The Department of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

At  MOPIC

Introduction:

In 1994 a decision was taken by the Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority to formulate a Committee of five ministries to set up the PNA public policy towards the NGOs. The Committee held several meetings during which the significant and recognizable role of the Palestinian NGOs was acknowledged and highlighted. On one hand and during the Israeli Occupation, these organizations were performing the formal and political role of the PLO, and on the other hand they were delivering the civil services to the Palestinian community. A new phase of the history of the Palestinian NGOs had started after the signing of the declaration of principles in September 1993 in Washington between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel . It was decided by the committee that the public policy of the PNA towards these organizations should be to facilitate their projects and support, in addition to that to consider them as partners in devising the strategic sectorial national plans with the different ministries and institutions of the PNA. Furthermore, its aim is to encourage the establishment of more organizations in different sectors, for such a policy reflects a healthy phenomena in the Palestinian community, and the development of theses civil society organizations is placed on the priorities of the PNA .

Therefore , the different ministries and institutions of the PNA established departments to coordinate with the NGOs . One of which is the NGOs Department at MOPIC which has two offices, one is the Gaza Strip and the other in the West Bank because of the Israeli closure Considerations.

Staff

1. 1- Dr. Fathi Darwish / General Coordinator .
2. 2- Rawan Abu Yousef / Director - West Bank office .
3. Nahda Younis / Director - Gaza office
4. Khulud Al-Qudwa - Gaza Office

This small initiative staff called for a meeting for the ministries of the PNA in May 1995. The meeting was held and a Coordinating Committee was formulated as a result with the objective of coordinating the relationship between the PNA and the NGOs on the basis of mutual understanding and cooperation .

Mandate of the Department

1. Follow - up and facilitate the projects and activities of the International NGOs based on the real developmental needs of the Palestinian Community and the strategic National plan.
2. Help and encourage the NGOs to establish sectorial coordinating committees among them.
3. Coordinate between these sectorial committees and the different ministries to set up the strategic plans in each sector ( Health , Education , Women ... etc. ) as partners in setting up and implementing the National plans .
4. Encourage geographic distribution of the projects in Palestine including the Palestinian country side which in turn saves time, efforts, funds and prevents duplication of unneeded projects.
5. Encourage these NGOs to implement projects in Jerusalem according to the needs of community .
6. Special emphasis on women , youth , children , traditional Palestinian handicrafts and cultural projects.
7. Conduct surveys on all NGOs in Palestine and classify them according to sectors , historical background, their previous and future projects.
8. Coordinate with Israeli NGOs to further enhance the exchange of political, cultural and social views of both Palestinians and Israelis.

Previous Activities

Our previous activities and accomplishments included:

• More than 40 meetings were held for the coordinating committees in Gaza and the West Bank during in which several NGOs issues were discussed. One of the outcomes of these meetings was to mandate each ministry to define its public policy and vision towards the NGOs in a written mandate. Major issues of mutual concern were discussed in a democratic dialogue process and a committee consisting of some NGOs and the PNA Ministries was formulated as a result.
• The relationship between PNA and the NGOs was the most important and major topic discussed during these meetings. It was agreed upon that such a crucial issue should be organized through a democratic law and as a result a workshop was held in November, 1996 to further discuss the current NGO draft law. Various Palestinian, International NGOs and PNA institutions participated in a rich and fruitful discussion.
• Due to the mutual coordination and understanding between the ministries of the PNA, many obstacles facing the NGOs were solved and the recommendations will be presented to the Cabinet and the legislative Council for the approval process
  
  

9 September, 1997