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West Bank and Gaza
>> Regional Overview >>West Bank and Gaza Overview Program Data Sheet
294-003USAID MISSION: West Bank and Gaza
PROGRAM TITLE: Democracy and Governance (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: More Responsive and Accountable Governance, 294-003
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,374,694 ESF
PRIOR YEAR UNOBLIGATED FUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCE: $10,579,507 ESF; $700,000 ESF (Wye Supplemental Funds)
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $10,500,000 ESF
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2006Summary: The USAID Democracy and Governance program in West Bank and Gaza includes-
- support to strengthen Palestinian civil society organizations;
- technical and limited material assistance to the Palestinian Legislative Council; and
- support for improved rule of law: more efficient Palestinian courts, a strengthened prosecutorial capacity, a more independent Palestinian Bar Association, and more modern Palestinian law schools.
Beneficiaries include Palestinian citizens in all areas of society who are better served by the legal system and the Palestinian Council.
Inputs, Outputs, and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will use FY 2002 Economic Support Funds to continue activities that have shown results under ongoing USAID programs.
In FY 2002, USAID will provide Economic Support Funds to assist more than 70 local civil society organizations (CSOs) with capacity building, training in policy analysis, communication and leadership skills, strategic planning, management and conflict resolution, and upgrading CSOs financial systems and internal governance structures. This work will bolster independent oversight of the Palestinian Authority decision-making process and enhance local CSO internal management systems to ensure professionalism and sustainability.
USAID will also provide limited support to improve the rule of law by building management and administrative capacity within the judicial system, increasing professionalism of the legal community, and making the Palestinian Bar Association more responsive to the needs of its members. Illustrative activities include upgrading lawyers' access to legal resources; technical assistance with new bar admittance standards; ethics codes; and strengthening court administration.
USAID will also provide assistance to improve the responsiveness of the elected Palestinian Council in 2002 by improving constituent-response services in district offices and improving the way committees review critical legislation. Ongoing training and limited equipment procurement in the area of information and communication technology will help the Council better conduct meetings and share information with the public.
USAID may provide limited assistance to strengthen the management capacity of local governments in 2002 through training and workshops and other programs to further decentralize local government decision-making.
Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID is requesting FY 2003 resources for this program to continue the programs mentioned above, as well as to expand programming in the area of local governance and the rule of law, e.g., training of lawyers and judges, improving curricula and availability of resources at law libraries and schools, and assisting the administration of the court system. USAID is in the initial stages of evaluating support to these areas and ensuring that support provided meets expected needs in this very fluid environment.
Performance and Results: Key to the development of a democratic culture and society are rule of law, strengthening of civil society, and improving legislative processes and structure in the Palestinian Council. Even after the uprising began in September 2000, USAID West Bank and Gaza has been able to continue to make an impact in this important sector.
Improved Rule of Law: Activities are focused on improving the law schools, the judicial system and legal profession. Despite the yearlong border closures, assistance to Palestinian courts has resulted in the development of an automated case-tracking system for use in the four pilot courts in the West Bank and Gaza. The system gives law students and professors access to a specialized database on Palestinian law, as well as outside legal resources. Computer training has been provided to scores of Palestinian lawyers in the West Bank and Gaza, which will contribute to the lawyers' ability to conduct legal research. A new database of the Palestinian Bar Association membership was begun to help the Bar become more responsive to its members' professional development needs. Also, computer and electronic communication training was provided to judges. Plans for the establishment of two alternative dispute resolution centers in the West Bank and Gaza are in progress and will support and complement judicial reform.
Strengthened Civil Society: USAID has provided 70 grants to Palestinian NGOs which enhanced their ability to provide much-needed services, and an orientation to democratic principles. Examples include job skills for deaf women, attention to elementary students with communicative disorders, outreach to marginalized citizens, and education on children's rights. Activities have included introduction of civic education in the Palestinian curriculum, and conflict resolution skills for youth or university students. These activities also emphasized the importance of NGOs as conduits of communication between citizens and government. Activities focused on improving the internal governance, financial management, and strategic planning of NGOs, which will contribute to a more transparent, responsive, and accountable civil society sector.
A More Responsive Palestinian Council: The Palestinian Council convened two plenary sessions and a number of committee meetings despite the situation in-country. Legislative activity was facilitated through the use of video conferencing. USAID supported Council constituent offices throughout the West Bank and Gaza that conducted about 40 town meetings. The Parliamentary Research Unit produced 11 draft laws, which were reviewed by the Council. USAID assistance helped develop the Council website, which is now functioning as a public information resource. To improve the transparency of the Council's internal administration, a number of legislative and administrative manuals were completed on overall administrative policy, hiring procedures, and procedures for conducting public hearings.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID activities will be implemented by Chemonics International as the prime contractor, working with CARE International and AMIDEAST as subcontractors; the International Republican Institute working with the Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute and Birzeit University Development Studies Programme; World Learning working with Birzeit University; America's Development Foundation; DPK Consulting, Inc., AMIDEAST, and a significant number of Palestinian NGOs.
US Financing in Thousands of Dollars
294-003 More responsive and accountable governance ESF Through September 30, 2000 Obligations 57,337 Expenditures 34,599 Unliquidated 22,738 Fiscal Year 2001 Obligations 11,714 Expenditures 10,373 Through September 30, 2001 Obligations 69,051 Expenditures 44,972 Unliquidated 24,079 Prior Year Unobligated Funds Obligations 11,279 Planned Fiscal Year 2002 NOA Obligations 5,375 Total Planned Fiscal Year 2002 Obligations 16,654 Proposed Fiscal Year 2003 NOA Obligations 10,500 Future Obligations 10,500 Est. Total Cost 106,705
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
