Italian Cooperation in the country

Italy is one of the main donors in Palestine, with a total commitment of 450 millions of euro starting from mid ‘80s. Currently, AICS Jerusalem is funding programmes and projects for a total amount of 187 millions of euro, of which 101 millions in grants and 86 millions in soft loans.

Italy is also committed in the EU joint programming, with the indicative commitment of 66 millions of euro (not including voluntary contributions to UN agencies and NGOs) and the leadership of three main sectors: health, gender/human rights and economic development, according with the Palestinian National policy Agenda 2017-2022.

Italy is also funding Humanitarian programme in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, for a current total amount of 7,6 millions of euro. Projects activities focus on water, displaced and refuges protection and health, and they are implemented by Italian civil society organizations active in Palestine.

Italian Civil Society organizations are also currently implementing 24 projects for a total amount of 27 millions of euro, related to the same sectors of interventions of the main sectors covered by AICS Jerusalem.

AICS Jerusalem funds also projects implemented by UN agencies, for a current total amount of 8 millions of euro, such as UNRWA, FAO, WHO, UNIDO, UNFPA, UNWOMEN, ILO and OCHA.

Strategic development document in the country

The Palestinian Policy Agenda 2017-2022 identifies pillars and priorities that the PNA defines for the accomplishment of its political and economic independence, a Govern System reform and a Sustainable development.

To achieve these results, the document establishes some national priority such as:

• End of the Israeli occupation;
• National Unity;
• Enhancement of the international status recognition of Palestine;
•  State reform for a real governmental action;
• Improvement of the social justice and of the rule of law;
• Enhancement of the educational system;
• Enhancement of the health care system;
• Improvement of resilience capacities for disadvantaged communities.

The Italian strategy and the areas of intervention

In line with the ownership principle and with the harmonization to the EU Joint Programming, the Italian strategy in Palestine aims at enhancing its presence in the three main sectors:

• Health
• Gender and Human Rights
• Economic Devlopment

In addition to these main areas, humanitarian projects with a geographical focus on Area C, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and development initiatives implemented by Italian OSC will be carried out.

 

Alignment with the local government strategy and harmonization with donor community interventions

The European Joint Strategy is part of a broader European partnership with Palestine that includes support to the PA’s national development plan, the National Policy Agenda for 2017-2022. The European Joint Strategy aims at ensuring the harmonization and increase coherence of EU's approaches by reducing inefficiencies, facilitating policy dialogue, identifying gaps and opportunities in programming and in jointly addressing Palestinian key priorities.

Through weekly meetings with the different Donors and Development Agencies active in Palestine, the Italian Agency in Palestine can identify and fund relevant and needed initiatives of development cooperation and humanitarian AID avoiding any possible overlapping and duplication.

 

Goals and expected results

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