National Strategy for Combating Multidimensional Poverty

 
Introduction:

Poverty in Palestine remains one of the most pressing challenges that the Palestinian government strives to address and mitigate due to its severe economic and social repercussions, as well as its contribution to deepening social injustice. The government’s efforts to combat poverty take place in a context where the number of impoverished individuals continues to rise, and the circle of those at risk of poverty and marginalization expands directly resulting from the ongoing Israeli occupation and its policies that sustain the root causes of poverty.

 As the leading entity in the social development sector, the primary provider of social protection, and the institution responsible for advancing social development in alignment with the National Policy Agenda, national agreements, Palestine’s commitments to international conventions and treaties, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Ministry of Social Development has taken the lead in intensifying efforts to combat poverty. Through the National Team for Poverty Alleviation, the Ministry is working on developing a multidimensional poverty reduction strategy, guided by two fundamental principles:

1.  Addressing poverty through direct financial and food assistance alone has a limited and unsustainable impact on poverty reduction. Palestinian families often fall back into poverty when faced with social or economic shocks.
2. Combating poverty goes beyond addressing its consequences to tackling its root causes, which are often linked to various forms of deprivation, exclusion, and social marginalization. A holistic and integrated approach to poverty eradication will ultimately lead to a sustainable and dignified life for the poor and marginalized, ensuring their essential needs are met and strengthening their resilience amid ongoing attempts to undermine the Palestinian cause.

To achieve the objectives of this strategy, the Ministry will coordinate and collaborate with all relevant partners to implement the necessary measures for monitoring execution and evaluating performance, based on a framework of cooperation and partnership, with the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty and deprivation in Palestine.

Background Papers on the Dimensions of Poverty

1. Monetary Poverty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty
2. Education in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty
3. Health in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty
4. Employment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty 
5. Housing Conditions and Access to Services in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty
6. Personal Safety and Freedom to Use Assets in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty
7. Personal Freedom as a Dimension of Multidimensional Poverty in Palestine

ESCWA Studies on Multidimensional Poverty

• The Enhanced Model for Poverty Reduction Strategy – A Case Study on Poverty in Palestine
• Real-Time Prediction of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index in the State of Palestine (2017–2022)
• Optimal Resource Allocation Strategy for Indicators of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (Applying a Simulation Model for the State of Palestine)

Policy Interventions

1. Policy Interventions on the Monetary Dimension
2. Policy Interventions on the Education Dimension
3. Policy Interventions on the Health Dimension
4. Policy Interventions on the Employment Dimension
5. Policy Interventions on the Housing Conditions and Access to Services Dimension
6. Policy Interventions on the Personal Safety and Freedom to Use Assets Dimension
7. Policy Interventions on the Personal Freedom Dimension

National Strategy for Combating Multidimensional Poverty

Policy Matrix