Palestinian Firms Tasting Success from D.C. Fancy Food Show: USAID’s support for six Palestinian firms to prepare for and participate in the Fancy Food show in Washington, DC, is already beginning to show results. Having established business linkages with potential buyers at the July 2011 show, the participating companies are currently negotiating deals worth more than $2.5 million to export fresh and processed food including couscous, sumac, thyme, spices, olive oil, honey, dates, pickles, and table salt.

USAID Helps Palestinian Herbs Exporter Attract Investment:  Over the last two years, USAID’s Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion program has helped Nusseibeh Farms to improve production and to enter export markets. The success of Nusseibeh, a former USAID greenhouse beneficiary, has now attracted a $2.5 million investment from the biggest private equity group in the region, Abraaj Capital.  The investment will allow the company to penetrate new markets and to develop new, higher-value products.

USAID-supported Environmental NGOs’ work Featured on PBS: Friends of the Earth Middle East, an umbrella organization supported by USAID which brings together Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli environmental NGOs was featured in a PBS News Hour segment entitled "Coalition Aims to Ease Middle East Water Disputes". The report recently took top prize in the Society of Environmental Journalists “single story” category. The piece on water issues in the region highlights the NGOs’ efforts to rehabilitate the Jordan River and to raise awareness about the importance of fair water allocation for all stakeholders.

Rehabilitated Health Clinic Benefitting Hundreds of Palestinians: The USAID Civic Engagement Program’s recent rehabilitation of the Yatta Health Clinic brought immediate benefits for the local community. In just the first week after the renovated facility was opened, 500 people came to the clinic and received medical treatment and vaccination services.

Palestinian Educators Share New Teaching Techniques with 600 Fellow Professionals: USAID’s Model Schools Network’s third annual “Learning Communities” conference helped over 600 educators, teachers, principals, Ministry of Education staff, and supervisors prepare for the new school year with presentations and discussions in the fields of math, science, English, and IT. USAID-trained educators also led discussions on critical thinking, class management, and the usage of IT and modern techniques in the classroom.