Launching the “Building Resilience in West Bank Communities to Transform the Current Shock into a Sustainable Future” Project
MA’AN Development Center, in partnership with Oxfam and with support from the German government (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)), launched the preparatory workshop for the start of the project to strengthen resilience in West Ramallah communities. The workshop was attended by heads and representatives of the targeted village councils and active local stakeholders.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks by Mr. Sami Khader, Director of MA’AN Development Center, in which he emphasized the importance of this project in building a real partnership with local communities. He stressed MA’AN’s commitment to its leading role in early recovery and emergency response, and to linking humanitarian interventions with sustainable development paths that enhance community resilience in light of escalating challenges.
The Director pointed out that MA’AN’s interventions, especially in emergency and crisis situations, are not limited to immediate response, but extend to restoring livelihoods, supporting the most vulnerable groups, and rehabilitating infrastructure and basic services, ensuring a gradual transition from relief to recovery and then to development.
During the workshop, a detailed presentation was delivered on the project’s components and methodology, and a participatory discussion was opened with the village councils on local priorities and needs, in preparation for the start of the implementation phase of the project.
The project targets five communities in Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate (Shibteen, Qibya, Budrus, Ni’lin, Al-Midya), and will be implemented over four years (2026–2029), with a special focus on: supporting livelihoods and creating temporary job opportunities; strengthening food security and linking assistance with local production; rehabilitating agricultural lands and water and sanitation infrastructure; empowering the most affected groups, including persons with disabilities; and enhancing communities’ capacity to recover and respond to crises.
This workshop comes as a first step in a long participatory process that places the local community and village councils at the heart of the planning and implementation process, and lays the foundation for realistic and sustainable interventions that reflect the actual needs on the ground.
