UNDP signs agreement with Palestinian NGOs to empower women in Gaza – UNDP/PAPP press release

Press Release

In the presence of the “Global Elders” delegation chaired by Mary Robinson,

UNDP signs an agreement with Palestinian NGO’s

To empower women in Gaza

Gaza, October 17th, 2010 – As a result of a recent UNDP social assessment survey, conducted in partnership with Gaza civil society organizations, to identify post conflict needs of different groups, incluuding women, following the December 2008 war on Gaza, the United Nations Development Programme /Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People signed an agreement with four Women NGOs in the Gaza Strip to implement a US$350,000 project funded by the Government of Canada through CIDA.

The project aims at supporting the resilience of disadvantaged women and their families in the Gaza Strip through carrying out interventions in partnership with civil society organizations specialized in planning and implementing socio-economic, education, awareness, and recreational women-based programmes.

The project consists of providing training in income generation schemes to women households and supporting them to access local markets, providing advocacy and capacity building schemes for women organizations to enhance their operational and outreach capacities in raising the society’s awareness of vital concepts including gender equality, violence against women, and women political, social, and economic empowerment; training young male and female researchers on topics related to gender equality and human rights and finally organizing a wide range of recreational activities for women beneficiaries and their families including cultural, sports, and arts events.

The ceremony was held on Sunday October 17th, 2010 in the presence of the “Global Elders” delegation chaired by Ms. Mary Robinson, former Irish President, with members Al-Akhdar Al-Ibrahimi and Ms. Ela Bhatt, Mrs. Nadia Abu Nahleh for the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee, Mrs. Zeinab Ghneimi for the Center for women's Legal Research and Consulting, Mrs. Amal Siam for the Women’s Affairs Centre, Mrs. Mariam Zaqout for the Culture and Free Thought Association, and Mr. Khaled Abdul Shafi for UNDP. The Elders is an independent group of prominent world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007. It functions in providing expertise and collective influence of its members to support peace-building efforts and help address the main causes of human suffering.

For further information, please contact:

In Jerusalem: Dania Darwish, Communications Officer, Tel. +972-2-6268229 – e-mail: dania.darwish@undp.org, Conal Urquhart, External Relations Advisor, Tel. +972-2-6268200 – e-mail: conal.urquhart@undp.org; In Gaza: Najla Shawa, Communications Associate, Tel. +972-8-2822167 – e-mail: Najla.shawa@undp.org. For more information on UNDP/PAPP see http://www.undp.ps .

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.