| April * |
In cooperation with the Development Studies Programme at Birzeit University,
MA'AN published a research study done by Mr. George Kurzom, MA'AN's Research
and Information Unit Coordinator. Titled "Towards Alternative Self-Reliant
Agricultural Development", the study includes an analysis of subjective
and external factors causing the deformation of the Palestinian agricultural
economy. It also critically analyzes actual agricultural strategies and
policies. The study is in Arabic and consists of 60 pages. |
| May |
MA'AN received the approval of the British Council to upgrade its Resource
Unit for the amount of 3000 Pounds in the form of Books, Training Manuals
and Material. |
| June |
MA'AN received the approval of the Welfare Consortium to implement
a project titled: 'Empowering Palestinian Rural Women". The goal of this
project is to develop the capacities of poor and marginalized women in
the agricultural sector to 1) meet the basic food needs of their families.
2) improve their technical capacities 3) develop the potential for income
generation 4) contribute to the well-being of their communities.
The project aims at installing 90 grey-water gardens for 90 homes in
6 Salfeet District villages. The women will also be trained in Grey-Water
garden design and sustainable agricultural practices, as well as in water
conservation and preservation techniques. Food production, food processing,
food preservation, freezing and storing will also be subjects of training,
in addition to training in small business and entrepreneurial skills.
The total budget approved for the project is US$ 105,998. |
| June * |
MA'AN Development Center, Palestinian Agriculture Relief Center (P.A.R.C)
and the ETC Institute - Holland cooperated in translating and publishing
"Farming for the Future: An introduction to Low-External-Input and Sustainable
Agriculture". The book examines the strategies and techniques of Low-External-Input
and Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA). The central concern of the book is
how development workers can assist small-scale local resources to solve
their agricultural problems. Emphasis is therefore on methods of Participatory
Technology Development (PTD) to find site-specific solutions and to raise
the overall productivity of farming in a sustainable way.
The authors have taken an interdisciplinary approach, providing a broad
framework of background theory as well as practical ideas and up-to-date
information. Numerous examples from the field are given to illustrate key
principles and techniques of LEISA.
This book is the first local publication in Arabic in the field of
sustainable agriculture, and consists of 303 pages.
The Netherlands Development Agency (NEDA) and the Netherlands Organization
for International Cooperation and Development (NOVIB) funded the project. |
| June |
MA'AN signed an agreement with the Association of Palestinian Local
Authorities (APLA) to implement the APLA Training Program, which includes
conducting training courses in Time Management and related subjects for
PA staff in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The first part of this program
includes implementing 2 courses in Time Management in the Gaza Strip and
three others in the West Bank. |
| June |
Ms. Suzan Heher from the South African Representative Office, Mr. Tawfiq
Raad from the Australian Embassy, and representatives from MA'AN Center,
officially opened the Children's Recreational Centre at the village of
Beita in Salfit District on June 26, 1999. Both the South African Representative
Office and the Australian Embassy funded the project, which included training
for Beita's women's committee in Administration and Computer literacy.
The group also visited a number of grey water gardens and renovated wells,
funded by the South African Representative Office. Then they attended the
opening ceremony organized by the women committee at Beita for the Recreational
Centre. |
| June |
Mr. Tawfiq Raad from the Australian Embassy attended the graduation
ceremony of the women of Skaka who finished a training course in Community
Skills arranged by MA'AN and Marda Centers. Mr. Raad distributed the certificates
for the graduates and congratulated the women on their hard work. The training
course was funded by the Australian Embassy. |
| April - May - June |
MA'AN continued publishing its articles in the agricultural weekly
page in Al-Quds Newspaper. The articles discuss different development and
agricultural issues, as well as issues related to women and their development. |
| April - May - June |
MA'AN continued publishing its articles on its internet web-site. Some
of the articles were translations of issues published in Al-Quds Newspaper,
while others discuss other different development and agricultural issues. |
