November 2009 Update
Participants at the November Alternative Workshop in Gaza worked together to identify the most pressing challenges of the sector and agreed on a series of recommendations to move Gaza's development forward.
Immediate challenges:
The agricultural sector: the agricultural sector employs over 40,000 Palestinians, and its development has become increasingly important to improve food sufficiency.
Youth unemployment: Unemployment among young people is a main source of concern, especially since they constitute the highest percentage of the population in Gaza. There is a need for new employment opportunities.
Relief vs. development efforts: The needs of the local communities have changed since the crisis began, and there is now a greater emphasis on development and regeneration rather than relief. The need for basic goods and services is less pressing than the need for sustainable development, such as employment opportunities.
Mismatch between local needs and international intervention efforts: While international aid is welcome, it's important to incorporate local knowledge in the design of relief programmes. The needs of any humanitarian crisis are particular to its environment and relief efforts work best where they are tailored to the specific situation and utilize local expertise. The participants advocated that international relief agencies in the region work with local experts, instead of using agents with more general expertise in emergency response not specific to Gaza.
Recommendations:
Developing Technology in the service and ICT industries: the advantage of developing these two sectors is that they don't require significant capital, investment or raw materials, and depend mainly on human resources, which exists in abundance. They are apolitical, so support can be generated easily. They have the potential to play a major role in overcoming many of the challenges Gaza faces.
Greater focus on small businesses: Local businesses are an important means to create self sufficiency in the region. There are various local authority incentives in operation, such as the rent of land for agricultural purposes at subsidized rate. These incentives can be more widely publicized, and could even be tailored as investment opportunities for young people.
Energy research: Investment and research into renewable sources of energy - especially solar - is highly recommended.
Employment opportunities for women and disabled people: this is a unique opportunity to increase productivity and profitability in the region, and home run businesses could be introduced to enable women to contribute to the labour force whilst respecting the traditional set-up of society. For instance, sewing machines could be delivered to households and collection of garments/products could be agreed. These products would be sold across the border.
Coordination and cooperation: agencies would be nominated and assigned various sectors. Making it clear which agency is responsible for coordinating each project avoids unnecessary overlap and increases efficiency. Each agency will be responsible for coordinating the various projects and programmes to avoid duplication of efforts.
Disaster preparedness training: The instability in Gaza reinforces the need to improve local humanitarian response to disasters and emergencies.
