Supporting Palestinian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa
Strengthening the Influence of Palestinian Refugees on their Living Conditions in the MENA region (PART II)
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ClientGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
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Country -
Runtime2021 bis 2025
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InvolvedStrategic partner: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); Palestinian territories: Department of Refugees Affairs (DoRA), The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development (REFORM), Sustainable Change for Development (SCD), Ibtikar for Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship (IBTIKAR), MA´AN Development Center (MA´AN), Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP); Lebanon: Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC), Community Organisation for Development and Employment (INITIATE), Women's Programs Association (WPA), Taawon (Welfare Association) – Lebanon (TAAWON); Jordan: Department of Palestinian Affairs (DPA), Habaq for Human rights Training and Development (HABAQ), Handicap International (HI), Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), Liwan Youth Space (LIWAN), Hopes for Education, Training and Development (HOPES)
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Products and expertiseSecurity, reconstruction and peace
Context
Almost six million Palestinian refugees are currently registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Many of them have been living in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza and Syria for generations. Living conditions in the camps are characterised by the effects of the wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the destruction of infrastructure in the West Bank, and by poverty, high unemployment and limited rights. The lack of clarity surrounding the future of the Gaza Strip and UNRWA is fuelling people’s existential fears. The camp residents themselves have little influence over their social and economic living conditions or over national and international decision-making processes.
Objective
Palestinian refugees are able to shape their own living conditions more effectively and communicate their needs.
Approach
In order to involve Palestinian refugees in decision-making processes, the project pursues a conflict-sensitive and complex approach in three fields of activity:
- It works closely with UNRWA, the host governments and community-based organisations to promote dialogue structures and to find solutions to the challenges facing the refugee camps.
- To ensure that refugees are given a greater say in the long term, the project also supports its partners in implementing internal reforms and developing strategies.
- The project supports Palestinian refugees with their own innovative measures to improve their psychosocial and socio-economic living conditions. These may be youth initiatives, cooperatives or training opportunities in the camps, for example. Psychosocial work in Gaza is particularly important for the traumatised refugee community.
Last update: April 2025