MA’AN Begins Retaining Wall Construction in Shabtin to Improve Infrastructure Safety and Create Temporary Jobs
MA’AN Development Center has begun constructing a retaining wall in Shabtin village, west of Ramallah, under the project “Building Resilience in the Communities of the West Bank (Area C) to Transform the Current Shock into a Sustainable Future.” The project is implemented in partnership with Oxfam and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The intervention aims to improve safety at the targeted site, stabilize the soil alongside the road, and reduce the risk of soil erosion or collapse, helping protect local infrastructure and improve its long-term sustainability.
The intervention was selected following a technical assessment of community infrastructure and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs in the five villages targeted by the project: Shabtin, Ni’lin, Qibya, Budrus and Al-Midya. Priorities were then identified in coordination with local authorities and the targeted communities.
Construction activities include foundation preparation, reinforcement, formwork installation and concrete pouring, in accordance with approved technical specifications and under technical supervision.
The intervention also provides temporary employment for members of the targeted communities through the Cash for Work programme, engaging workers in supporting construction activities. This provides temporary income for households facing difficult economic conditions while contributing to improvements in local infrastructure.
The retaining wall is part of a broader package of WASH and community infrastructure interventions across the five villages, addressing priority needs and strengthening community resilience.
