Introduction
The deteriorating humanitarian situation, stifled economy, and high unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza mean that living conditions of Palestinians continue to worsen. The construction of the separation barrier has meant the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs for Palestinians who worked in Israel, and the tense security situation that continues to prevail in the region has substantially affected the lives of the more than 3.7 million Palestinians living in the area. Additionally, the difficulties in movement between the West Bank and Gaza and Israel, and internally within the West Bank, means people, goods and services cannot move easily and costs of transportation and imported products are high.
In response to these challenges, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with CHF International to implement the three-year, $34 million Emergency Jobs Program (EJP).
The objective of EJP is to stimulate jobs creation through collaboration with the public and private sector, communities, and local organizations to implement small scale, labor intensive infrastructure projects throughout the West Bank. EJP provides short term employment through the construction of these projects and long term employment through jobs created by the maintenance and operations of the infrastructure constructed , as well as the impact of these infrastructure projects on the overall economy.
CHF International, through EJP, consults with communities to prioritize and implement each project. Local labor, contractors and materials are sourced and used to create jobs and maximize local investment. This results in a targeted cash inflow to struggling households and the restoration of dilapidated facilities in affected communities.
But EJP does not just erect structures. The improvements and buildings that result provide for enhanced basic services of all kinds, create spaces for community members to meet, and build attractive, safe recreational areas for youth and children. The projects provide educational opportunities and empower youth, women and the disabled in ways that would not otherwise be possible. Vaccinations and health services are delivered through new health clinics. A sense of ownership and pride in heritage is restored. Children no longer have to walk along main roads to get to school. This uniquely multifaceted program not only provides short- and long-term employment to local laborers and supports local industries but the infrastructure created provides long term jobs and improves quality of life for Palestinians overall.
The Jebel Al Nnar youth club in the Nablus governorate of the West Bank is just one example of the cross-cutting impact of EJP. The club, founded in 2003, was forced to limit their activities due to space constraints. EJP renovated a historical building as a new site for the club, taking care to preserve the original elements of the structure while also creating an attractive space for young people of the area. Instead of using heavy construction machinery within the building, EJP carried out all renovations manually. This not only ensured the integrity of this historic structure, it also had the added benefit of increasing labor impact. The youth club is now a vibrant, beautiful space where area youth can come together for media and computer training, leadership and professional development workshops, and social events.
EJP, at its core, is a jobs creation and infrastructure development program. However, inherent in these activities is a secondary impact: the rehabilitated infrastructure has a positive affect on the sectors that it serves. In this way, CHF International is improving the educational, health, and community services across the West Bank. In total, EJP projects have worked in more than 44% of the communities and with over 30% of the registered contractors in the West Bank, directly impacting over 50% of the population. The following report is a series of case studies showing how the EJP has achieved its goals in different areas of Palestinian life from jobs creation and economic revitalization, to education and health, and to community and culture.