Our Work

USAID/WEST BANK AND GAZA

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) improves the lives of the Palestinian people to set conditions for a viable two-state solution. In 2021, USAID provided over $110 million to support development and humanitarian programs in the West Bank and Gaza. 

OUR WORK

ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND GROWTH 

USAID’s private sector programs advance productivity and create an environment that attracts investment and allows Palestinian businesses to access domestic, regional, and international markets. Technical assistance and grants, market access initiatives, and other support help Palestinian businesses to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HEALTH AND COVID-19 RESPONSE

USAID improves access to essential and advanced health care services to Palestinians, including assistance for the COVID-19 pandemic response. This assistance includes personal protective equipment, infection prevention and hygiene kits, capacity building, and other related services. USAID also funds COVAX, a global vaccine initiative to donate COVID-19 vaccines, including more than 500,000 to the West Bank and Gaza. 

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

USAID increases opportunities for young people, including vulnerable and marginalized youth, and helps them effectively engage in their communities. USAID provides youth with needed psychosocial support, life skills and leadership opportunities, as well as referrals to technical training and other support to build skills and generate income.  

DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

Civil society organizations—including community groups, faith groups, human rights defenders, journalists and others—are critical for community development and conflict mitigation in the West Bank and Gaza. USAID provides capacity building and grants to civil society organizations to implement social and community development projects and improve government’s responsiveness to citizen needs. USAID also supports training and peer-to-peer learning opportunities in civil society organizations to increase the organizations’ effectiveness and advocacy. 

WATER AND SANITATION

USAID increases access to clean water and improves wastewater management in both the West Bank and Gaza. USAID increases household connections to safe drinking water, improves hygiene practices, and strengthens disaster preparedness. These efforts improve human health, environmental health, and quality of life for Palestinians in vulnerable communities.

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

USAID supports the urgent needs of the most vulnerable populations in the West Bank and Gaza, including by providing critical food assistance, essential non-food items such as hygiene kits and medical supplies, and access to clean water and healthcare. USAID provides psychosocial support for conflict-affected children and economic opportunities to improve the quality of life of Palestinians.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) provides life-saving humanitarian assistance to people who need it most. In 2021, BHA supported four programs in West Bank and Gaza to provide assistance to the most vulnerable populations, including food vouchers, essential medical commodities, primary health and psychosocial support services, public health training in hospitals, child protection services, gender-based violence response and prevention, and multipurpose cash assistance to meet households’ immediate basic needs.

PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

USAID supports Israelis and Palestinians to come together on issues of common concern to build trust and advance the conditions for peace. USAID and the State Department bring together individuals of different backgrounds in people-to-people peacebuilding activities. These activities provide opportunities to address issues, reconcile differences, and promote greater understanding and mutual trust by working on common goals such as economic development and cooperation, environment, health, education, sports, music, and information technology. 

Congress enacted the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA), to provide up to $250 million over five years to advance peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians to enable a sustainable two-state solution. MEPPA promotes economic cooperation, people-to-people peacebuilding programs, dialogue and reconciliation, and advances peaceful coexistence  between Israelis and Palestinians. 

USAID has a longstanding partnership with the Palestinian people as a leading provider of development assistance for over 25 years, having provided more than $5.7 billion between 1994-2021.

In addition, USAID’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) initiative is currently implementing 9 projects (5 hospitals and 4 schools) supporting institutions and benefiting local populations and communities in Israel and the West Bank, totaling $7 million.