HEALTH AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

• Ambulance Drivers Received Training:  USAID's Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development (the Flagship) Project provided a three-day course to upgrade the skills of Ministry of Health (MoH) ambulance drivers by instructing them in proper maintenance of the vehicles and by training them, for the first time, in basic first responder techniques such as CPR.  An official job description was also created for MoH drivers to better define and enhance their contribution to emergency care services. 

• Health Managers Attended a Workshop to Improve Health Sector Governance and Services: The Flagship Project conducted a workshop entitled "Leadership to Support Health Sector Reform" with 25 mid-level managers and decision-makers from several Ministry of Health departments.  Participants discussed their roles in health sector reform and the specific training needs to be addressed under the project's Leadership Development Program. The workshop will help ensure that the USAID-supported training curriculum will meet the needs and priorities of a wide range of MoH managers and administrators to improve health sector governance and enhance the delivery of quality health care.

WATER RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

• The First Multipurpose Center Built in the Village of Qalqas: USAID completed the construction of a multipurpose center in the village of Qalqas, south of the West Bank city of Hebron.  The project was implemented by CHF under USAID’s Emergency Jobs Program. The two-storey building will host the village’s clinic, rooms for youth and women’s activities, and an office for the village council.  This is the first multipurpose center serving the residents of Qalqas.  The project cost $97,988 and created 1,139 person days of employment for 32 workers.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

• Minister of National Economy Outlined Plans to Improve the Business Environment:  The Minister of National Economy, Bassam Khoury, outlined a plan to revamp the Ministry.  Several USAID activities will assist.  Most notably, the Mission will provide technical assistance to improve the business environment and food safety standards, as well as help with establishing a transportation logistics center near Jericho to facilitate exports to the Amman airport and Aqaba seaport in Jordan. Minister Khoury expressed his gratitude to USAID for personnel assistance made available soon after he assumed office.  
  
  

democracy and governance

• Palestinian Students, Teachers, and Schools Awarded for Rule of Law Initiatives: USAID’s Justice and Enforcement Rule of Law Program, implemented by DPK Consulting, conducted a Justice Day awards ceremony for students, teachers, and schools.  Winners of the Rule of Law Award, given for initiatives that had an impact in schools and local communities, were recognized.  So, too, were winners of the Rule of Law Creative Writing Competition, which aimed at creating awareness among Palestinian youth. The ceremony was attended by the USAID Mission Director, the Minister of Education and Higher Education, the Attorney General, and a representative of the Chief Justice.

• Completion of the Construction of Aqaraba’s Health and Women’s Center:  USAID’s Local Democratic Reform (LDR) program, implemented by CHF, completed the construction of a facility in the village of Aqaraba which will house the municipality’s health clinic, as well as the center for women’s organizations. The facility was constructed as part of LDR’s goal of assisting municipalities to improve the quality of social services. The cost of the construction is $269,803.
  
  
•  Youth Received Training to Run Summer Camps:  The Local Democratic Reform program completed three 2-day leadership training courses for its four Youth Shadow Local Councils. The courses helped to prepare the youth to supervise and run seven summer camps in the West Bank.  These camps will provide youth with information on governance issues, such as their democratic obligations as citizens.  Under the same program, 4 summer camps were completed for over 700 youth between the ages of 13 and 20.
  
  
• Six Democratic Forums Initiated in Gaza: USAID’s Civic Engagement Program, implemented by ARD, funded the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution to establish six democratic forums for local leaders in Gaza. The first forum was held in Dier El Balah with 25 leaders, who gave an assessment of the situation in Gaza.  Upcoming forums will discuss key political developments and steps needed to reach good governance.