MAS Discusses the Governance of Aid to Palestine after the War on Gaza
Ramallah, July 10th, 2024: The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) hosted a roundtable discussion about “The Governance of Aid to Palestine after the War on Gaza”. The event gathered a group of experts and stakeholders, both physically at the institute's premises and virtually via Zoom. The background paper, prepared for this event, was presented by researcher Nora El Zokm, Founding Director of Darna Research. H.E. Dr. Samah Abu Aoun, Minister of Social Development, Ms. Inès Abdel Razek, the Advocacy Director at the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, Dr. Lex Takkenberg, Senior Advisor on the Question of Palestine at the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development, and Mr. Omar Gharib, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Oxfam, presented their views on the topic.
Mr. Raja Khalidi, MAS's Director General, commenced the session by emphasizing the significance of the subject matter. He mentioned that this paper's topic aligns with the institute's priorities, explaining that this RT is part of a series of activities conducted in the context of studying the impacts of Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories. He added that this paper examines how international donors can better support Palestinian ownership and management of aid in the Gaza Strip, and how the international community can leverage international humanitarian law to address the obstacles imposed by Israel on aid delivery. He also highlighted the measures that can be adopted to enhance the capacity of Palestinian institutions to manage aid more effectively in the Gaza Strip, noting that such a huge issue cannot be overcome with technical solutions.
From her side, Ms. El Zokm called on Palestinians to take on the role of architects, planning the recovery and development of their country. This shift is not merely a demand for inclusion but a call for justice and a firm commitment to internationally recognized principles of providing effective and responsible aid. It involves recognizing that those who endure hardships are best equipped to understand and address them. It also ensures that aid is not used as a means to impose external priorities but as a mechanism to empower Palestinians to achieve their aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity. She explained that Palestinian ownership of aid management means leading the dialogue on effective aid administration. Any aid initiatives should be designed and implemented by those who understand the local context, can look beyond immediate relief to long-term resilience, and are committed to empowering their communities. She stated: “Practically, reclaiming ownership involves developing strong local institutions capable of effectively managing and distributing aid. This also requires transparent and accountable governance structures that inspire confidence in the Palestinian people and international partners”. She added, "The international community must support this shift out of a recognition of the Palestinian rights to self-determination and move from a mindset of control to one of partnership, from directing aid efforts to facilitating them. This transformation demands an acceptance and commitment to preserving the dignity and interests of the Palestinian people". In preparation for transitioning to a system of aid management owned and operated by Palestinians, the donor community must be ready to make Palestinians and their needs the center of the aid delivery process, she explained. There are Palestinians who possess the necessary qualifications and a clear vision for their future. Donors must abandon outdated ideas and stop providing aid in a 'business as usual' manner, as this limits the ability of aid to meet the current and future needs of the Palestinians.
Furthermore, El Zokm illustrated that the international community must also be prepared to support and collaborate with current forums and organizations beyond mere token contributions. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) should, and indeed must, take decisive steps to ensure greater participation of Palestinian civil society and local authorities in its meetings, aligning aid strategies with local needs and priorities. The committee should also focus on providing support to target entities to enable Palestinian institutions to manage and implement aid projects independently, she said. She also called on the Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS) to enhance the effectiveness of its activities by supporting integrated planning approaches that combine humanitarian, development, and peace-building efforts. Additionally, the LACS should `the realities on the ground and be more responsive to urgent needs. Regarding the Sector Working Groups (SWGs), they can maximize their impact and support Palestinian ownership by fostering inter-sectoral collaboration to address intertwined challenges and enhance the coherence of different intervention areas, the researcher noted. Clearer coordination and leadership among UN agencies can be achieved by strengthening the role of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Resident Coordinators' offices.
In turn, H.E. Abu Aoun pointed out that the ongoing war has rendered the Gaza Strip uninhabitable. She highlighted that a small amount of aid enters Gaza, and the PA is exerting efforts to increase aid and ensure fair distribution and called for international pressure to increase the amount of aid. She emphasized that governance should primarily be Palestinian, involving the private sector, civil society organizations, and the government, while stressing the importance of the work of the civil society actors present in Gaza.
Finally, she pointed out that the goal of governance is to achieve justice, and there is a lot of work going on with different parties. She added that aid cannot compensate for the human losses and the many cases left with permanent disabilities.
Following this, Mrs. Abdel Razek stated that there is an urgent need to address what is happening on the ground with short-term solutions. She added that there is an act of genocide in Gaza, and solutions must align with reality, as there is a famine. Israel and its allies are determined to keep Gaza in a state of famine and destruction through their continued aggression. Abdel Razek pointed out that Israel is violating all international agreements and laws, whereas the UN systems have failed the Palestinians. The United Nations has a responsibility and must reconsider its mission without delay.
Regarding Palestinian institutions, there will be no Palestinian institutions as long as the occupation continues. NGOs in Gaza and the West Bank must support the PA, and a governance mechanism inclusive of all parties must be established.
Mr. Gharib illustrated that Palestinians must learn from the aid management failures in 2014 and be prepared with plans. We should not allow donors to dictate their agendas, lead these consultations, and ensure that the process is led locally. There must be no political bias or agendas, as the needs are immense. Palestinians have human rights that organizations must emphasize. Gharib called for the necessity of engaging with local partners and building advocacy campaigns.
From his part, Dr. Lex emphasized the importance of the matter and the necessity for everyone to engage, noting the unprecedented atrocities and unprecedented brutality being witnessed. There is a pressing need to push for the entry of aid, especially since more than two-thirds of Palestinians in Gaza are originally displaced "refugees". He added that there is an unprecedented and ongoing attack on UNRWA, which provides many services.
Lex pointed out that many Gazan Palestinians have extensive experience, especially in infrastructure. He added that there are issues that the United Nations should engage in planning for the day after the war, especially regarding relief efforts.
On the other hand, participants agreed on the importance of the discussion topic while stressing the need to mobilize efforts to end the aggression against Gaza and reach a political solution. They emphasized the need for planning for the reconstruction phase and stressed the high priority of reaching a Palestinian political unity to unify all efforts benefiting Gaza. They also called for an active role for Palestinians in coordinating and managing humanitarian relief operations. Some also advocated for the formation of a multinational body as a third-party supporter in relief operations.
To read the full Background paper on this topic click here