democracy and governance

• PA Prime Minister and USAID Mission Director Inaugurate Centers of Excellence (COE):  USAID’s Palestinian Authority Capacity Enhancement Project (PACE), implemented by Chemonics, conducted a two-day organizational reform workshop to launch the Centers of Excellence.  The workshop included 65 participants from the various PACE-partner ministries and government agencies.  24 media outlets, newspapers, and websites covered the workshop.

• Curricula Developed for Al-Quds University School of Law:  Working closely with university counterparts, USAID’s Justice and Enforcement Rule of Law Program (Netham), implemented by DPK, developed law school curricula for three new courses that will be added to the list of available courses at Al-Quds University School of Law starting next fall.  These courses include: Legal Writing; Legal Ethics; and Moot Court.

• Training on Strategic Development Frameworks for Municipalities:  USAID’s Local Democratic Reform (LDR) program held its first training workshop on the development of strategic frameworks for municipalities.  Thirty-two participants including mayors, council members, municipal staff and community representatives attended the one-day training which presented the planning methodology for developing key strategies and development plans that help municipalities address the essential development needs of their citizens in a holistic manner.

• Training on Strategic Planning for Ministry of Local Governance:  USAID’s Local Democratic Reform program delivered 3 four-day training programs to 60 staff from the Ministry of Local Governance.  The training is the first step in assisting the Ministry of Local Governance to develop its own internal strategic plan to help further enhance its support to Palestine’s local governance system.
  
  
• Road Rehabilitation Project Launched in Gaza:  USAID’s Local Democratic Reform program began work on opening and widening of agriculture roads in Fukhari area in the Gaza Strip.  This is part of a project which will work on opening agricultural roads in 4 Gaza municipalities.  The roads provide essential access of farmers to their fields, as well as improve access of agricultural produce from farms to market.
  
  
• Rule of Law Play Enhances Children’s Respect for the Law:  A grant to Dar Al-Funoun, a Nablus-based civil society organization, through USAID’s Justice and Enforcement Rule of Law Program (Netham), implemented by DPK, is increasing children’s knowledge and respect for rule of law principles.  Approximately 7,000 students have participated in play performances.

water resources and infrastructure

• Library and Park Inaugurated in Bethlehem Governorate:  USAID held two inauguration ceremonies to celebrate completion of the Beit Jala public library in Beit Jala city and Al-Khass Public Park in Al-Khass village in Bethlehem Governorate.  The library was completed under the Local Democratic Reform Project (LDR), while the park was completed under the Emergency Jobs Program (EJP), both implemented by CHF International.  Both events were attended by USAID’s Mission Director, the Palestinian Prime Minister, and local dignitaries and community leaders.