MoSD & UNDP/PAPP Launch Emergency Intervention to Support the Northern West Bank Governorates funded by the Federal Government of Germany
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP/PAPP), and Germany today announced the launch of a USD 3 million socio-economic emergency response to support the northern governorates of the West Bank, following recent hostilities that severely affected thousands of families and disrupted local livelihoods.
The announcement was made during an official launching ceremony held in Ramallah, attended by H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs ad interim; H.E. Dr. Mohammad Al-Amour, Minister of National Economy; H.E. Dr. Nasser Qatami, Prime Minister Advisor for Arab and Islamic Funds; Mrs. Anke Schlimm, Head of the German Representative Office in Ramallah; Mr. Martin Mauthe-Kaeter, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Representative Office; Mr. Arne Gooss, Director of the German Development Bank (KfW); and Mr. Jaco Cilliers, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator, along with senior representatives of Palestinian civil society organizations and international partners.
“This project comes as part of the government’s emergency response to the urgent needs of families displaced and affected by recent military operations in the northern West Bank. The Ministry is leading a coordinated effort alongside UNDP and civil society partners to provide targeted support for the most vulnerable, including women-headed households, persons with disabilities, and small business owners. Together, we aim to strengthen resilience, protect livelihoods, and uphold the dignity of affected families,” said H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development.
Funded by the Government of Germany through KfW and implemented under UNDP/PAPP’s Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR), this joint intervention focuses on restoring dignified living conditions for over 4,000 individuals through income-generating activities. It will directly support more than 500 small and micro-enterprises and cooperatives, and community-based initiatives, enabling them to resume operations and contribute to economic recovery.
Mrs. Anke Schlimm, the German Representative in Ramallah reiterated: “During these challenging times for the Palestinian people in the northern West Bank, Germany is providing immediate relief to help families in restoring their livelihoods and strengthening their resilience. We are committed in supporting the Palestinian people in practical terms.”
Jaco Cilliers, UNDP/PAPP Special Representative of the Administrator said: "UNDP is proud to work with the Palestinian Government, in close coordination with line ministries and civil society partners. Through this initiative, supported by our strategic partners Germany and its development bank KfW, we are ensuring that the needs of displaced families, women-headed households, youth, and daily wage workers are met with dignity. The programme will enable over 600 individuals to restart income-generating activities, benefitting more than 4,000 people and creating vital pathways for recovery”.
The intervention specifically targets households headed by women or including persons with disabilities, as well as affected small business owners, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the recent hostilities, aiming to reintegrate them into the economic process and enhance their resilience.
The initiative comes at a critical time, as communities in the Northern Governorates of the West Bank continue to face the consequences of instability—ranging from damaged infrastructure and economic paralysis to widespread loss of livelihoods. The Palestinian government, in partnership with development actors, is taking a leading role in responding to these challenges in a manner that aligns with broader recovery frameworks.
This effort reflects the strong commitment of the UNDP and German government to support inclusive and sustainable recovery in Palestine, and underscores the importance of international solidarity in addressing urgent socio-economic needs while laying the foundation for long-term resilience.
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MoSD Visits Bethlehem and Stresses the Importance of Integrated Efforts to Serve Citizens Amid Current Challenges
Bethlehem – As part of the Ministry of Social Development’s commitment to maintaining direct engagement with governorates and strengthening the social protection system across the country, Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, conducted a field visit to Bethlehem Governorate. During the visit, she reviewed the conditions of citizens and the challenges they face, stressing the importance of intensifying coordination among government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure citizens’ needs are met amid the difficult circumstances affecting the region. The visit was attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Mr. Taha Al-Irani, the Minister’s Advisor, Ms. Duaa Wadi, and the Director of the Women’s Department, Ms. Hiba Jibat, along with a ministry delegation. Dr. Hamad was received by the Governor of Bethlehem, Major General Mohammad Taha Abu Alia, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Dawood Al-Hamri, and the Director of the Directorate of Social Development in Bethlehem, Ms. Saeda Al-Atrash. During the visit, Dr. Samah Hamad praised the efforts of Bethlehem Governorate and civil society institutions in supporting citizens’ resilience, affirming that the Ministry will remain in continuous communication with all relevant parties to address issues and challenges faced by citizens as much as possible. She emphasized that limited resources require a high level of coordination and effective organization of efforts to ensure services reach those entitled to them in the best possible manner. She also highlighted the significant importance of the National Registry in improving targeting mechanisms and enhancing fairness in service delivery. Dr. Hamad pointed to the difficult situation faced by Bethlehem Governorate under the current challenges, stressing the need for integrated efforts between official institutions and the private sector to confront these conditions and mitigate their impact on citizens. She also addressed the situation of displaced and affected people in the northern West Bank, presenting the Ministry’s efforts in providing relief and support despite the challenges resulting from the withholding of clearance revenues, and commended the resilience of both the Palestinian government and people. For his part, the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Mr. Taha Al-Irani, affirmed that the Ministry operates under an integrated vision with various partners to strengthen the social protection system, noting that field efforts focus on reaching the most vulnerable groups and delivering services efficiently and fairly, ensuring a more effective response to the growing challenges. At the conclusion of the visit, the Governor of Bethlehem, Major General Mohammad Taha Abu Alia, welcomed the Minister’s visit, commending the role of the Ministry of Social Development in supporting citizens’ resilience and stressing the importance of continued coordination among all parties to strengthen the social protection system and alleviate the suffering of the governorate’s residents.
