amenities, struggling with widespread poverty and unemployment. A twenty-plus year period of experience and success has led to PAPP’s proven expertise and focus on four main thematic sectors in order to help the Palestinian people, including Environment and Infrastructure, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Agricultural Economic Development and Sustainable Human Development and Governance.

Presently, Israel’s illegal military occupation and it’s unrelenting closures, curfews, home demolitions and violence has had devastating consequences on the Palestinian people, destroying institutions and livelihoods. As a response to the situation, as well as other factors, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), introduced the Reform Process directed towards building the foundations of Palestinian statehood, requiring that Palestinian institutions embrace processes of transparency, accountability and effectiveness in order to address the needs of the Palestinian people. Aside from other areas of assistance, in order to facilitate the efforts of the Reform Process, PAPP has concentrated on providing support towards the institution building process while tapping into the volunteers resources of the United Nations Volunteers Programme in the occupied Palestinian territories.

United Nations Development Programme /Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People UNDP/PAPP

A Mission of Solidarity

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Volunteerism in the oPtWorking Together to Improve Livelihoods

A Voice from the Field in GazaAlleviating the Humanitarian Tragedy

The situation in Gaza has been in the hearts and minds of the Palestinians and many others in the international community in recent times. The loss of life and destruction of homes that the people of Gaza have experienced has led to a state of humanitarian crisis that has been difficult to witness for those that have been directly involved. International UNV Victoria Metcalfe, as Project Officer in the Gaza UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), has been at the frontline of identifying the emerging humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza as Israeli military actions intensify, delivering reliable and accurate information on the prevailing conditions to UN and non-UN target groups, including the donor community. Victoria has also been in direct contact with the Israeli military, coordinating humanitarian access and personally escorting UN agencies, journalists, diplomats, and others to areas under Israeli military control, maintaining the Gaza field office as a focal point for humanitarian information.

Victoria has spent most of her life in England where she completed her education with an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies in International and Comparative Law. She describes her work in

Gaza as, “A unique volunteers opportunity to work in the field on the widest range of humanitarian issues in coordination with a full range of actors.” The project has strengthened the output of the Gaza field office in a crucial time for humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip. In Victoria’s words, her role as a UNV has permitted, “An invaluable insight into the workings of the UN system in a particularly complex and volatile humanitarian and political environment. The UNV Programme has provided me with the satisfaction of a field-based contribution to wider UN efforts towards the alleviation of short and long term humanitarian emergencies”.

Victoria has invested both personal and professional commitment with outstanding determination and reliability during a period of extreme instability in Gaza. Her advocacy work has contributed to the UN and the Palestinian community. Often times, her ability to access the most vulnerable Palestinian communities during the most insecure periods, with heightened restrictions on movement, has provided some alleviation for the families which feel a sense of isolation that has become increasingly prevalent in the Gaza Strip. Although Victoria will be moving on to other UNV locations, she leaves with the knowledge that she was part of a volunteers community that provided assistance during critical moments for those in need.

UNDP/PAPP UNV Programme, Bonn/Germany Government of Japan Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

The UNV Programme in the oPt recognizes the essential financial and professional contributions that valuable organizations and governments have delivered and is deeply appreciative of the friends and partners that have touched the lives of the Palestinian people.

"In no society do women enjoy the same opportunities as men."

Human Development Report, 1995

Gender Equality A Crosscutting Approach

If the goal of balanced, holistic human development is to be achieved, women must be included and respected on an equal basis as men. In 1997 gender mainstreaming, the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, was adopted by the UN as the strategy by which gender equality could be achieved.

The UNV Programme, under the direction of UNDP/PAPP embraced the process, as well as incorporating the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action. Indeed, the transition period that Palestinian people have entered has opened new channels for women and it has been recognized that their active participation in all areas of Palestinian life is essential. The UNV Programme has positioned international and national volunteers in UNDP/PAPP projects in order to advance the position of Palestinian women towards achieving gender equality across all sectors, providing volunteers in PNA ministries to establish women’s units that advocate gender sensitive policies and providing training for non-governmental organizations.

Most trainings have focused on gainful employment aiming at achieving sustainable food security and creating a source of income for rural women in the West Bank, a crucial component for the advancement of women and their escape from poverty. UNDP/PAPP continues to incorporate gender-mainstreaming in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women across all of its projects. To this end, UNDP/PAPP and the UNV Programme have supported over 300 institutions with the objective of developing civil society.

Exceeding Expectations in the oPtMeeting Donors’ Standards

Donors have welcomed the UNV Programme’s evolving method for delivering development assistance to the Palestinian people as a progressive approach towards meeting development initiatives. Often, Donors rely on the UNV Programme’s highly qualified professionals including experienced planners, programmers, engineers, accountants, procurement experts and human development specialists to avoid establishing their own, separate, local delivery mechanisms. The UNV Programme’s scope of in-house expertise enables the implementation of a range of projects, spanning from large-scale infrastructure rehabilitation activities to work involving good governance, social development, capacity building and training.

Donor Assistance

Creating Opportunities for Palestinian Development

Financial assistance has been critical in Palestinian development. The generosity of donors has been indispensable in providing international and local volunteers with the opportunities to allocate their services throughout different sectors in the oPt linked to democratic governance, humanitarian relief, emergency response to crisis situations, institutional capacity building and the promotion of volunteerism.

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International UNV Vicktoria Metcalfe in the field.

Asira National Volunteers celebrating the International Volunteers Day (IVD)

and advanced sewing for small scale manufacturing and sales.

The girls and women face major difficulties due to the hardships imposed on their families by the Separation Wall and the closures which have affected their husbands ability to work. For example, A’llar’s main source of revenue was agriculture, however, they are unable to sell their products or access work outside their village because of the surrounding Separation Wall that cuts them off from other West Bank cities and the 1948 areas. Similarly, the residents of Talfeet are restricted in terms of production due to the water constraints and the inability to obtain permits to work outside of their village.

Nevertheless, the women of A’llar and Talfeet have been overcoming the adverse circumstances by improving their educational levels, activating the women’s centers and holding committee elections. Samah even came up with a plan to reinforce the women’s commitment to join the centers by approaching local businesses and convincing them to provide a discount to the women in exchange for directing the women to the businesses and increasing clientele.

Reflecting on her experience so far, Samah has said that, “I would not have been able to initiate these projects in A’llar or Talfeet without the will of the women. It has been their decision and drive that has made these projects possible and hopefully successful in the end.” Moreover, Samah has realized that her position as a UNV has brought her closer to the women she works with. As a volunteers herself, it is easier for her to suggest that others volunteers their services in order to help one another. On a closing note Samah observes, “Self-sustainability and not asking for outside assistance is a goal we should all strive for”.

Overcoming ObstaclesRefugee Volunteers Helping their own in Gaza

As a refugee from the Jabalya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, UNV Osama Rajab Abu Eita has been

deeply affected by the Israeli Military invasion. With a Masters degree in Public Health from Tulane University and an extensive understanding of the situation of the Israeli occupation, Osama was selected as the Liaison Officer of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the Gaza office. The objective of the UNFPA is the promotion of health and well being of women and youth through enhancing service delivery by supporting the health providers, the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and by raising awareness of health issues.

Osama’s main function is to ensure the appropriate monitoring of projects and operations supported by UNFPA in Gaza, as well as the facilitation, cooperation and coordination with local and international partners and UN sister agencies to strengthen the impact of activities and avoid the duplication of efforts. He also identifies the technical assistance needs for projects from various sources including national institutions and experts, advisors of the Country Support Team and international consultants, subsequently organizing technical missions to Gaza and facilitating the delivery of technical outputs.

Due to the violent military attacks and incursions in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Occupation Forces, Osama has been severely restricted in terms of his work. Aside from not being allowed to visit the field office in Jerusalem, he has encountered extreme difficulties in accessing the southern area of Gaza, hampering organizational efficiency, causing numerous delays professionally and indirectly, resulting in the suffering of those that were unable to receive his assistance. The lives of civilians and health care professionals have been in constant danger, medical care has been deterred and many people have been affected adversely health wise. Osama recalls an incident of a woman who delivered her baby with instructions over the phone since health care providers were unable to reach her. Another major obstacle has been the Abu-Holly Checkpoint set up by the occupation forces that has cues of cars waiting for up to three days in order to obtain permission to cross less than one hundred meters to reach Shifa Hospital, the best hospital in Gaza City. As health care providers it has been very difficult to provide services due to the problems

The War Against HungerConnecting with those that have Less

With the launching of operations in the oPt in 1995, the World Food Programme (WFP), is the UN frontline agency in the fight against global hunger by providing food to combat malnutrition, promote economic and social development and offer relief assistance in emergencies throughout the world. The oPt has been no exception to the WFP assistance with particular emphasis on helping the people of Gaza in recent times. Working with WFP, international UNV, Simona Palenga’s most vivid memories was a visit to Rafah, Gaza with different UN institutions to provide a tour to journalists regarding the work of the UN in the war torn city. Amidst the rubble of the homes that were destroyed and the bullet-ridden buildings that were barely left standing, Simona found herself surrounded by dozens of Palestinian children. Their faces and hands flecked with sand, it was not clear if they were amongst the many that had been left homeless by the Israeli incursions but their curiosity about the Italian UNV from the region of Umbria, known as the ‘green heart of Italy’, was relentless. A stream of questions were asked about where she was from, what her name was and if she liked Palestine. “There was a little girl that caught my attention in particular. I took a picture of her and she was so happy that she gave me a candy. I didn’t want to accept it because I didn’t know if it was her last one, but she was so eager that I did. Luckily, I reached into my pocket and found a candy that I had and gave it to her. Then I saw her bite the candy in half and put the other half in her sister’s mouth. It was so moving to witness her generosity and to see kids taking care of one another during these terrible circumstances”, Simona recalls of the event.

As an Administrative Assistant, Simona’s direct responsibilities include taking care of communication and security matters, however, her most valuable experience as a UNV working under the WFP has been her exposure. The people she has met, the stories she has heard and become a part of, have opened her sense of awareness about war, development and a Palestinian reality. In Simona’s words, “Being a UNV and being away from things that are familiar to me has made me stronger. And

being a UNV in the oPt has made me appreciate what I had growing up in a free country, strengthening my determination to try and bring that type of freedom to those that I work with”.

Empowering Local WomenStrengthening Rural Communities

“The girls and women I have met with in rural villages are interested in making a difference and improving themselves to gain greater security and meaning in their lives. They want self-determination and women’s centers that provide them with the skills to achieve their goals. Empowering women educationally and economically in rural areas is an essential component of the sustainability of the communities”, says UNV Samah Jaouni, referring to Sabaya Programme, with the technical cooperation of the UNDP and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). More precisely, as the Programme Assistant of the project Samah has been focusing on two rural clusters with local women in the West Bank villages of A’llar and Talfeet, providing strategies for economic empowerment and self-development by conducting needs assessments and project proposals. Girls and women are provided with nine months of practical training in women’s centers to encourage them to initiate their own projects in their specialized fields. Currently completing her MBA at Birzeit University, Samah has also been in charge of analyzing women’s requests in terms of the feasibility of income generation, providing grants for approved projects to guarantee their sustainability in the villages once the UN Programmes are not present. Proposals have included food processing, live-stock management

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National UNV Samah Jaouni (Programme Assistant – UNIFEM).

Taking the Lead in Institution BuildingEstablishing the Prime Minister’s Office

UNV Dina Farouni has been at the forefront of establishing the Prime Minister’s Office from the ground – up. As a Palestinian who was born in Cairo and has resided in Egypt, Yemen and Kenya, Dina returned to the West Bank in recent years to complete her Finance degree at Birzeit University. Committed to taking part in re-building her country, Dina was selected for the challenging task of establishing the different sections of the new Prime Minister’s Office, creating the Department of Protocol responsible for receiving official, local and international guests and organizing events, aside from managing the daily aspects of the Department’s functions. Most recently, Dina has been drawing up the plans for the Department of International Affairs and developing the country briefs regarding the respective governments, constitutions, bilateral relations and recent political stances on issues of the hour. She is also in charge of the significant and delicate task of preparing the ‘talking points and responses’ for the Prime Minister in preparation for meetings with local and international parties. In order to immerse herself with the necessary information, Dina frequently convenes with country representatives.

“I owe all of this to the UNV Programme. If I wasn’t a UNV, I would’t have had the opportunity to work with the Prime Minister’s Office. Mounir Kleibo (UNV Programme Manager) and the UNV staff have provided me with a lot of personal care which helped with my self confidence at tackling such immense tasks. Mounir is not just the head of the UNV programme, he is always there to listen and most importantly to lend his support to me as a UNV”.

The impressive undertaking of building the new Office and its various departments has sharpened Dina’s professional skills tremendously, allowing her to delve into many areas, and increasing her trust in her abilities. Dina has been duly recognized for the efficiency of the Office by heads of state, as well as her superiors and colleagues.

Public & Press Relations in the Prime Minister’s Office

With degrees in Journalism and Political Science from Birzeit University, as well as vast experience in the field of press relations, UNV Awad Duaibas assumed the responsibility of building the Department of Public Relations, the Press Office and the Information Department of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Awad has dealt with two primary components. The first was the Cabinet Secretary involving issues related to the Council of Ministries such as budget, legislation, governmental obligations and the daily administration of all ministers.The second component was the Office of the Prime Minister encompassing political issues, activities and meetings. Focusing on all forms of public communication and awareness regarding the Prime Minister, Awad bridged a link between the Prime Minister and the outside world, consistently ensuring that the information was reliable, current and comprehensive. It has been pivotal to construct and maintain professional relations with the media in order to deliver the message of the Palestinian government and enhance the “culture of communication”. One of Awad’s many successes was in maximizing the use of the international press regarding the negative effects of the Separation Wall on Palestinians, a national priority on the Prime Minister’s agenda.

with logistical and administrative issues because of the on-going military action.

“I am a refugee from Gaza and I am a public health practitioner. The stress of watching what is happening to my people and friends is sad and frustrating because I know that we have the medical tools to help but we are not always able to reach them because of the Israeli military occupation and violence. What the Israelis have done is a crime. No people deserve to be subjected to such inhumanity. Thanks to the UNV Programme and other supporting organizations, at least we can try to ameliorate the situation under these terrible circumstances”.

On a positive note, Osama reflects on the UNV Programme stating that, “It is a privilege to work as a UNV. Besides getting the chance to be introduced to the professional field, which is greatly beneficial to my future career plans, it has been wonderful to help my community and become involved with an organization like the UNFPA that is steadfast in providing care for those in need”.

“Crossing into Gaza through Erez, I see a friendly wave from across the border check and barbed wire. Smiling widely from the clearly marked and familiar white jeep with black scrolled UN letters on its side, Osama Abueita, UNFPA Gaza Liaison Officer and United Nations Volunteers, comes to greet us and take us to the project sites in Gaza, Jabalia and Bureij.

Since September 2000 and especially after April 2002, goings and comings to Gaza have been severely restricted, especially for national staff. Similar to many of its sister agencies, UNFPA, was unable to conduct business as usual in Gaza due to these restrictions. UNFPA’s main area of assistance is in the fields of reproductive health and population development strategies; both areas that require hands-on approach in the field. Sadly, this aspect of the programme was threatened by the continued closure. It would have likely suffered even further except for the generous contribution of the UNV programme under the UNDP/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) whereby a staff member could be added to the UNFPA family

in Gaza. Over the 12 months that the UNV programme supported UNFPA’s Liaison Officer in Gaza, he was able to maintain a vital link with partners, whether governmental, NGO or from the international community. As this was UNFPA’s review year for ten years following the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, having a staff member stationed in Gaza meant the difference between simply conducting a review and the ability to dialogue with our partners on the achievements as well as the necessary actions to ensure the ICPD objectives could be met. This kind of positive collaboration exemplifies the effectiveness of pooling resources in times of crisis. Moreover, the programme allowed a newcomer to the system to become familiar with the guiding principles of peace-building, human rights, egalitarianism and promotion of justice espoused by the United Nations. The experience from the UNFPA/UNV partnership is also solidly in congruence with UN reform that promotes harmonization between UN agencies and working together for common goals.

For a job well-done, we salute the UNV programme and wish its continued success”.

Supporting Public AdministrationA UNDP/PAPP Objective with the Collaboration of the UNV Programme

UNDP/PAPP’s support of the Reform Process involving significant improvements in the public sector have been conducted, in part, with the technical assistance of the volunteers of the UNV Programme. Placed in Palestinian ministries and public institutions described in continuation, the collective aim is to foment good governance and democracy for the Palestinian people.

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National UNV Awad Duaibas (Information & Media Advisor – Prime Minister Office).

National UNV Osama Abu Eita (National Programm Associate – UNFPA).

Protecting the Rights of LaborEnsuring Fairness in the Workplace

UNV Events Coordinator for the Ministry of Labor, Lama Arda is part of a task force team in the Minister’s Office focusing on the administrative reform process of the Palestinian National Authority. Her responsibility lies in providing the institution of the Ministry of Labor with a clear mandate and an organized structure in order to carry out its mission of implementing the Labor Law and protecting the workforce. Different areas of focus include defining the terms of reference and rights of employees, establishing a legal framework for the Ministry and reforming its policy regarding the recruitment of employees, independent of political positions and opinions. A crucial component of Lama’s work is strengthening and incorporating gender equality in the work place.

Currently, Lama is focusing on the Social Insurance Institute and technical, vocational educational training. According to Lama, “Both sectors have a significant impact on the daily lives of Palestinian society”. The Social Insurance Institute will protect the employees rights with regards to salary, health, and their vocation based on the Labor Law and the Social Law. Vocational Educational Training on the other hand, assists those who did not complete their education by helping them complete their specialization in fields such as mechanics, sewing, cooking and information technology through vocational training centers through out the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There is also a component where people may complete their formal education up to the university level.

When asked to share a success story regarding her experience at the Ministry of Labor, Lama replies that she feels all of her work as a UNV at the Ministry has been a success story. “ We have changed the Ministry internally and externally so that it is increasingly in tune with the demands of employees and their families, responding to their needs. I see every event I coordinate in the Ministry and every meeting I participate in with the task force as a point towards positive change, improving processes and giving the workforce the confidence that they are being represented. Once they feel protected and proud of this institution then I will feel proud that I have completed my job successfully”.

Directing ResourcesAddressing Emergency Situations

As Donor Relations Manager for the Ministry of Planning (MOP), Maha Iraqi is a pivotal player in the Aid Coordination and Management Unit. An exceptional professional with an MBA from the University of Colorado, Maha is in charge of the sensitive task of helping facilitate and direct aid towards projects while ensuring they meet Palestinian national priorities. To this end, Maha works hand in hand with other ministries to discuss their respective plans and streamline the funding process in order to meet different objectives. Moreover, as acting Secretariat for the Local Aid Coordination Committee (LACC) sector working groups (SWGs), Maha is responsible for the proposed Technical and Vocational training - TVET SWG. According to Maha, “The most important aspect of my job is being able to help my people, especially during emergency situations such as the one in the Gaza Strip by seeking aid and assistance from donors”.

There have been many instances when emergency relief was needed in the field. Recently, the brutal shelling by the Israeli Occupation Forces in the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the demolition of thousands of homes and the loss of life. Although Israel’s inhumane acts were condemned internationally, they continued and

For Awad, being able to contribute to Palestinian institution building, and being near Palestinian decision making has been a great experience. According to Awad, “It has been indescribably satisfactory to be part of the basic stones of the organization, to put the skeleton of the department in place and provide any successor with clear indicators regarding how to proceed. Creating departments which excel assists the process of Palestinian nation-building by presenting models of efficiency and accountability, which provide an example for the foundations of other institutions”.

Gender Mainstreamingthe Link between Politics, Poverty & Academia

The ability to access and control resources has led to different levels of health, education, salary, jobs and decision-making between women and men. Gender mainstreaming ensures that women’s and men’s issues are integrated into development planning. It is a social issue and a community issue that Clinton Scholarship awardee and Doctoral Political Science student at the University of Maryland, UNV Ghada Al-Madbouh, is tackling on a daily basis. As the Director of the Planning and Studies Department at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ghada is carrying out the principal objective of the Ministry, dealing with mainstreaming gender in terms of laws and governmental policies. Much of the work places particular emphasis on conducting studies regarding poverty, vocational education and political participation for women, searching for the best policies and suggesting their incorporation into the pertinent ministries.

According to Ghada and the Ministry, political participation, education and poverty are perceived as an intrinsically related triangle. It is assumed that political decision makers that are women are imperative as they will be more sensitive to women’s issues such as in the provision of basic services including health care, education and poverty elimination. “Female poverty”, Ghada explains, “is linked to lack of education which is connected to women’s lack of participation in the labor market.

Typically, a woman who is not working is usually not focused on empowering herself. She is not self-reliant which increases her chances of facing poverty”.

One example Ghada refers to is when women lost their husbands during the Intifada (Palestinian civil uprising), went to the market with no skills and are now confronted with extreme poverty. Likewise, when a woman is poor, she does not have the ability to receive an education and therefore, will probably not think about political participation. Currently, Ghada is working with poor women, educated women and with women who do and do not have political power in order to streamline processes towards improving the lives of Palestinian women.

“As long as we do not have policies regarding what women need in different sectors, we will always have discrimination. As a governmental institution we have to facilitate policies and laws that are gender sensitive as a first step towards positive change. Empowering Palestinian women is helping the nation as a whole. Without empowered women we will only have half a nation”. - Ghada Al-Madbouh

One of Ghada’s most interesting projects has been focused on technical and vocational education including a study regarding the high number of female graduates at 46 per cent and their low participation in the labor force at 12 per cent. Ghada and the Ministry are revising the technical and vocational training that is given to women in order to meet the demands of the labor market, as well as the social norms that may restrict them from entering certain fields.

On a personal level, Ghada relays that the UNV Programme has helped her gain exposure to policy development stating that, “I never thought about engaging in gender issues before but when they met with me at the UNV Programme, they suggested that I work in the Ministry of Women and I did and I love it. I thrive in this environment, on the different themes that I would not have ordinarily focused on to the extent that I have, as well as on the fact that I am working in a Palestinian institution that is dealing with such an important matter. The UNV Programme has opened the door to different fields and allowed me to give back as a Palestinian woman”.

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National UNV Lama Arda (Event Coordinator – Ministry of Labor).

“By honoring these five men and women, we are demonstrating the capabilities of young people around the world to tackle these global problems with inspiring and innovative approaches”. - UNDP Administrator, Mark Malloch Brown

Currently, 2,500 high-school students and 500 university students are benefiting from Sharek’s programme which seeks to alleviate poverty through educating the Palestinian nation.

Easing Pain with PoetryAddressing Refugee Needs in the Augusta Victoria Hospital

“The best way to talk through pain is through painting and poetry - this is one of the finest forms of psycho-social therapy because it doesn’t focus directly on the person’s problems. It allows one to have the space to move and discover new ways of communicating problems”. These are the insightful words of the Head of the Psycho-Social Unit of the Augusta Victoria Hospital in the Mount of Olives area of Jerusalem, UNV, Emad Jaouni. With a background in social work and psychology, as well as a Masters in Expressive Art Therapy from the European Graduate School in Switzerland, Emad has taken the lead in introducing innovative techniques while establishing the Psycho-social Unit. One of his goals is to create a studio for Expressive Art

Therapy as a new technique at the hospital. Over 70 per cent of the patients are refugees from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Apart from the restrictions on mobility due to Israeli policies which jeopardize their medical treatments, they are consumed by the psychological traumas induced by living under military occupation. Although Art Therapy is new in the country, Emad is convinced that it will be an important source of healing for patients and will launch the studio as part of a pilot project, bringing in his colleagues to volunteers their services.

Within his capacity as a social worker Emad is also on the move to provide psycho-social intervention in the first Pediatric Oncology Department to serve the West Bank which he is currently establishing. Previously, patients were treated in Hadassa Hospital or had to travel to Jordan, if possible.

Another area of concentration for Emad is in improving the methodology of the volunteers at the hospital through training. As a UNV he has realized the importance of volunteering and, unsurprisingly, is paving the way to increase volunteerism. Emad explains, “Being a UNV gives you the opportunity to open connections with many institutions that rely on volunteerism. We are beginning a campaign to explain the importance of volunteering in hospitals and centers which will open a space for volunteers to compliment our efforts. There are many volunteers but very few in the health sector. We will be the pioneers hopefully”.

No one doubts that Emad, with his unrelenting drive and talent, will be able to accomplish all of his goals, already making gains in the health sector.

Caring for the EnvironmentThe Soul of Community Teamwork

Perched on a hill, overlooking a mountainous landscape, the Asira Ashamaliya village has been the focus of an environmental community action project implemented by the UNDP and the Near East Foundation (NEF), with the support of the skillful volunteers of the UNV Programme. The Environmental Action Project (EAP), dealing with solid waste management, was created to address the pollution, environmental damage and health

people had to seek basic means of survival. During one of the incidents, a Turkish Delegation arranged a meeting with Maha to discuss financial assistance under ‘normal conditions’ however, due to the tragic situation that was taking place in the Gaza Strip, Maha focused her efforts on persuading the Delegation to lend their humanitarian assistance to the people of Rafah. Realizing the urgency, the Delegation complied. Although a national agenda may be established, development objectives are inevitably set-back when an entire people and area are undergoing a process of destruction, an on-going Palestinian reality that donors have had to contend with.

Reflecting on her position as a UNV, Maha relays the following, “I have never been as involved in a job and as overwhelmed as I am now. I am honored to tell people that I am a UNV and that I am helping my country under the UN. At the same time I am strengthening my political and negotiating skills and learning about each donor’s interest and strategy in order to match our priorities with theirs. The diversity of analytical skills I have learned are infinite and I thank the UNV Programme for leading me on this path”.

Fighting Against Poverty through Education Bader Zamareh of Sharek Receives the UN Poverty Eradication Award

Sharek, (participation in Arabic), is a non – partisan, volunteers organization that facilitates a space for youth to connect from all regions and organizations throughout the West Bank and Gaza. The primary mission is that of self-help through sharing ideas, inspiring creativity and fundamentally, helping youth serve their respective communities through the implementation of sustainable projects and capacity building.

Sharek’s claim to success is mainly attributed to its talented and dedicated staff, seven of which are UNVs. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, UNVs include Senior Coordinator, Bader Zamareh, Director of Activities and Website Development, Raed Tharf, Youth Mobilization Specialist, Sahar Othman, in addition to, Field Coordinator, Yazeed

Shraim in Jenin and field worker, Mahmoud Abu-Sbieh in Hebron. In Gaza, UNV field workers Shahdia Abu – Shawish, Yousef Abu Amra, Hani Farah and Baha’ Sultan focus on the same objectives as their colleagues in the West Bank, tailoring their activities to the difficult circumstances caused by the Israeli military incursions that have taken place.

“Sharek is my life and I give to it without limits. The UNV Programme has given us the ability to focus on our dream which is Sharek, allowing us to give opportunities to the coming generations of Palestinian youth”. - UNV Bader Zamareh

Most recently, recognizing the link between poverty and lack of education, Sharek decided to tackle the obstacles posed by the Israeli occupation on education which prevented students from attending schools and led to an increase in the drop-out rate. Spearheading an assistance Programme for children, Sharek established a series of Homework Centers where university students tutor students after school in basic subjects such as arithmetic, Arabic, English and science to groups of three to five students, several times a week.

On October 17, 2004, Sharek’s pivotal role in reversing the adverse effects imposed by the Israeli occupation on education was duly recognized when, in the name of UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, UNDP Administrator Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, handed the ‘Eradication of Poverty Award’ to Bader Zamareh in New York.

A twenty-three year old lawyer specializing in civil law, Bader has committed himself to Sharek’s mission for the past six years. Responsible for the activities of sixteen centers aside from volunteers groups, Bader, as other staff members, involves himself in all of Sharek’s areas covering law, training, management, public relations and painting the office, as needed.

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National UNV Emad Jaouni (Psycho/Social Worker) – Augusta Victoria Hospital).

National UNV Bader Zama’reh during honoring ceremonies in New York

more cohesive, the impact on the environment is decreased and it is a cheaper model for others to follow. Under the EAP we concentrate on simple recycling means. If we use a grassroots approach then we don’t have to invest heavily on the dumping sites”. It is anticipated that the Programme will be replicable in other communities by enlarging the scope of volunteerism, awareness and lobbying within society. Indeed, the project has already become renowned as a model of voluntary action placing environmental protection in the hands of the local people.

Inspired by the Malaga Campaign for Cleanliness, UNV and Business Development Specialist, Nidal Dwikat states that, “The involvement of the community has been indispensable in creating a healthy environment by decreasing the amount of waste and illegal dumping which leads to the deterioration of the environment. What moves me the most about working in Palestinian rural areas is that people are full of respect for their cluster and their country. If we keep focused on our targets with the active help of the people, then Asira should be one of the cleanest villages in the near future”.

Empowering YouthStrengthening Generations

Rami Nasser Eddin, UNV, civil engineer and one of the founders of Ru’ya or Palestinian Vision, has dedicated his time to the non-profit, youth – run, volunteers organization since 1998. Spread throughout eight West Bank cities, Palestinian Vision promotes youth leadership within their communities through skills training and networking locally

and internationally to address issues connected to leadership, conflict resolution, democracy, human rights and the arts.

A jack of all trades, as the General Manager of Palestinian Vision, Rami is the interface with the donors, a grant writer, project evaluator, trainer and public relations specialist. He even cleans and makes coffee stating that, “We are all here as a team with a focused mission, there is no hierarchy, just the objective of developing and fortifying leaders for a better future and a strong Palestine”.

One of the greatest accomplishments for Rami has been in witnessing the hope and motivation in Palestinian youth under circumstances that often times clouds people’s expectations. This was the case with the Jawalat Al-Quds or Jerusalem Rangers project which aimed at reviving the sense of belonging of Jerusalemite youth to their city. Over sixty young women and men from Jerusalem and its surrounding villages were provided with training in Drama, Theater, Tourism, and Leadership, culminating in a treasure hunt. Participants were divided into twelve groups to develop projects related to Jerusalem and their training. The results demonstrated outstanding creativity and initiatives including a website about Jerusalem, a multi-media project, a sculpture of Haram Al-Sharif, a puzzle, a documentary regarding youth in Jerusalem and a kids magazine. Four of the projects were awarded the UNV and Faisal Al-Husseini Award which is a financial prize in the form of a university scholarship.

hazards resulting from the overflowing rubbish on the outskirts of the village. UNVs such as Business Development Specialist, Nidal Dwikat, Finance Expert, Ra’ed Hanania, Community Education Specialist, Salah Abu Eisheh and Community and Environmental Expert, Mohammad Abu-Baker, to name a few, came forward with a range of expertise to work in partnership with a cluster of five villages in the Asira Municipality. Their mission is the improvement of livelihoods and the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to local institutions.

Local communities, already accustomed to tight military closures and isolation from surrounding cities, had grown closer together in developing home-grown dynamics to cope with local issues and welcomed their new partner’s support of their endeavors. They were trained in the recycling of reusable wastes at household and municipal levels. Most impressively, the active cooperation of community members, schools, NGOs and local businesses took hold. Companies were located in order to purchase recyclable material such as glass, plastic, iron and aluminum. Awareness campaigns regarding environmental protection, the risks associated with dumping and inadequate disposal of rubbish spread throughout the villages. Schools were a major area of focus with children encouraged to bring in discarded batteries and other such items to explain why such waste is toxic to their fellow classmates. All of the UNVs have been touched by the dedication and action of the community which UNV

Mohammad Abu Baker has described as, “The soul of teamwork”. The EAP project calls for community participation and ownership of the project, and as Country Director Tarek Abdel Ghany emphasizes, “The UNVs have been instrumental in recruiting volunteers especially young men and women to participate in the project activities”. Throughout 2004, many cleaning up campaigns and removal of illegal dumping sites have been completed by community volunteers in full cooperation with EAP UNVs. A noticeable development in this direction was when a group of young Palestinians working on an ad hoc basis with the EAP, asked NEF/UNV for assistance in establishing their own community association that focuses on the environment. The Association of Friends of the Environment was formally registered by the end of 2004, and NEF and UNVs are currently providing technical assistance towards institutionalizing the association. Abdel Ghany has expressed that “it is because of the emphasis of the UNV Programme on volunteerism that we have been able to mobilize volunteers for community work, raise the spirit of volunteerism and institutionalize the efforts into more sustainable community development action by volunteers”. In partnership with the UNV Programme, the EAP has been introduced to a vast network of expertise and professional resources, further developed by UNV participation in at least 4 national workshop addressing solid waste management and environmental protection.

When asked why solid waste management was the most effective solution for Asira, Abdel Ghany has explained “The EAP Project is environmentally friendly, leaning heavily on community based participation in recycling as opposed to using heavy machinery in urban solid waste management projects and dumping. It focuses on employing human resources and people, using manual recycling at home as opposed to extensive machinery. According to the Country Director, “Communities become

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National UNV Salah Abu Eisheh with other Asira volunteers in the field.

Cleaning campaign organized by Asira National UN Volunteers

National UNV Mohamad abu Baker with children during one of the activities organized in Asira

National UNV Rami Naser Eddin - Director of Palvision.

Filling a Palace with LightCelebrating Culture & Art

Three thousand year old marshal art performances from the Indian state of Kerala, concerts by well-known Palestinian musicians such as Simon Shahin and the groovy fusion of Andalusian and Arabic influences by the Spanish group, Radio Tarifa are just a few of the scenes and the sounds emanating from the newly built Ramallah Cultural Palace. Located in the suburb of Al-Masyoon, the Cultural Palace has offered a magnificent space for enjoying culture and entertainment, deflecting the hardships of occupation and providing a sense of hope for the future.

The first and only cultural center of its kind in the oPt, it contains state-of-the-art facilities including an auditorium seating over 700 people. Sponsored by the UNDP and the Japanese government, the UNV Programme was enthusiastic to be able to contribute to the effort by providing the services of UNV Assistant Site Engineer, Hamzeh Abdo. At the Palace, Hamzeh concentrated extensively on the electrical and electro mechanic works. Referring the logistical delays that are typically involved in building new structures in the oPt, Hamzeh remarks that, “At times the borders were closed and it was difficult to find the most necessary materials to complete the job. But when we were done and I tested the lighting and sound of the Palace, the auditorium bloomed with colors and beams reflecting different spectrums of light. I knew I had taken part in something that was wonderful, that there would be people sitting in this auditorium feeling as overwhelmed as I was to be able to host Palestinian and international events in a first class setting from Palestine. The feeling was indescribable”.

The Ramallah Cultural Palace’s grand opening took place on the fifth of July with a keynote address by renowned Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish. It has become a symbol of normalcy reflecting a love for music and the arts amidst the enduring Israeli occupation.

Achieving DreamsYoung Palestinians on the Road to Success

Hundreds of people wait eagerly for the Ramadan Cultural Evening Festivals to begin. Filling Jerusalem’s Old City with lights, children’s parades carry Ramadan lanterns called fawanees that are reminiscent of old stories and historical tales. Young choir troops sing cultural heritage songs, others perform in plays and recite poems as the Old City comes to life, creating a wondrous experience of resilience in a divided city and opening to audiences of a thousand people.

The festivals are just one of the achievements of UNV Marwan Bashiti and the volunteers under his supervision. A native East Jerusalemite, Marwan has devoted his mind and spirit to assisting Palestinian youth achieve their dreams. With degrees in Business Administration from Birzeit University and the Project Management Institute in Pennsylvania, he has proven to be an exceptional

Rami and Palestinian Vision have been faced with many obstacles from the Israeli government, however the NGO insists on continuing with its work. Rami reflects the feelings of his fellow volunteers when he declares that, “The Israelis are trying to establish organizations that are solely under the Israeli Municipality, however, it is important to have institutions with a Palestinian identity. The Israelis want to erase our identity, they have a different version of history which eliminates Palestinian history. It is important for our youth to understand their reality and their identity within Palestine and specifically, Jerusalem. We don’t want to lose our youth to the Hebrew language, to an Israelis manipulation of our history or to being swallowed by the occupation”.

Rami is grateful to the UNV Programme as it gave him the opportunity to stay and work in Palestinian Vision, facilitating connections with other professionals and organizations. In Rami’s words, “Palestinian Vision and the UNV Programme gave me the opportunity to love Palestine. I gave my life to this organization but in other ways it has given my life back to me”.

Currently Palestinian Vision has 600 members that range between the ages of eighteen to thirty. Their workshops have become so successful that they have become a training organization for NGOs.

Volunteerism and Treating Refugees with Cancer

Working with refugee children suffering from cancer and their families has been an arduous responsibility that UNV, Issa Rabadi has embraced fully at the ZEINA Center for Families & Friends of Children with Cancer. With a BA in Social work from Bethlehem University and an MA in Peace and Development Studies from Gothenburg University, Issa is the General Manager of the organization supporting children with cancer and their families and friends socially and psychologically to raise their awareness regarding the causes and effects of cancer, as well as introducing them to the different coping mechanisms. Specifically, Issa follows up on the planning and implementation processes at the organization.

Commenting on his experience Issa says, “The UNV Programme has given me the opportunity to feel the human-professional side of my work and see the tremendous impacts we can make as individuals when we are placed in organizations in need of assistance. We don’t always have the answers or the cure for cancer but we must do what we can when people find themselves in helpless conditions. Being responsible for the whole organization has been challenging but extremely rewarding, apart from the very real aspect of working with children suffering from cancer and their families”.

Issa believes that volunteerism and the human resources Palestinians have to offer are fundamental in addressing the humanitarian assistance that the Palestinian people need, as well as in the delivery of services to their new institutions and organizations as a solid investment for the future. To this end, Issa has been focusing on the recruitment of volunteers for the Center. When he first began as a UNV, the Center was working with the help of forty volunteers from different universities in the Jerusalem area. In order to increase the number of volunteers, Issa with his colleagues and volunteers, launched a campaign introducing the Center and its activities to the public. The campaign included medical information about cancer collected and prepared by volunteers, an introductory CD about ZEINA and its activities and a sketch about the importance of volunteerism and cooperation in the developmental process. The campaign team, formed of twelve members, visited seven universities and colleges. The results were very encouraging and the Center started the new academic year with 130 volunteers instead of forty, widening their scope of work to include three districts instead of one, with their refugee populations, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah. Over 29 per cent of ZEINA’s volunteers are students that have completed their university requirements at the Center and have decided to continue their volunteers efforts.

Recruiting and sustaining volunteers has been a vital component to the success of Issa’s mission in the local community and he has been recognized and congratulated for his accomplishments by the UNV Programme, as well as local institutions.

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National UNV Marwan Bashiti (Coordinator - Old City Assiciation) during one of the events at the old cily.

willingness of individuals and private companies to help through the blood donation campaigns provides us with greater strength to continue confronting this disease against all the odds that face us within this regrettable political context”.

Musical ExpressionsLifting the Spirit Amidst Oppression

A graduate of the National Conservatory of Music in classical Arabic music, UNV Ibrahim Atari has been dedicated to transferring his appreciation of the distinctive melodies of instrumental and vocal Arabic music to students ranging from the ages of seven to twenty-five. Many have arrived to the Conservatory with an interest in music however, with little or no training. Nonetheless, their curiosity coupled with Ibrahim’s instruction regarding the tonal range and power of music has led to inspirational achievements. One of Ibrahim’s most enriching experiences includes his instruction of groups of eight to twelve year olds who reached unprecedented levels in classical Arabic pieces. Performances took place in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah, involving traditional Arabic instruments such as the ‘oud or lute, referred to as ‘the King of all instruments’ by virtuosos across the Middle East, the qanun, the descendent of the old Egyptian harp and an integral part of Arabic music since the tenth century, and the nay, the reed pipe whose origins date back to the Sumerian civilization.

Although numerous obstacles were present such as the lack of freedom of movement due to the Separation Wall and the checkpoints, preventing students from receiving regular trainings and barring Ibrahim from carrying out his classes, the stark veracity of the Israeli military occupation dissolved temporarily with the enthusiasm and warm reception of the audiences at the concerts. “People were so thrilled to see and hear young Palestinians engaged in traditional music. It brought back memories of happier times and gave us a moment to be consumed by the harmonies and escape from the prevailing political situation”, Ibrahim remarks thoughtfully. Members of the community were encouraged to join the Conservatory and enrollment swelled inspiring Ibrahim, the students and all of those that treasure music to participate in its expression instead of acquiescing to its silence.

“As a musical community it has been important to have the support of the UNV Programme and to look forward to the day when we are able to come together and appreciate music without having to pass through barriers and checkpoints”.

Currently, the Conservatory has 250 students in Ramallah, 140 students in Jerusalem and 120 students in Bethlehem.

Raising Consciousness Non-violence & the Arts amongst Youth

As a UNV with a major in International Business from the University of Charleston, Samer Tarazi has worked with two organizations, the first of which was the Nakhleh Esheber Institute for Art Production. Holding the position of Project and Administrative Coordinator, Samer successfully implemented the projects funded by the UNDP, EU, UNICEF and the German Representative’s Office regarding children’s programmes with a particular focus on media. Samer facilitated the production of two Palestinian comic books and a children’s TV and radio programme, in addition to coordinating approximately one hundred performances in schools and cultural centers through out Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Samer’s most memorable experience was when he organized thirty-six performances sponsored by

role model for young volunteers. Officially Marwan is the General Coordinator of the Old City Youth Association, a volunteers based NGO with a mission of empowering Palestinian youth to serve as volunteers, as well as providing them with a range of skills in IT, drama and continuing education, a great necessity since many of the kids from the Old City did not attend school. In real life, Marwan is the fund raiser, the public relations officer, the trainer, the accountant and the secretary of the Old City Youth Association.

Recognizing the importance of gender, the organization has placed particular emphasis on programmes that are tailored towards women’s rights and vocational training. In one case, a woman named Abeer who was only able to complete the sixth grade attended a training course. After learning how to read and write she has decided to take the necessary exams to finish secondary school and, with Marwan’s tutorials, enter university. When speaking about Abeer’s story, Marwan shares, “The most satisfying experience is when I see these young people approach the organization with the goal of improving themselves and then being granted the gift of witnessing their evolution into educated adults that achieve their aspirations of becoming better people. Improving peoples lives is what makes working at the Old City Association worth it for me”.

The organization currently has 100 – 120 volunteers and has linked up efforts with other volunteers organizations such as Palestinian Vision in terms of training and capacity building and the ZEINA Center for Families and Friends of Children with Cancer in order to entertain kids with cancer and clean the premises.

Marwan is grateful to the UNV Programme, as well as UNDP/PAPP for realizing the need of supporting volunteers organizations and making a difference on the ground by helping people help themselves.

Ensuring a Healthy FutureSpreading the Word about Thalassemia

A hereditary form of Anemia, Thalassemia affects 4 per cent of the Palestinian population living in the

oPt. Those infected must receive blood transfusions every three to four weeks for the rest of their lives.

Recognizing the severe impact of thalassemia, UNV, biologist and medical technologist, Hanadi Darwish, has dedicated her time and effort to combating the disease through the Thalassemia Patient’s Friends Society (TPFS). As a voluntary, non-governmental organization focused on the West Bank communities, the objectives of TPFS are two-fold. Firstly, the improvement of the lives of thalassemia patients is addressed by providing the needed medical resources, training the medical teams, establishing Day Care Units and facilitating psychological support for those infected and their loved ones. The second aim is to raise community awareness regarding thalassemia throughout Palestinian communities, in schools, through the media and by establishing links with other organizations.

“One of the main problems with this disease is that so many people are carriers without knowing it. Twenty-five per cent of every baby that is born has this disease. It is critical that people become educated about thalassemia”, says Hanadi regarding the disease.

As a Patient Coordinator, Hanadi has been developing seventy-five categories for patient data entry, an indispensable tool for handling and monitoring individual cases. Moreover, as consanguineous marriages contribute to 76 per cent of thalassemia patients, Hanadi has been at the forefront of informing the Sheiks (religious leaders) in charge of Shari’a (Islamic Law) about the disease and of the necessity of a law requiring pre-marital testing. Recently, one of her most rewarding achievements has been the passage of a law in the Islamic legal system obliging couples to get tested prior to marriage. Hanadi is now lobbying to having similar legislation passed under civil legislation.

Unfortunately, forced Israeli closures and curfews have crippled the prompt delivery of blood transfusions and medications to patients, endangering their lives. Nonetheless, as Hanadi notes, “The

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National UNV Hanadi Hidmi (Patients Coordinator-Thalassemia Patients’ Friends Society).

National UNV Ibrahim Atari (Music Programme Coordinator – National Music Conservatory).

National UNV Nash’at Hamadneh, IT Specialist – Ministry of Women Affairs.

shops, organizing play days, following up on the implementation of the programme and reporting progress. Both women feel that many of the core values of sport parallel those necessary for peace, such as respect, justice and honesty and are proud to have been supported by the UNV Programme in their endeavors to bring hope and peace through sport to Palestinian children.

One of the most important aspects of working as UNVs in the Right to Play Project for Hanadi and Shireen has been in, “reaching people and communicating important messages that are related to development and peace. Sport crosses boundaries, bringing people together and opening the room for dialogue”.

Information TechnologyA Gateway to Development

Information Technology has revolutionized and accelerated the development process in Less Developing Countries, a fact that has been seized by UNDP/PAPP in its support of the advances technology has to offer the Palestinian people and their institutions in improving the management of their information resources in the public sector. Through its assistance and with the help of the volunteers of the UNV Programme described in continuation, UNDP/PAPP has been the vanguard of narrowing the technological division between the oPt and more advanced economies, promoting political accountability and enhancing local development opportunities.

Crossing Borders VirtuallyA Platform for Palestinian Refugees

UNV, Naim Kamel is the Web Developer for the Across Borders Project (ABP) of the Birzeit University Center for Continuing Education. A sociologist, Naim has committed himself fully to the project as it provides a communication gateway for the Palestinian refugee community. By utilizing the latest Internet technology and combining the talents of Birzeit University and other local institutions, Palestinian refugees living in camps will be able to connect with the world directly on an unprecedented scale through refugee camp websites. Most importantly, the websites will revolutionize the self-perception of the refugees themselves, assisting them in connecting with others and providing a platform regarding their reality. The websites will play a vital educational role for the international community who have been acutely misinformed about the refugee situation. It is hoped that the correspondence between the refugees and the outside world will increase the understanding of Palestinian refugees on a worldwide level.

Politically, the project will allow the refugees to ‘virtually, cross borders’, having a positive impact on strengthening the confidence of the refugee community as a whole. Naim mentions that, “Many analysts of Palestinian society have identified the increasing division of the refugee community along regional lines, consequently narrowing the political vision regarding refugees and leading to the exclusion of refugee rights from the concerns of Palestinian negotiators. Our project will facilitate the re-assertion of the refugee community as a central axis of Palestinian society”.

In terms of capacity building and sustainability, a group of camp residents will be provided with training at each camp center by Birzeit University in basic Internet use, HTML and Graphic Design. The courses will ensure the on-going sustainability of the project and strengthen the capacity of the centers to independently continue their outreach work.

The Across the Borders Project also assists refugees in acquiring vocational and technical business skills with the establishment of Internet

UNICEF, in thirty-six days. The performances were part of a ‘Mine Awareness Campaign’ which was incorporated into the productions. UNICEF had also made little booklets about mines and suspicious materials which were distributed at the end of each performance, opening the floor to questions from children and adults.

As Samer puts it, “The whole thing was touching. Just working with kids and seeing a smile on their faces made going through the checkpoints and the dirt roads to each event worth it. Plus the media is a very important part of our lives that we need to focus on and use as Palestinians”.

The second organization Samer joined as a UNV was the Middle East Non-violence and Democracy NGO (MEND), which aims at strengthening the Palestinian community by building community centers that focus on alternative forms of resistance, as well as democratic practices through teaching communication and leadership skills which include the practice of non-violence as a life-style.

As the Project Coordinator and Project Action Evaluator, Samer concentrated on youth activities such as training sessions on non-violence, communications, leadership, radio programmes and other volunteering aspects within the community. Another component of Samer’s work was the training he received by the Truman Institute at the Hebrew University which formed part of MEND’s Active Non-violence Network Project. The project included building centers in eight different locations and instructing participants on non-violent resistance and awareness.

Although Samer has completed his services as a UNV, he has offered to continue volunteering at MEND because of his commitment to working with youth. Commenting on the reaction of youth to the training sessions, Samer states, “You can see their enthusiasm towards learning about non – violence. Working with kids is more real because they are not affiliated to an organization or an institution. They learn because they want to learn and it comes from the heart because they are still kids”.

Every Child has the Right to PlaySport, Peace & Hope

UNVs, Senior Coordinator Hanadi Mosad and Project Coordinator Shireen Musleh, have been encouraging children and youth’s involvement in sport and play through the Canadian Right to Play Organization. Right To Play is a humanitarian organization using sport and play programmes to promote the healthy physical, social and emotional development of the world’s most disadvantaged children. Hanadi and Shireen have been using sport as an opportunity for addressing developmental issues of Palestinian children and their families.

Enthusiastically supportive of sport for development, Hanadi and Shireen have both agreed that, “It has been recognized that sport is a powerful tool in development and peace. Incorporating the right of children to play within their daily curriculum enhances their healthy physical and psycho-social development, providing them with a sense of safety and security through regular activity while building stronger communities”.

As Senior Coordinator, Hanadi made sure that the programmes included the incorporation of life skills such as self confidence, teamwork, communication, inclusion, discipline, respect and fair play. She designed the sport and play programmes to fit the Palestinian context, crafting them to uphold the values of development, equity, inclusion and sustainability. Complimenting efforts, as Project Coordinator, Shireen Musleh was the first local volunteers to render her services for the project in Jericho, allowing her to facilitate the work of the international volunteers and assume local ownership of the programme in the oPt. Her publicity campaign familiarized the local community with the programme and the project was successfully implemented in local community schools, clubs, youth centers, and institutions by delivering work

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National UNV Shireen Musleh, Coordinator – Right to Play during of the activities.

through the use of the latest technology for the Ministries of Finance and Planning. Kazem has carried out participatory workshops to identify the ministries’ concerns, subsequently implementing multi-level staff trainings on the classification of documents, the use of technology in the archives department for saving information electronically and equipping the institutions with a secure system for retrieving and maintaining information. He has been notably recognized by ministers and colleagues for his brilliant preparation of a study introducing new technological tools and innovations in order to streamline efficient procedures and safeguard material within the ministries as pertinent to the Palestinian context under Israeli occupation.

It is calculated that the technology and procedures set in place by Kazem will raise security by approximately 70 per cent. Commenting on the subject, Kazem states, “If the ministries come under attack, the Israeli occupation forces will be able to retrieve the information, however, it is important that the ministries have a secure copy to maintain an order of these official documents that belong to the Palestinian people”.

“Palestinian people must have efficient and advanced technological systems to record their governments activities. Such mechanisms promote transparency, the ability to monitor proceedings and to respond factually as a representative or public institution upon inquiries from the people”. - Kazem Ma’touk, UNV

Kazem feels that the insecurity in terms of maintaining information is a problem that involves all the ministries, as well as, PNA institutions, and has been drawing up plans for the creation of a new institution to centralize the security of all PNA information, using the latest technology and archival systems. He is grateful to the UNV Programme as it placed him in a position where he was allowed to implement his decisions. In Kazem’s words, “I received the exact guidance I needed from Mr. Mounir Kleibo (UNV Programme Manager) and Miss Diana Nammour (UNV Country Operations Assistant), with sufficient freedom to use my creativity in establishing standards and systems”.

Local Aid CoordinationKeeping Donors’ Up to Date

The Local Aid Coordination Committee (LACC), comprises all donors and international agencies with a local presence in the West Bank and Gaza, providing a forum for aid coordination, exchange of policy views and information on developments in the field. In order to keep the necessary parties abreast of the latest information in the oPt and maintain a constant flow of communication, LACC has developed a web portal under the supervision of Sari Elias Tahhan. With a Masters degree in Engineering and Management of Information Systems from the University of Toulouse, as well as extensive experience, Sari has been developing the web portal as an interactive tool and information hub at the service of the donor and aid community in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The portal is envisaged to become a powerful mechanism in supporting and enhancing all aspects of the local aid coordination structure, possessing the necessary features to grow into a central resource for the local donor community and LACC members who will be encouraged to post material and refer to the site for information on current issues on a regular basis. The Ministry of Planning has already expressed interest in using the web portal as the main forum for the dissemination of all material relating to the on-going work of the Sector Working Groups.

Speaking on the importance of information technology in the oPt, Sari says that, “I always knew

Centers in the camps. In conjunction with local schools, increased familiarity with computers and related technologies which will accompany the introduction of these centers, will increase future options for Palestinian refugees. Certain tailor-made packages may be delivered such as Distance Learning, generating an extra source of income for the centers hosting the Across the Borders Project to cover their operating expenses.

Naim believes strongly in the mission of the Across the Borders Project and in the difference it will make in the lives of the refugees populations. Reflecting on his convictions, Naim says, “As a UNV, I was able to develop the tools to help the Palestinian refugees, a major part of the Palestinian community, to communicate around the world through the internet, allowing them to represent themselves directly, connect with other refugee communities and combat the marginalization that they have been confronted with for so long”.

Transparency and AccountabilityMoving forward with IT

Holding an MS in Information Systems from the American University in Washington DC, UNV Omar Qourah, has returned to his homeland to assist in the capacity building of the Ministry of Planning. A focal point of establishing and meeting national development policies through the coordination of planning priorities among Palestinian ministries and institutions, the Ministry has direct relations with donor countries and is in charge of managing and coordinating donor aid efforts. Such a task requires transparent procedures and processes, soliciting the expertise of Omar as the Project Coordinator of the Aid Coordination Project. Zeroing in on aid tracking and capacity building in the PNA, Omar assists the Aid Management and Coordination Department in building their capacity to track aid funds and projects. He is coordinating the efforts towards developing a database which will also be web accessible, allowing donors and the ministries to update information through the internet, as well as, public accessibility to the information. Currently, Omar is working with

the concerned parties to establish procedures for the PNA to be able to update, provide and validate information regarding aid. One of the main benefits of the project will be in providing a solid knowledge base for the Ministry and the PNA.

When speaking about the importance of establishing a database that is open to the public, Omar says, “It’s very important for the PNA to have solid information regarding donor aid and the impacts of the projects that receive aid in order to be able to evaluate the results of that aid. It will enable them to assess how to approach development in a real manner, that is feasible”. Omar also elaborates on the sharing of information between different ministries which unleashes their capacity to combine efforts on projects, instigating a culture of cooperation which should serve to strengthen the ministries.

Although Omar has been a UNV for a short time, he already feels that, “The Programme has allowed me to participate in a very delicate and critical process. It is necessary for the PNA to build its capacity to better serve the Palestinian people to the best of its ability. The UNV Programme has been a vital vehicle towards serving something that is great”. Omar describes his job as, “amazing”, aside from being in his field, he feels that what he does on a daily basis is valuable and would like to continue to contribute during his stay in the oPt.

Technological ToolsSafeguarding Information Under Occupation

The invasion of different ministries by the Israeli occupation forces and the illegal confiscation and destruction of relevant and confidential material has heightened the need for Palestinian institutions to secure their information. As UNV expert in Information Management and Electronic Archives, Kazem Ma’touk has led the way in revolutionizing the archival processes of critical information

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Moving forward with IT

National UNV Kazem Ma’touk, Archivist – Ministry of Finance during a workshop held at Shark.

that information technology would assist in the developmental process in the oPt, however, with my work at LACC I have come to the realization that it is an indispensable instrument in facilitating efficient and up-to-date processes for donors and other interested parties”.

Since the launching of the web portal on October 28, 2004, membership has increased due to the benefits of the portal such as greater productivity, security, quality of information and service, as well as the ability to track progress on topics of interest. Currently, Sari is revising the requests by LACC members and PNA officials to modify and add new functionalities to the

We Thank our Volunteers,

Positive social, economic and political change at grassroots, national and global levels have been inspired through the actions of international and local volunteers, helping to create conditions in which the poor and marginalized are empowered and become the principle actors in the betterment of their lives. The significance of these processes are their translation into development policies and programmes that have delivered tangible benefits depicting the capacity of volunteerism to empower local people in the fight against poverty and exclusion.

Achieving the MDGs in the oPt involves the solidarity, talent and creativity of the UNVs. The UNV programme based in the oPt, has supported initiatives aimed at expanding the developmental capacity of local organizations in their endeavors to meet people’s needs. Most importantly, international and local volunteers action has been a powerful tool serving to engage the Palestinian people, building networks of reciprocity and assuming collective responsibility. Such involvement has facilitated Palestinian ownership of development processes, subsequently increasing the sustainability of the outcomes of development programmes and projects in the oPt.

It is because of sharing their skills, their time, ideas and energy that the UNV Programme in the oPt congratulates our volunteers on International Volunteers Day and every day they strive towards positive change.

We welcome you to join us in the spirit of volunteerism and in ensuring a brighter future in the oPt.

Mounir Kleibo

UNV Programme Manager

portal which will enable LACC members to interact dynamically by providing them with security-level conditioned editing privileges using the various features.

Sari is up for the challenge, implementing his professional vocation as an Information Systems Manager and deepening his knowledge of what he calls, “a very interesting and challenging technology”.

On being a UNV, Sari Elias Tahhan, Information Systems Manager for The Local Aid Coordination Committee says, “The best things come to those that wait”.

“Those who volunteer at some point in life may forget themselves and become absorbed in satisfying the needs of others. In the process they forget

themselves but little knowing they will never be forgotten”.

Gibran Khalil Gibran

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Facts and Figures

The following is a review’s quantitative data covering primarily the review period, with some statistical data going back to 1994 for comparison purposes. The quantitative results presented below were obtained mainly from harvesting and manipulating the data extracted from the SIAM database. Additional data was obtained from manually extracting the information from archives; this data being essential to providing a more complete picture. The sources of the information are indicated in each case.

Volunteers, Locations

Total volunteers, National vs International, Female vs Male

Table 1 below shows the total number of volunteers actively serving in any one year from 1994 through 2004. Several alternatives ways of counting the number of serving volunteers were assessed as the best representative of the number of volunteers working in any one year. The most suitable indicator was the number of active volunteers who have worked in any one year, whether for a short period within that year or whether their assignment period overlaps with the previous or with the succeeding year. The indicator (and the length of assignments) also gives and estimate of the workload for the staff of the UNVP.

In addition to the above number, percentages of the number of national and international, female and male volunteers are calculated in adjacent columns in Table 1. The column on the right hand side of the total number of serving volunteers indicates the percentage increase of the year from the previous one. The total number of unique volunteers serving from 1994 through 2004 is estimated at 328 individuals while the total number of unique volunteers serving from 2000 through 2004 is estimated at 227 individuals (source: SIAM Database).

The average number of serving (active) volunteers per year for the period 1994 - 2004 is 51 while that of the period 2000 - 2004 is 70 showing a marked increase in the number of volunteers despite the setback experienced during the years of the Intifada.

Year Total Served % Increase NUNV IUNV Female Male

1994 2 0.0% 100.0 0.0% 100.0

1995 4 100.0 0.0% 100.0 0.0% 100.0

1996 28 600.0 57.0% 42.9% 39.3% 60.7%

1997 46 64.3% 56.5% 43.5% 39.1% 60.9%

1998 64 39.1% 64.1% 35.9% 39.1% 60.9%

1999 68 6.3% 47.1% 52.9% 45.6% 54.4%

2000 77 13.2% 61.0% 39.0% 39.0% 61.0%

2001 59 -23.4% 79.7% 20.3% 37.3% 62.7%

2002 62 5.1% 83.9% 13.1% 35.5% 64.5%

2003 72 16.1% 91.7% 8.3% 43.1% 56.9%

2004 79 9.7% 97.5% 2.5% 40.5% 59.5%

Table 1: Total volunteers serving in any one year; 1994 through 2004; and percentage of which are NUNV/IUNV, Female/Male.Source: SIAM Database. (Important Note:- The column showing total number of actively serving volunteers should not be summed to obtain total number of serving volunteers since 1994 because assignment overlap from one year to another.)

Volunteers By Age Group

Table 2 is a breakdown of the volunteers by age group. What can be deduced from this table is that over the years there is a general shift of the age range towards the younger age groups, i.e. towards the age groups of less than or equal to 25 years of age, between 26 and 30, and between 31 and 35. These three age groups together represent 87.3% of the total number of volunteers for the year 2004. This implies the programmes’ gradual focus on youth groups and individuals with low to medium experience. The discussion in later sections will shed more light on this phenomenon and provide possible explanations.

Year TotalServed

=<25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 >= 61

1994 2 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 50.0% 0.0% 50.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

1995 4 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 75.0% 0.0% 25.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

1996 28 0.0% 7.1% 25.0% 21.4% 17.9% 17.9% 3.9% 7.1% 0.0%

1997 46 0.0% 10.9% 26.1% 15.2% 13.0% 23.9% 2.2% 6.5% 2.2%

1998 64 0.0% 9.4% 32.8% 26.6% 12.5% 14.1% 3.1% 1.6% 0.0%

1999 68 0.0% 13.2% 32.4% 27.9% 14.7% 2.9% 5.9% 0.0% 2.9%

2000 77 0.0% 15.6% 29.9% 31.2% 10.4% 5.2% 6.5% 0.0% 1.3%

2001 59 0.0% 28.8% 30.5% 16.9% 10.2% 6.8% 3.4% 1.7% 1.7%

2002 62 6.5% 38.7% 27.4% 8.1% 11.3% 6.5% 0.0% 1.6% 0.0%

2003 72 12.5% 37.5% 30.6% 5.6% 8.3% 4.2% 0.0% 1.4% 0.0%

2004 79 20.3% 35.4% 31.6% 6.3% 3.8% 1.3% 0.0% 1.3% 0.0%

Table 2: Total volunteers serving in any one year and breakdown by age range; 1994 through 2004. Source: SIAM Database

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Volunteers’ Geographical Distribution

In terms of the geographical distribution of the serving volunteers within the West Bank and Gaza Strip area, the information shown in Figure 1 was obtained for the period covering 1994 through 2004. A 1997 official census of the population of the (with an estimate for East Jerusalem) indicates that the population percentages of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem have the following percentages 60%, 33%, and 7%. Compared to the geographical distribution of volunteers shown in the graph, the percentages are as follows: 52% for the West Bank, 36% for the Gaza Strip, and 12% for Jerusalem. The number of volunteers allocated for the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem is slightly higher than their population percentages, warranted perhaps by the special conditions and considerations of the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.

Figure 1: Percentage of volunteers serving in the West Bank and Gaza Strip area.Source: manual harvesting of archived data; UNVP Staff.

Volunteers: By Profession and Subprofession

The tables below, Table 3 and Table 4, show the percentages of volunteers, per profession and sub-profession for the period 2000-2004, as extracted from the SIAM database where a special field is designated for the educational specialty of the volunteers. However, the following considerations pertaining to the data entered in the SIAM database should be noted: 1) the profession entered is a <best fit> to existing degree/qualifications, 2) there were a total of 227 UNVs from 2000 - 2004; however, less than half had the <Profession> field entered, 3) not all sub-profession fields were entered, and 4) in a few cases, the actual work in the assignment was different than the qualifications, i.e. UNVs be assigned for tasks and duties not related to their study (therefore, this information should be taken only as an indication of the fields of study and experience of the volunteers.) Nonetheless, despite consideration (2) and (3), there reason to believe that the numbers in the database are reasonably representative for percentage calculations (calculated in the tables) and therefore useful as such.

By <Profession> %Administration, Finance And Information Technologies 42.45%Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries 1.89%Commerce And Industry 0.94%Education And Training 4.72%Emergency Assistance And Elections 6.60%Engineering 1.89%Health 1.89%Human Settlements And Heritage 1.89%Mass Media And Art 5.66%Natural Sciences And Resources 0.94%Social Sciences, Law And Project Development 31.13%

Table 3: Breakdown of Volunteers - by <Profession>, 2000 – 2004. Source: SIAM Database.Most noteworthy specialties are those of ‘administration, finance, and information technologies’ followed by ‘social sciences, law, and project development’.

By Sub Profession %Advancement Of Women 1.98%Agricultural Extension / Management 1.98%Architecture And Town Planning 1.98%Art 2.97%Civil Engineering 1.98%Community Development 5.94%Computer Information Systems 12.87%Documentation/Curators 0.99%Educational Administration & Planning 0.99%Engineering Teaching 0.99%Environment 0.99%General Administration 27.72%Human Rights 0.99%Humanitarian Assistance 5.99%Information 0.99%Language Training 0.99%Legal / Paralegal 1.98%Marketing / Trade Promotion 0.99%Medical Assistance/Paramedical Specialization 0.99%Programming/Project Management 20.79%Psychology 0.99%Public Health 0.99%Sociology 0.99%Special Education / Non Formal Education 1.98%

Table 4: Breakdown of Volunteers - by <Sub Profession>, 2000 – 2004. Source: SIAM Database.Most noteworthy specialties are those of ‘general administration’ followed by ‘programming/project management’ and ‘computer information systems’.

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Host Organizations

Types of Host Organizations

Types of organizations that have been benefiting from the programme during the review period 2000 through 2004. The results of this process are shown below in Table 5.

Year NGO ORCBO (in #)

Private Sector

Association(in #)

Government(in #)

Aid or Devel’t

Agency, incl.UN (in #)

Others(in #)

Total

2000 14 0 9 19 2 442002 13 1 17 18 8 572004 18 7 19 14 19 77

Table 5: Types of host organizations benefiting from the programme and their numbers, for select years 2000, 2002, and 2004. NGO or CBO, Private Sector Organization, Aid or Development Agency (including UN), and Others. Source: UNVP Staff, Manual harvesting of archived data.

Table 6 below shows the same information as in Table 5, but in percentages. Apparent trends indicate decreasing numbers of aid or development agencies as host organizations, slightly increasing emphasis on private sector organizations, and decreasing NGO or CBO emphasis over the past five years.

Year NGO ORCBO(%)

Private Sector Association (in

%)

Goverment(%)

Aid or Devel’t Agency, incl.

UN (%)Others (%)

2000 31.8% 0% 20.5% 43.2% 4.5%2002 22.8% 1.8% 29.8% 31.6% 14.0%2004 23.3% 9.1% 24.7% 18.2% 24.7%

Table 6: Types of host organizations benefiting from the programme, in percentages, for select years 2000, 2002, and 2004. NGO or CBO, Private Sector Organization, Aid or Development Agency (including UN), and Others.

Source: UNVP Staff, Manual harvesting of archived data.

Sectors of Host Organizations (or projects)

The following section presents the data for the sectors of the host organizations, or their sector focus for the project that benefited from the volunteers, i.e. in which area the host organization was actually operating and for which the volunteers has contributed. This data is useful in terms of identifying which areas the volunteers have contributed to the most or least. Most noteworthy in this table is that the ‘Engineering & Constructions’, followed by ‘Youth, Children & Sports’, ‘Health & Healthcare’, and ‘Government’, are the sectors which have received the most attention. (Important note on the ‘Government’ sector in this table: the government sector in this table reflects ministries that are ‘pure’ administrative in nature such as the Ministry of Interior. Ministries operating in specific fields have been counted in their respective sectors, for example, a volunteers working with the Ministry of Health on a health related project is counted under ‘Health & Healthcare’. For the percentage of volunteers serving in the government sector as a whole, i.e. irrespective of technical specialty, see the table above.)

YearSector 2000 2002 2004

Education, Academic & Research Centers 2.6% 3.7% 4.1%Advocacy & Law , Human Rights 7.7% 3.7% 1.4%Agriculture 7.7% 5.6% 1.4%Associations & Union 2.6% 3.7% 1.4%Communications & Media 0.0% 0.0% 5.5%Culture & Heritage 5.1% 1.9% 2.7%Democracy, Peace & Community Centers 7.7% 3.7% 5.5%Economy, Business & Private Sector 0.0% 3.7% 4.1%Engineering & Constructions 25.0% 55.6% 18.2%Environment & Ecology 0.0% 9.3% 17.8%Health & Healthcare 20.5% 9.3% 5.5%Refugees & Humanitarian Aid 2.6% 3.7% 4.1%Technology & Information Technology 0.0% 11.1% 1.4%Women and Gender 5.1% 1.9% 5.5%Youth, Children & Sports 25.6% 9.3% 20.5%Tourism 0.0% 3.7% 1.4%Government 10.3% 16.7% 15.1%

Table 7: Sector focus of host organizations, in percentages, for select years 2000, 2002, and 2004. Source: UNVP Staff, Manual harvesting of archived data.

Assignment Profiles

The following section focuses on the profile of assignments for the implementation of the UNVP in the oPT. Extensive data was collected from the SIAM Database, some of which is presented here while the rest is included in a special annex for further interest.

Assignments: Basic Statistics

Based on statistics taken form the SIAM Database, the total number of assignments for the period 1994 – 2004 was 356 while the total number of assignments for the period 2000 – 2004 was 239 assignments. Table 8 shows some of the basic data on assignment duration for the volunteers working in the oPT in the period of 2000 through 2004. There were a total of 86,205 volunteers days (this includes weekends, leave, sick days, etc.) which translates to an average of 362 assignment days per volunteers. However, this last number is not very indicative and a further analysis is required, shown in the table following this one. With respect to the minimum and maximum number of days, the SIAM Database yields 1 (one) as the minimum of assignment days and 1187 days as the maximum. However, the reviewer believes that the minimum number of days recorded in the database is not reasonable; the number being probably a data entry error.

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Total Number of Assignment Days 86105Average Assignment Days 361.786Minimum Assignment Days 1Maximum Assignment Days 1187

Table 8: Basic statistics on assignments, number of assignments and assignment days, 2000-2004. Source: SIAM Database.

Assignments Days Distribution: Duration Breakdown

As mentioned above, the average number of days per assignment shown in the previous table is not very indicative. Therefore, a frequency distribution was extracted from the SIAM assignment database for volunteers serving in the oPT within the period of 2000 through 2004. The results are shown in Table 9 below.

Distribution Bin (# of

days)

Frequency(#of Assign.)

Interpretation

30 2 i.e. there were 2 assignments serving 30 days or less120 19 i.e. there were 19 assignments serving between 31 and 120 days210 39 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days300 32 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days390 90 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days480 11 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days570 8 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days660 7 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days750 15 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days840 8 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days930 5 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days1020 0 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days1110 1 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days1200 1 i.e. there were 39 assignments serving between 121 and 210 days

Table 9: Frequency distribution for assignment days, 2000-2004. Source: SIAM Database.

From the second column of the table above, it becomes clear that the ‘number of assignment days’ distribution is really a three-peaked distribution with the larger peak occurring in the lower number of days (between 30 and 570 days). This means that most of the assignment days occur according to a partial bell distribution. The peak of this curve occurs in the frequency distribution between 301 and 390 days, with 90 assignments falling in that range. The second highest peak occurs between 121 and 220 days, while the third and lowest peak occurs between 661 and 750 days. In short, the table says that assignments tend to be for around one year, with most of them less than that and occurring with a subsidiary peak of around four to five months. Also, for longer assignments, there is a tendency for them to be about two years or thereabouts. However, relatively few assignments are longer than one year. This is shown more clearly in the chart below, Figure 2.

Figure 2: Chart of the frequency distribution for assignment days, 2000-2004. Source: SIAM Database.

Assignments Per Project

The SIAM Database system allows indicating which projects the volunteers fall under. This information was extracted for the period of 2000 through 2004 and is listed in Table 10 below.

Project Title Number ofAssignments

Capacity-Building In Development Planning, Phase I 13Community based Youth Participation and Development 9Community Based Youth Participation and Development (Phase II) 2Conservation of Wetland and Coastal Ecosystems in the Mediterranean region Environmental Awareness Component

3

Creating Opportunities for United Nations Volunteers in the Palestinian Territories 22Development of Palestinian Court System in the West Bank and Gaza - Construction of Courthouses

1

Emergency Support in the Field 3Empowering Young Women in Underprivileged Palestinian Areas 10Environment Action Project 14Establishment of Initial Corps of Cultural Heritage Volunteers 1France Full-Funding 2Full-Funding Belgium, Phase 2 3Full-Funding Japan (JOCV), Phase IIFull-Funding Japan (JOCV), Phase II 2Full-Funding Spain 4Full-Funding Spain, Arrangement with Spain 2001 1Institutions Recovery And Rehabilitation Programme For PA 18Italy Trust Fund 4OCHA Funded Volunteers In PAL 1PAL/Aid Ma nagement and Coordination 1

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PAL/Support to Public Administration 3Palestinian Brucellosis 2Palestinian Development Gateway 1Palestinian Human Development Phase II 1Poverty Oriented Employment Generation Project 3Rehabiliation of the Rest Area Linked to Al Karamah Crossing Point 1Rehabilitation of Tulkarem Hospital 1Role Of Volunteers In Social Development 1Support to Capacity Building in the Palestinian Public Sector 3Support To Strengthening The Institutional And Management Capacities of Ministries 14Support to the Palestinian Reform Programme through National United Nations Volunteers (NUNV>s)

3

Support to the Palestinian Reform Programme 1Support to the Public Administration Reform (PAR) Phase II 17Support to UNV Programme 18Sweden Trust Fund (for FF) 3TOKTEN - Palestine 17Tokten for Reforms 10UNIFEM Funded Volunteers In Palestine 1UNV/WHI 8UNV/WHI Support in Urban Planning to the Three Municipalities of 2UNV-Palestine 2Upgrading of Water Systems in Jericho and Hebron 1West-East-South Facility (Phase III) 1Youth Development Programme Sharek II 4Youth-PAPP 6

Table 10: Number of Assignments Per Project Title 2000 - 2004. Source: List of Assignments, SIAM Database.

A further analysis of the same data shown above, as per the frequency of assignments per listed project is shown the Table 11 below.

Number ofAssignments

Number of Projects

1-2 20 i.e. there were 20 projects that had from 1 to 2 assignments3-6 12 i.e. there were 12 projects that had from between 3 and six assignments7-14 7 i.e. there were 7 projects that had from between 7 and 14 assignments15-19 4 i.e. there were 4 projects that had from between 15 and 19 assignments19+ 1 i.e. there was 1 project that had from 19 and above assignments

Table 11: Frequency distribution of the Number of Assignments Per Project Title 2000 - 2004. Source: List of Assignments, SIAM Database.

However, it should be emphasized that volunteers assignments are usually one or two volunteers per institution and seldom more than that. Therefore, project impact extends over several institutions.

The same type of information shown in Tables 10 & 11 has also been extracted but for the period 1994 through 2000. This is shown in Annex 4.

Additional Statistical Analyses

There is additional data within the SIAM Database that the reviewer perceived as potentially useful especially for the UNVP staff. This pertains to the source of funding for the various assignments/projects. Table 12 and 13 below show the results for the periods 1994-2004 and 2000-2004. It should be noted however, that a small portion of the records in the database did not have the funding source field filled.

Funding Source PercentageAGY 18.82%

FF 3.63%

SVF 0.45%

TF 17.69%

UNDP / AGY 8.84%

UNDP / DEX 12.02%

UNDP / UNVEX 5.90%

Table 12: Percentage of Assignments Funded Per funding source 1994 - 2004. Source: SIAM Database.

Funding Source PercentageAGY 18.59%

FF 2.95%

SVF 0.45%

TF 9.30%

UNDP / AGY 8.84%

UNDP / DEX 12.02%

UNDP / UNVEX 1.13%

Table 13: Percentage of Assignments Funded Per funding source 2000 - 2004. Source: SIAM Database.

Note on Information SystemsMost of the above data has been extracted from the SIAM Database and manipulated in a spreadsheet to obtain the figures, tables, and charts all of which are quantitatively telling of the past results and achievements of the UNVP in the oPt. The SIAM Database has proven to be extremely valuable in this respect.

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