In light
of the continued deterioration of the socio-economic and
living conditions of the Palestinian people resulted from
the Israeli persistent aggression against all walks of our
life, the international organizations headed by the World
Food Program adopted contingent relief programs aimed at the
provision of food support to the poor families, which are
continually on rise.
PARC was
aware of the implications of human aid and relief programs
on the Palestinian’s mentality and behavior. We were alert
of the magnitude of these programs on enhancing the existent
passive traditional structures and developing trends of
dependency and consumption among the Palestinians, which
touch national identity and pride. Therefore, out of our
responsibility towards achieving real changes in the
socio-economic and cultural de facto situations in rural
areas, we have been determined to maintain the developmental
course in which the Palestinian organizations have invested
enormous time, efforts and resources, and to utilize these
programs in the service of achieving sustainable development
aims.
In this
context and in harmony with our developmental and societal
approach, we developed a comprehensive concept for “Work for
Food” with the full participation of the target groups and
local communities. We connected this project with the other
developmental interventions and programs so as to ensure the
sustainability of its results and achievements.
Thus, PARC took the lead in identifying the mechanisms and
means of linking between relief programs and developmental
programs. In 2003, we merged between food and work and
stimulated many of the governmental and non governmental
organization to adopt it in their developmental policies.
This methodology has been integrated into the national plan
for the socio- economic rehabilitation, the national medium
term development plan, and the medium term agricultural
development plan as well as the reform plan of the Ministry
of Labor and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Developmental Impact:
By
implementing the “Work for Food” program, PARC could
achieve the following during the period 2004 up to now:
On
the economic and development level:
Decreasing and decelerating of the unemployment rate
in rural areas. The program provided 800000 work
opportunities with a value of 6 million USD for
approximately 40000 male and female unemployed. In
other words, the program decreased the unemployment
rate in the West Bank by nearly 25%.
Enhancing the food security for a large number of
rural families, a thing that prevented these
families from falling into absolute poverty. 60000
families of 300000 beneficiaries benefited from the
food rations that were distributed so far. PARC
managed to protect 11% of the rural families against
absolute poverty from which 16% of the total
Palestinian families suffer.
Rehabilitation of the agricultural, environmental,
educational and health infrastructures in rural
areas. In the context of this program, PARC managed
to provide 106397 workdays through rehabilitating
14773 dunums of farmed land and building 357.805
square meters of terraces. In addition, we opened
670 km of agricultural roads and restored 64980
square meters of buildings such as schools, mosques,
and public gardens.
Alleviation of the consequences of the occupation
measures on the vital services and productive
facilities in rural areas. We managed to stimulate
and re-operate some of the resources and production
mechanisms so as to enable rural people to generate
the minimum income for subsistence. We also
succeeded to include local produce like olive oil in
the food packages. Almost 600 tons of olive oil were
distributed in each round by the Ministry of
Agriculture.
Enhancement of self reliance mechanisms such as
household economy, which gained back its importance
and central role in the social productive
infrastructure. In this context, 5220 dunums of
house gardens were cultivated, which have become a
source of food security sustainability for the
economic protection of rural families.
Activating of traditional crafts, which depend on
agricultural products. For example, the program
activated the agricultural and food processing
techniques which helped in solving partly the
marketing problem of agricultural surplus on one
hand, and enhanced food security sustainability on
the other. 8411 kg of processed foods were produced.
As such the program enlarged people’s options of
income generation.
Development and reinforcement of agricultural work
and the transformation of the farmed land to
productive by changing the behavior of rural people
into a positive one that searches for the best and
balanced use of available resources.
On the social level:
Improvement of developmental partnership based on
democratical and occupational bases between
different political parties and social strata within
a wide societal framework. In the context of this
program many popular committees comprising
representatives of societal and political groups as
well as of the municipal councils were established
in different locations. The emergent partnership
of rural associations and groups undermined and
replaced the tribal and familial influence, and
political favoritism. On the other hand, the program
has encouraged the social solidarity among these
groups and pushed them to reformulate their plans,
trends and programs pertaining to development and
democracy to adequately meet the real needs of the
rural population.
Revival of the volunteer and collective work; the
voluntary days invested in implementing the program
activities comprised 12.5% of the total paid work
days achieved in the context of the program. The
later also enhanced the survival mechanisms that
helped in overcoming difficulties. The staff of the
program increased their sense of responsibility
toward poor rural families. Thus, the program
improved solidarity among rural people that is based
on newly evolving trends not on the narrow
old-fashion values.
Encouraging a positive approach among the rural
population regarding better estimation of the
agricultural work. As a result, various strata were
involved in agricultural activities such as youths,
women and farmers themselves after many years of
abandoning the land because of the continued
obstacles created by the Israeli occupation.
The program manifested and emphasized the central
role that women play in the rural life particularly
in agriculture. Rural women contributed by 21% to
the program activities and comprised 16% of the
members of the popular committees that were
responsible for the implementation process. The most
important indicator is the recognition of the rural
communities of this role and the respect that women
received from their families and local communities.
On the cultural level:
Developing of the civil society values and
principles such as transparency, accountability,
equal opportunities and institutionalization at the
time a set back started to emerge in the tribal,
familial values and political favoritism. New basis
for internal relations and conflict resolution began
to evolve in rural areas. Moreover, the program
enhanced people’s confidence in their roles,
capacities and abilities.
Improving of the productive mentality through
restoration of the productive trends that prevailed
in rural areas before the invasion of the
consumption trends and values. And by stimulating
the creative capacities of rural people. Surely, the
productive mentality constitutes one of the most
important prerequisites for achieving sustainable
development.
Reinforcement of cultural and know how trends among
rural people through training courses and workshops,
and holding back social and political narrow
mindedness.
Restoration of ancient places and ruins as well as
educational institutions, a thing that provided a
better learning environment.
Problems and obstacles:
Denying access to some locations, which lie in the
west of the Wall. Thus, the communities there did
not benefit from the program at the time they are
the neediest people.
The conservative attitude of some local councils
against the participation of women in the program’s
committees.
The lack of response and interaction of some
targeted locations in the program activities due to
their ambitions to obtain job opportunities outside
the rural and agricultural domain.
Logistics problems regarding the storage of food
rations and the distribution mechanisms.
Other projects implemented by other organizations
provided unconditional and free food.
Change in the beneficiaries names in some locations
due to the fact that some beneficiaries were unable
to meet the program condition pertaining to work.
A small number of beneficiaries sold part of their
rations so as to cover other needs. This behavior
required some investigation to understand the
reasons behind it.
Popular committees which supervised the
implementation of the program were deprived of
benefiting from it though they were in need of that
assistance. It is recommended to look for ways and
incentives to reward these volunteering committees.
Despite of these problems, the staff of the World Food
Program and PARC had very good communication and
cooperation that enabled them along with the popular
committees to follow up and solve most of the complaints
and remarks, which they had received during the program
implementation.
