Cash Transfer to the Palestinian Authority

• USAID West Bank/Gaza signed a $200 million cash transfer grant agreement with the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday, July 15.  The transfer provides critical budget support to the Palestinian Authority and partially fulfills the Secretary’s pledge at the March 2009 Sharm el-Sheik donor’s conference.  The timing of the cash transfer is critical to ensure that the Palestinian Authority can cover its immediate budgetary shortfalls, and it demonstrates U.S. support for the Salam Fayyad government and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  It is hoped it will leverage similar support from other countries.

economic growth

• Plans to Develop Palestinian Border Authority on the Way: USAID held a number of coordination meetings with the Ministry of National Economy to help develop a Border Authority under the guidance of Minister Bassam Khoury.  The first meeting of the Borders and Crossings Committee occurred last week.  The committee agreed on an action plan for an overall strategy for borders and crossings, including: legal documents to establish the Border Authority; a presence at the Allenby crossing into Jordan and West Bank crossings into Israel; movement of goods into Gaza.
  
  
• Grants Provided to Support Jenin Farmers: USAID signed grant agreements with 130 farmers in the Jenin area to support construction of 130 dunums (13 hectares) of greenhouses.  The farmers contributed 30 percent of the total cost of $900,000. This assistance will extend the growing season and enable consistent quality control to produce export-standard vegetables.  The initiative provides economic support to bolster security improvements recently attained through USG support in the Jenin area.  USAID is also funding infrastructure improvements at the Jalameh crossing to facilitate easier movement of Israeli cars and shoppers to Jenin.

democracy and governance

• Youth and Children Learned Good Citizenship in Summer Camps:  USAID’s Local Democratic Reform (LDR) program, implemented by CHF, hosted over 2,100 youth and children in governance summer camps held in 12 communities in the West Bank and Gaza.  The participants learned about good citizenship and environmental issues, and attended cultural heritage and other educational activities.

• The Minister of Local Government Approved a Plan on Good Governance:  The LDR program helped the Ministry of Local Governance develop a plan, approved this week by the Minister, on good governance principles that will strengthen the Ministry and local government units.  The plan will enable local governments to achieve sustainable, participatory community-based development in line with the national plans and policies.  LDR held a two-day workshop to develop local government units’ civic engagement and communication mechanisms.
  
  
• Youth Shadow Local Council in Salfeet Hosts a Dialogue Between Generations:  Youth Shadow Local Council, under the LDR program, held a kick-off event for its community project called, “Communication between Generations.” The project aims to enhance the relationship between the younger and older generations.
  
  
• Citizens in Tubas Receive Faster Service from the Ministry of Interior: The PA Capacity Enhancement Project, implemented by Chemonics, helped to improve the public services of the Ministry of Interior in Tubas. The project provided IT equipment that has reduced from 15 days to 20 minutes the time required to issue documents. 
  
  
• Children in Gaza Receive Assistance:  In support of Universities and Higher Institutions Graduates Association’s (UHIGA) initiative, USAID’s Civic Engagement Project (CEP), implemented by ARD, funded psychosocial support sessions and after-school supplementary classes that helped 200 school students release stress and improve school performance.