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 included 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, and the various NGO programs. 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.