MA’AN Development Center signed five agreements to fund and implement community-based disaster risk reduction initiatives with protection committees and local authorities in several villages east of Jenin. The agreements were signed under the “Endurance” Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by a coalition of Palestinian civil society organizations working in the agricultural sector, in partnership with the Marj Bin Amer Joint Municipality and the local authorities of Arrana, Faqqu’a, Arabuna, Jalbun, and Al-Jalama.
This intervention builds on the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Plans developed at the community level in 2025 as part of the Endurance Project, with the participation of local communities. The plans aimed to identify key risks and priorities and develop practical solutions tailored to the needs of each community.
Under the agreements, a community initiative will be developed and implemented in each targeted locality, focusing on strengthening preparedness and reducing risks associated with the impacts of climate change, particularly on the agricultural and water sectors. The initiatives will also address political, security, economic, and social risks that, under the current circumstances, affect communities to varying degrees.
These initiatives reflect a participatory, community-led approach to identifying priorities and developing solutions. Protection committees in the targeted communities will work jointly with MA’AN Development Center to implement the initiatives based on the needs identified in the disaster risk reduction plans, with financial contributions from the local authorities.
Sami Khader, Director of MA’AN Development Center, emphasized that these initiatives represent a practical step toward moving from identifying risks to implementing locally driven, feasible plans and solutions. They aim to strengthen communities’ preparedness for disasters and their ability to cope with their impacts, contributing to the protection of people and their livelihoods and enhancing their resilience in the face of growing challenges, particularly those related to climate change amid ongoing Israeli occupation violations and the difficult economic situation.
MA’AN Development Center continues to support local communities in developing and adopting sustainable practices that strengthen resilience and risk management and improve the management of natural resources, particularly agricultural land and water resources. These efforts contribute to building communities that are better equipped to adapt, withstand shocks, and respond effectively to future challenges.
