Palestine: Project Design for the Senior Secondary and Technical Vocational Education and Training Sector, AusAID, 2000

Australia’s program of development assistance to Palestinians and refugees has two key objectives:

  • To support the Middle East Peace Process by a demonstrated presence in the region; and,
  • To facilitate social and economic development of the Palestinian people by providing support to poverty alleviation programs and building the capacity of local Palestinian institutions for self-reliance.

AusAID support includes the provision of funds for UNRWA as well as bi-lateral activities. In late 1999, Paul Tippett was part of the AusAID Review Mission to review existing AusAID projects and the UN and NGO funding initiatives for Palestinian refugees. The Mission assessed existing projects (including the Rule of Law Project – ROLAP), the level of funds provided to UNWRA, as well as the various NGO programs. Members of the mission also discussed with the Palestinian Authority the priority for, and sustainability of, a proposal to develop a technical school(s). The Mission explored options for future AusAID-funded activities for the Palestinians in Lebanon, as well as for a proposed project to be located in the West Bank and in Gaza, including:

  • Possible scheme for scholarship awards tenable in the region in education and training;
  • Assistance to education through upgrading and expansion of existing schools;
  • Completion of the school mapping project already partly funded by Australia; and,
  • The future involvement of Australian NGOs in supporting the education sector.

Subsequently, it was agreed that an integrated education / training project would be the most appropriate form of assistance. AusAID fielded a Feasibility / Design mission, led by Paul Tippett, that comprised 2 Australian and 2 Palestinian members. The overall team developed a costed project design document and briefed the Ministry of Education and other representatives of the Palestinian Authority for a major project in senior-secondary school and VET. The proposed project covered refurbishment of 12 existing MOE schools in West Bank and Gaza, with the introduction of new courses and curriculum in business and management.