United Nations Development Programme

In December 1978, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 33/147, which called on UNDP to provide assistance to the Palestinian people. By this date, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip had endured over 10 years of occupation, which had lead to increased levels of poverty and unemployment. Hundreds of thousands were living in refugee camps in slum conditions without the most basic amenities. Infrastructure had been allowed to deteriorate, including schools, health facilities, housing, roads, and water and sanitation systems, despite the steady population growth.

In response to the UN resolution in support of the economic and social development of the Palestinian people, UNDP launched the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). A programme office was established, initially in New York and subsequently in East Jerusalem. A donor campaign was organised, and field operations commenced in August 1980.

• In other countries, projects and programmes supported by UNDP are funded mainly from UNDP’s own resources mobilized each year through voluntary contributions of UN members. For PAPP, UNDP provides only a modest level of core support, and relies on international donors for principal funding of specific activities.

• UNDP worldwide concentrates on the provision of technical assistance, leaving the provision of capital assistance to other organisations, such as the World Bank. In the West Bank and Gaza Strip a large number of projects supported by UNDP/PAPP are small and medium capital development projects such as the construction of schools, health facilities, roads, waste treatment plants and waterworks. The expansion and improvement of basic infrastructure is a key requirement for sustainable economic and social development in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

• In the past, UNDP worldwide generally did not accept responsibility for the implementation of the projects it supports, but delegated this to other organisations within the UN development system, or the beneficiary government. In the oPt, UNDP/PAPP in consultation with local institutions, undertakes the main responsibility for the design and implementation of the projects selected for support. This was deemed necessary at the start of the programme since no Palestinian government existed, and there were few local institutions equipped to fully assume these functions.