Enhancing palestinian Environmental Awareness and improving public participation in Environmental Governance
The environmental situation in the Gaza Strip faces many serious challenges, which in some cases could be considered chronic problems. The situation entails collaborations between the government, civil society organizations, and the community, to manage and overcome the risks. The proposed MA?AN action is developed based on a set of demonstrations including:
? According to MA?AN?s recent assessment which targeted three localities in Gaza City, and the Southern Governorate in order to rank people?s chief worries concerning the local and global environmental challenges, poverty, education, health, and security; it shows that environmental concerns rank low on public opinion with a recognized shallow environmental background. Additionally, when asked about global environmental challenges such as climate change, people identified the issue as more of a global problem than a personal concern.
? Because of MA?AN?s significant experience working with different local organizations, it has recognized the absence of clear environmental policies or a code of conduct controlling these local organizations actions concerning the environment. The environmental mainstreaming issues have not been recognized when the organizations begin planning or implementing an action for the public.
? Concerning the public?s participation in developing environmental policies and monitoring environmental impacts, the keen absence of the public?s role in such regards has been recognized. This is due to the absence of public awareness on the environmental challenges, and the absence of clear structures or systems enabling the public to have an effective participation. People should be sensitized to positively influence the current environmental situation, and their participation should be facilitated through developing viable structures and systems permitting for an effective community role.
? There are many groups of young graduates who have received university degrees in areas related to the environmental science. However, there are no serious efforts being put forth to invest in those young people so that they can become agents for social change. Agents who can promote a change in the perceptions of society on the environmental concerns as a public issue, and changes in practices which should reflect a high level of concern towards the environment and the world they are living in.
A set of activities are proposed to influence the change towards effective community participation that contribute to conserving and restoring the environment. The project activities will address mainly some environment current issues concerning people daily life in the targeted localities such as sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; solid wastes random landfills, and depletion and contamination of underground water resources.
? According to MA?AN?s recent assessment which targeted three localities in Gaza City, and the Southern Governorate in order to rank people?s chief worries concerning the local and global environmental challenges, poverty, education, health, and security; it shows that environmental concerns rank low on public opinion with a recognized shallow environmental background. Additionally, when asked about global environmental challenges such as climate change, people identified the issue as more of a global problem than a personal concern.
? Because of MA?AN?s significant experience working with different local organizations, it has recognized the absence of clear environmental policies or a code of conduct controlling these local organizations actions concerning the environment. The environmental mainstreaming issues have not been recognized when the organizations begin planning or implementing an action for the public.
? Concerning the public?s participation in developing environmental policies and monitoring environmental impacts, the keen absence of the public?s role in such regards has been recognized. This is due to the absence of public awareness on the environmental challenges, and the absence of clear structures or systems enabling the public to have an effective participation. People should be sensitized to positively influence the current environmental situation, and their participation should be facilitated through developing viable structures and systems permitting for an effective community role.
? There are many groups of young graduates who have received university degrees in areas related to the environmental science. However, there are no serious efforts being put forth to invest in those young people so that they can become agents for social change. Agents who can promote a change in the perceptions of society on the environmental concerns as a public issue, and changes in practices which should reflect a high level of concern towards the environment and the world they are living in.
A set of activities are proposed to influence the change towards effective community participation that contribute to conserving and restoring the environment. The project activities will address mainly some environment current issues concerning people daily life in the targeted localities such as sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; solid wastes random landfills, and depletion and contamination of underground water resources.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Ma'an Development Center/Gaza
Country:
Palestine, State of
Area Of Work:
CapDev
Grant Amount:
US$ 34,800.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 8,222.50
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 500.00
Project Number:
PAL/EU-NGOS/2014/02
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Notable Community Participation
Project planning and design:
The project idea depend mainly on a conclusion reveals the lack of inducement among the community members to participate in a process aiming at creating healthier environment. This is due to the absence of community awareness on the critical environmental situation in the Gaza Strip, besides, the absence of clear methodologies ensuring community participation to be adopted by the governmental authorities. This conclusion, as clarified before, is come out through consultation with the targeted communities and organizations.
Project implementation:
The success of the project depends mainly on effective participation of the targeted communities. All project components have been designed to include tangible inputs from the communities. Systematic involvement of the communities through the established Community Advocating Committees will be in place. Wider outreach to different community segments will be ensured through different orientation and sensitization activities.
Project monitoring and evaluation:
Participatory monitoring approaches will be considered in the project monitoring and evaluation. The Community Advocating Committees will play vital role in the monitoring process. A set of focus groups discussions and community discussion sessions beside cases studies will be conducted to capture the probable change.
Gender Focus
The project will target both genders as well as a broad representation of the community in its sensitization efforts. In the selection of the university fresh graduates, equal participation of both genders will be ensured. Community members will have equal opportunity to participate in the Community Advocating Committees but must understand and agree to their committee?s ToR and meet the participant profile requirements. Women as well as men will be a major partner in the project implementation as a major segment of the community. The project will empower women and men for active participation with the key governmental and nongovernmental organizations influencing the environment in the Gaza Strip.
SGP Country office contact
Ms. Nadia Zuhair Elkhodary
Phone:
00972-2-2974836
Fax:
00972-2-2974836
Email:
Address
UNDP, 4A Ya'quibi Street, P.O. Box 51359
Jerusalem, via Israel
Jerusalem, via Israel
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