Jerusalem

Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem

Italian CooperationNEWSLETTER N.9

June 2008

UTL JERUSALEM2 Mujeer Eddin Street, Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem

Tel. + 972 - 2 - 5327447 - Fax + 972 - 2 - 5322904

EDITOR IN CHIEF AND DATA COLLECTIONLaura Sgreccia Communication Officersgreccia @itcoop-jer.org

EDITING ADVISORIbrahim Matar

GRAPHIC DESIGNERChiara Fantini

COVER PHOTO Monica Biancardi

Letter from Luciano Pezzotti, the new Italian Consul General in Jerusalem

Two Missions from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to move forward Italian interventions

Private Sector:Italy finances € 5.5 million contract to SELCoPalestinian utility for the distribution of electricity in the South of the West Bank

Health:Inauguration of the Northern Wing at Hebron Governmental Hospital (Princess Alia)

HealthLaparoscopy and mini-invasive surgery at Hebron and Shifa Hospital

Emergency GAZA Italy organizes a humanitarian convoy of medical supplies to the Gaza Strip

Emergency GAZA New Emergency support to health Facilities in Gaza Strip

Emergency WEST BANKDr. Ereqat praises Italian assistance to the Palestinian People

Emergency WEST BANK: Improving the living condition of children with severe and multiple disabilities in the Southern Region of the West Bank Emergency WEST BANKHumanitarian Relief intervention to sustain the farmers of Qalqiklya,Tulkarem and Jordan Valley.

AgricultureTraining courses in Palestinian Territoires & ItalyPromoted by the Quality Olive Oil Project

Agriculture: Start up of land development project

Education:Masters on Social Sciences and Humanitarian AffairsOpening Session of Second Edition

Education:ICT to support Teaching and Learning Methods

Education:Building Professional competences for educational, didactic and organizational innovation in the Palestinians Schools

Gender:Capacity Building for the Staff of MoWA Awarding ceremony at Birzeit University

Cultural Heritage Workshop Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural HeritageA Cooperation Journey through the Palestinian Territories and Jordan

Communicating the Cooperation Italian Cooperation promotes News Corners at “All For Peace Radio Station”

Theatre and Multimedia Arts: Instruments for Peace (TAM) Summer training course for youth interested in theatre professions in the Palestinian Territories

Italian Development Cooperation in Jordan: Italian Technical Assistance to the Jordanian SMEs in the Tex-tile & Clothing Sector

Remembering Francesca Onofri

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The Italian Cooperation Office of the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem under the direction of Mr. Gianandrea Sandri is pleased to publish the Newsletter No 9, covering the four months period Feb-ruary-May, 2008.The NEWS we SHARE with our readers and counterparts in this is-sue is an updating both on the Italian Cooperation continuous emer-gency and humanitarian interventions for the provision of essential social services to the most deprived population of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, and our engagement in support of the development and reform efforts of the Palestinian National Authority.Prominence is given to the missions undertaken to the Palestinian Territories by Heads of Offices and technical experts at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to move forward Italian interventions in line with the goals and objectives of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) for the period 2008-2010 and to follow through on the new Italian pledge of Euro 80 million made at the December 2007 Paris Donors’ Conference.

The Italian Cooperation, consistent with its long-term experience in the Palestinian Territories, has allocated the Italian Government resources to the priority sectors where Italy has already a compara-tive advantage. Italy’s development efforts to achieve growth in the Palestinian economy, focus on Social Development in the sectors of Health, Education, Cultural Heritage, Gender; and Economic Devel-opment in the Private Sector, Agriculture, Water and Industry.

In this newsletter, in the framework of the ongoing initiatives to en-hance the overall capacity for health service delivery, we report on the inauguration of the Northern Wing of Princess Alia Hospital in He-

bron and the introduction of new mini-invasive surgical techniques as examples of the support given to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, The Italian commitment to the development of a quality education in the Education Sector, is demonstrated by the opening of the sec-ond edition of Masters Program on Social Sciences and Humanitar-ian Affairs, and the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to support teaching and learning methods at the primary and secondary schools level.The Capacity building Training Course for 50 of the staff of the Min-istry of Women’s Affairs is another significant initiative to support the good governance on gender related issues.The Italian support, in the domain of Economic Development, to the Palestinian private sector is illustrated by the signing of a Euro 5.5 Million contract for electricity distribution equipment between the Pal-estinian utility Southern Electric Company (SELCo) and an Italian supplier Tratos financed by the Italian Euro 33 million credit line to the Palestinian energy sector.

As a mean of economic sustenance for thousands of rural families, the strengthening of good practices and competences in Olive cul-ture and the support to land reclamation in the Southern West Bank are good examples of interventions the Italian Cooperation is suc-cessfully carrying out in Agriculture, the third largest employer In Palestine.Media, Culture, and Communication initiatives are also documented in this issue.Concerning development Cooperation in Jordan, a responsibility since June 2007 of the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem, we report the news on a significant contribution of the Italian Govern-ment to support Jordanian SMEs in the textile and Clothing sector.I wish all the readers a good reading.

Laura SgrecciaCommunication and Documentation Officer

Sharing News

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Letter from Luciano Pezzotti, the new Italian Consul General in Jerusalem

I am honored to have the opportunity to introduce myself through the current edition of the Quarterly Bulletin of our Cooperation Office.

I took up my new post as Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem last February. In the short time since I started acting in this capacity, the Middle Eastern region has undergone many changes in outlook. A new round of challenges is now facing all those involved. The inter-national meeting of Annapolis, the Paris Conference, during which Donor Countries pledged their financial assistance to the Palestinian People, the meeting to be held in Berlin as well as the continuing ev-eryday efforts of the International Community, engaged at all levels, have all been, and will continue to be, crucial in ensuring that support to the ongoing peace process in the Region be assured. In this view, the field work undertaken by the Italian Cooperation through our Office in Jerusalem and through the joint initiatives of our NGOs and the Local Authorities all play a complementary and, indeed, vital role to our country’s foreign policy in the region.

The main objective of all the Italian initiatives is to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people while setting the ground for a future, sustainable development.

During the course of these last months, I held meetings with the tech-nical staff of the Italian Cooperation Office and with more than 40 representatives of the Italian NGOs working on important projects throughout the Palestinian Territories. I have thus acquired an over-view of the Italian efforts and on the ground resources as well as of the difficulties to be overcome.As you will read in the news items contained in this bulletin, our en-deavor to alleviate the humanitarian conditions of the population in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank will remain high. Our Coop-eration’s priority initiatives in both areas will be aimed at supporting a sustainable economic and social development as set out by the Palestinian Development and Reform Plan for 2008-2010.

It will be an honor for me to share with you all readers, counterparts, beneficiaries and stakeholders committed to the best possible future for the Palestinian Territories alike the exciting and challenging years that lie ahead.

Luciano PezzottiConsul General of Italy in Jerusalem

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Two Missions from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to move forward Italian interventionsDuring the month of April two technical missions from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the Palestinian Territories to move forward the Italian interventions and pledges to the Palestinian people.

Jerusalem April 7-11, 2008 - A delegation consisting of Councilor, Pierfrancesco Zazo, head of the Central Technical Unit (UTC) and Councilor, Antonello De Riu, head of the Middle East Office (Office III), accompanied by their respective experts of the Directorate General for Coopera-tion and Development (DGCS), concluded on April 11th a one week working visit to the Palestinian Territories. The purpose of the mission was to share vi-sion with the Palestinian counterparts on the desirable initiatives to be implemented by the Italian Cooperation, in line with the goals and objectives of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP) and the Ital-ian pledges undertaken at the Paris Donors Conference on December, 2007. The delegation accompanied by Mr. Gianan-drea Sandri, the Director of Italian Coopera-tion in Jerusalem, held fruitful talks with Dr. Samir Abdallah, the Minister of Planning, and Dr. Cairo Arafat, the Director General of Aid Management and Coordination. Dr. Abdallah, recognizing the long-lasting commitment of the Italian Government, encouraged the Italian representatives to allocate resources to the priority sectors where Italy has a comparative advantage. Italy’s development efforts focus on So-cial Development in the sectors of Health, Education, Cultural heritage and gender, on Economic Development in the private sector, water and agriculture. Gender and Good Governance are considered crosscutting issues.. The delegation met later in Ramallah Dr.Fathi Abu Mughli the Minister of Health, who praised the Italian role in leading donors’ aid coordina-tion in the health sector and in supporting the reform of the Palestinian Public Health System.

The mission also reviewed with Dr. Khouloud D’eibis, Minister for Women’s Affairs, the op-erations of the Mehwar Center for protection of women in distress in Bethlehem.In order to coordinate Italian future strate-gies, the delegation exchanged views with the representatives of the International donor community, UN Organizations, Palestinian and Israeli civil society institutions and with the Italian NGOs implementing programs funded by the Italian Government. Talks were held also with the representative of the Italian Cooperation in Jordan to be updated on ongoing projects and potential future programs in Jordan.The delegation expect that the discus-sions held during their mission with all the stakeholders will open the way for formu-lation of projects to be funded by Italy in line with its pledge made in the Paris Do-nor Conference.

First Mission

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Second MissionJerusalem, April 16-23 A second delegation from the Emergency Office (Office VI) at the DGCS, headed by Mr. Rocco Mandolla came to the Palestinian Territories to monitor the ongoing emergency inter-ventions being realized by the Emergency Department of the Italian Cooperation Office. Italian emergency funds are allocated to allevi-ate the hardships and urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian People in West Bank and Gaza.

The mission was an occasion to dwell into the new strategies and guide lines the Emergency Department is defining for the implementation of emergency projects with the participation of Italian NGOs operating in the Palestinian Territories.

In this framework a fruitful meeting was held with the representatives of the Italian NGOs, which ended in an agreement on the modalities and approaches to be adopted in project implementation.

It is worth mentioning that of the €5.100.000 ongoing emer-gency initiatives, 38% (€1.852.000) are directly managed by the Emergency Department and the balance, 62% (€2.975.000) are entrusted for implementation to Italian NGOs.

Finally, the delegation was guided in field visits in the Northern West Bank to some of the emergency interventions implemented by the Italian NGOs in the sector of agriculture, and in Shu’fat Refugee camp (East Jerusalem).

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Private SectorItaly finances € 5.5 million contract to SELCoPalestinian utility for the distribution of electricity in the South of the West Bank

On Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at the premises of the Palestinian Southern Electricity Company (SELCo) in Dura, Hebron District, the signing of the contract took place for SELCo II contract 04/2005, between SELCo and the Italian company Tratos Cavi S.p.A. The ceremony enjoyed the presence of Dr. Omar Kittaneh, Chairman of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resource Authority (PENRA), Mr. Luciano Pezzotti, Consul General of Italy in Jerusalem and Dr Hussein Al A’araj the Governor of Hebron. SELCo II contract 04/2005, for a total amount of € 5.5 million, entails the supply of “Distribution Equipment, Transformers and Poles”. The project falls within a more comprehensive initiative called Electric Sector Investment Management Program (ESIMP), financed jointly with the World Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB.) The total contribution of the Italian Government to the ESIMP is € 33.5 million as a Credit Line to the Palestinian Authority represented by the Palestinian Ministry of Finance for on lending to the Central and Southern West Bank electric utilities: mainly the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECo) the Hebron Power Company (HEPCO) and the Southern Electricity Company (SELCO). The amount allocated to SELCo is € 14,069,653 million. The contract in question is the last of the three packages that have been included in SELCo’s procurement Plan. The ongoing SELCo’s contracts financed by the Italian credit Line are: 1. Contract SELCo 02/2002 for € 8 million2. Contract SELCo 03/2003 for € 750.000

The development objective of the ESIMP is to benefit electricity consumers, predominantly households, through sustainable improvements in the quality of electricity supply. The objec-tive is to be achieved through fundamental power sector insti-tutional reforms, implemented in parallel with the reinforce-ment and rehabilitation of the power distribution system in the Central and Southern regions of the West Bank. In his speech, the Italian Consul General, Mr. Luciano Pezzotti, ex-pressed to SELCo his appreciation for the significant improvements that the project achieved in regard to the performance of the util-ity, attributed to a large extent to the institutional strengthening and network rehabilitation efforts. The Consul General encouraged the rapid implementation of the new contract in order to meet the primary needs of the people living in the Southern region of the West Bank. Mr. Pezzotti confirmed the Italian commitment towards the ES-IMP Program as a result of the priority that the Italian Govern-ment is giving to the energy sector in the Palestinian Territo-ries, a key element for the economic growth.From his side Dr. Kittaneh expressed his gratitude to the Italian Gov-ernment for its keenness in assisting the Palestinian people over dif-ficult years. Dr. Kittaneh especially regarded the Italian Program as a significantly valuable support to the development strategy of the Palestinian Government. The Italian contribution to the restruc-turing of the power sector is in fact, in line with the Palestinian Authority’s Letter of Power Sector Development Policy, which includes financing electric utilities that are separated from their parent municipal councils.

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HealthInauguration of the Northern Wing at Hebron Governmental Hospital (Princess Alia) On Thursday, April 24th, 2008 the Inauguration Ceremony of the Northern Wing of Hebron Governmental Hospital (Princess Alia), took place in the presence of Dr. Fathi Abu Moghli/Minis-ter of Health, Mr. Luciano Pezzotti/the Consul General of Italy, and Mr. Jens Toyberg-Frandzen/ the Special Representative of the United Nations Development Programme/ Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP).

The cutting of the ribbon opened the door to a new 3-story modern wing in one of the most essential Government Hos-pitals in the West Bank, expanded and rehabilitated by the UNDP/PAPP through the contribution of USD 7.0 million by the Government of Italy.

The first phase of the project included the construction of the first two floors (ground and first floors) of the Northern Wing with an area of approximately 4,840 square meters. It also included a technical assistance and capacity building component, provided by the Istituto Superiore di Sanitá (Italian National Institute for Health), aimed at improving the management of health services at Hebron Hospital and Hebron District.

The ground floor houses the reception/registration, the pharmacy, the physiotherapy, the archive, the kitchen and the dining room, and the laundry. The first floor includes the Emergency Department, the Maternity ward, the Intermediate Medical ward and the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU).

The second phase of the project comprised the construction of the second floor of the Northern Wing with an area of 2,100 square me-ters to house the new Gynecology and Obstetric wards and the neo-natal/pediatric department giving mothers and infants in the Hebron District the possibility to access high quality medical services and hospitalization conditions.

Through the expansion of the existing hospital in terms of square footage and bed capacity, the Italian project for the rehabilitation of Hebron Hospital achieved greater access of residents of Hebron District to a modernized district hospital providing quality treatment and care and contributing towards the development and improvement of Government hospital fa-

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cilities in the West Bank. Moreover, advanced medical applica-tions, such as Laparoscopy and Mini-invasive surgery are be-ing introduced by the Italian Cooperation.

Residents of the Southern West Bank depend almost totally on the Government Health Services provided by the Hebron Governmental Hospital due to the continuous closures and the limited access to the Jerusalem Hospitals.

For this reason Italy, in its role as the Shepherd of the donor com-munity in the health sector, is consolidating its support to the Pales-tinian Ministry of Health by committing significant resources for the strengthening of health services in the Hebron District.

The Italian Cooperation is working in the Palestinian Territories to achieve better networking and harmonization among the different health providers and to improve the quality and efficiency of health services, supporting the Palestinian Authority in its effort to meet the demands of the population and enhance its overall capacity for health service delivery.

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The Italian Cooperation, in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health is keeping on strengthening the application of Laparoscopy and mini-invasive surgical techniques in the Palestinian Territories, specifi-cally at the Hospitals Princess Alia (Hebron), and Shifa (Gaza City ).

This activity is being carried out in the framework of the three year Aid and Development program to Support the Health Sector in the Palestinian Territories (PAST 2007-2009) with a contribution of Euro 7.2 million from the Italian Government.

One of the main outcomes of this pilot project has been the establish-ment of a Working Group on mini-invasive surgery in Princess Alia and Shifa Hospitals, in order to provide full support to the PAST program in defining project’s steps and in implementing planned activities.

Several practical sessions on dry-lab were implemented as a follow up to the theoretical training sessions held in December, 2007. This allowed the medical staff to execute through simulation various lap-aroscopic maneuvers, basic and advanced.

Such a training activity is considered one of the key preparatory points in order to safely perform clinical procedures. In this frame-work e-learning techniques to further dwell into these surgical pro-cedures are being taken into account. An internet connection test with remote training location (in Italy) using customized software has been already successfully implemented.

Dr. Mario Meinero -General Secretary of the Italian Society for Lap-aroscopy Surgery and Mini-Invasive surgical techniques, and one of the pioneer professionals to bring these techniques in Europe- par-ticipated in a number of operations. This allowed him to assess the need of disposables, instruments and up to date equipment, prompt-ly purchased through the Emergency funds made available from the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem/Emergency department.

A specialized course for selected staff of the Shifa Hospital is be-ing organized in Jerusalem for effective use of the above mentioned equipment.

Mini -invasive surgery requires technical skills and logically implies innovative organizational set up.

Strengthening managerial aspects in Hospitals represents one posi-tive outcome of the laparoscopy project and also a significant goal of the whole PAST program.

Health Laparoscopy and mini-invasive surgery at Hebron and Shifa HospitalsIn the Framework of the Program to Support Health Sector in the Palestinian Territories (PAST)

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Emergency GAZA Italy organizes a humanitarian convoy of medical supplies to the Gaza Strip

On March 17, 2008, an Italian humanitarian convoy with essen-tial medical and surgical disposables entered Gaza Strip as an emergency intervention to supply hospitals in shortage of drugs and surgical supplies. This will allow hospitals to con-tinue functioning and serving the medical needs of the patients in the current situation of humanitarian crisis.

The convoy organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Jeru-salem through its Office for Development Cooperation/Emergency Department, provided necessary medical supplies for a total amount of Euro 400.000. “All hospitals will benefit from the delivery of these essential drugs, a basic need in the daily life of the population” af-firmed Gianandrea Sandri, Director of the Italian Cooperation Of-fice during the first stop of the convoy at the Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City.

The Italian mission, headed by Gianandrea Sandri and composed of the Emergency and Health departments’ staff at the Italian Coop-eration Office, was welcomed by Dr. Walid Shaqura, the Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, by the Director of Medical Departments at Shifa Hospital and other health local Authorities.

Dr. Shaqura highlighted the importance of the promptness and timeli-ness of the Italian intervention in this very critical emergency phase which has seen many hospitals run out of essential medical supplies not available in the local market.The contribution falls within a series of emergency Interventions identified by the Italian Cooperation in the Heath Sector for immedi-ate assistance to the civilian population of Gaza Strip seriously af-fected by the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Italy in its role as Shepherd of the Donor’s Health Sector Working Group, has over the years allocated relevant resources for improving

the quality of Palestinian health services and provided support in coordinating the activities of the donor community.

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Emergency GAZA New Emergency support to health Facilities in Gaza Strip

Emergency WEST BANK Dr. Ereqat praises Italian assistance to the Palestinian People

In May, 2008 Italy allocated an emergency contribution of € 280.000 to be administered by the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem /Emergency Department, to alleviate the deteriorat-ing health conditions in Gaza Strip.

Part of the Italian Government grant amounting to € 180,000 will be directly executed by the Italian Cooperation Office for the purchase of essential drugs and pharmaceuticals, health equipments and medical disposables to help the health clinics in the Strip to meet the demands of the most deprived population, especially women, children and infants.

The balance, amounting to € 100,000, has been entrusted by the Ital-ian Cooperation to the NGO Terres des Hommes – Italy (TdH-Italy), with a long-lasting experience in the health sector, and is serving the purpose to sustain four health centers - in Jabalia, Gaza City and Khan Younis –and one mobile clinic of their counterpart, the Palestin-ian Medical Relief Society (PMRS).

The PMRS is an NGO strongly committed to the health sector with 27 years experience in provision of medical assistance by a capil-lary network of infrastructures and human resources to more than

one million Palestinians, in 490 cities and rural villages.The PMRS medical centers will be provided with medicines and medical disposables. Furthermore a number of patients in need of specialized treatments will be referred through this initiative to medi-cal care outside the Gaza Strip. Vulnerable households will benefit from the distribution of emergency kits.

Dr. Sa’eb Ereqat, Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO and member of the Legislative Council, praised the assistance that Italy is providing to the Palestinian People. Dr. Ereqat said this during a meeting he held with representatives of the Emergency De-partment at the Italian Cooperation Office.

Dr. Ereqat had earlier met with Mr. Luciano Pezzotti, the Consul Gen-eral of Italy in Jerusalem, which paved the path for a quick impact emergency intervention, to be implemented in the Governorate of Jericho with a contribution from the Emergency Department of the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem.

The initiative entails the rehabilitation and furnishing of a number of kindergartens; the rehabilitation of the Jiftlik youth club; the con-struction of a room for the laboratory of the secondary school for girls in Al-Auja and the furnishing of the Women’s Center in the Ein El-Sultan refugee camp.The total amount of the intervention is € 55,000

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Emergency WEST BANK Improving the living condition of children with severe and multiple disabilities in the Southern Region of the West Bank

Severe and Multiple Disability brings along suffering, social stigma, isolation and exclusion from one’s own community and family. This is due to lack of awareness and knowledge on how to face these kinds of problems, which mark off the bearer as “culturally unacceptable”, with consequent feelings of shame and guilt.The Italian Initiative to improve the living conditions of children with multiple and severe disabilities in the Governorates of Hebron and Bethlehem, is funded by the Italian Cooperation/Emergency depart-ment with an amount of Euro 150.000 and implemented by the Ital-ian NGO AISPO (Italian Association for Solidarity among People) in partnership with Community Based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP).

The long lasting experience of the Italian NGO AISPO in the sector of disabilities in the Palestinian Territories directed it to concentrate the project’s activities on a community base, strengthening the capaci-ties of the CBRP in the Southern Region of the West Bank. Particular consideration was given to the training components to in-troduce the social workers supporting in their daily life children with severe and multiple disabilities to appropriate assisting methodolo-gies. Among the project’s activities, the pilot initiative which entails the introduction of the Rehabilitation Program MOVE (Mobility and Opportunities via Education), being used in the USA for 20 years, is to be considered a very significant accomplishment.

The MOVE Program is unique. It combines the knowledge of therapists, teachers and family to teach severely disabled chil-dren and young people independent movement skills - sitting, standing and walking-. These basic movements that one takes for granted, are key to freedom of choice, improved health and open a world of possibilities helping severely disabled children and young people to take their first steps to independence.

Thanks to a strong cooperation between AISPO, Move Europe and MOVE Middle East training courses were carried out for social workers engaged in the main rehabilitation centers of the Southern West Bank.

In December 2007, through this emergency project, a MOVE center was opened in Dura (Hebron District) in cooperation with the CBRP and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) of Dura.

The first Center completely equipped and furnished with specialized services for severely disabled children.

The Center is giving hospitality to more than 20 children affected by cerebral palsy together with their mothers, constantly involved in the rehabilitation sessions and in the learning of the basic exercises to be able to interact with different kinds of disabilities and to help their children in improving their life.Nowadays the Center MOVE Palestine belongs to the international network of Move Program.

The Italian Cooperation Emergency Project to improve the living con-ditions of children with severe disabilities also contributed to resolve architectural barrier problems through more than 30 interventions re-alized in the villages in Hebron and Bethlehem to adapt homes and public buildings to the necessities of youths with disabilities.Finally, several awareness campaigns and training activities at a community level have been conducted to disseminate information to the volunteers groups, among them also people with disabilities, committed in sustaining people with special needs.

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The Italian Cooperation set in its emergency agenda significant agricultural interventions to improve the social and economic conditions of farmers’ communities in the rural villages of the West Bank and Jordan Valley in order to minimize the conse-quences of the Wall and other obstacles and restrictions on the Palestinian rural economy.

More than 320 farmers of Qalqilya and Tulkarem Governorates and their families benefited from the Italian Cooperation emer-gency intervention with a contribution of Euro 320,000, en-trusted to and implemented by the Italian NGO GVC (Gruppo di Volontariato Civile) and its local counterparts UAWC (Union of Agriculture Work Committees) and PHG (Palestinian Hydrology Group). The project aimed at supporting farmers to continue the cultivation of their lands notwithstanding the constraints arising from the Wall.

On May 22, 2008, this emergency project concluded its activities with a ceremony at Falamya village (Qalqilya), organized by the ben-

eficiaries and attended by the representatives of GVC, UAWC and PHG, the Italian Cooperation /Emergency Department and the Local Authorities.

Through the implementation of this initiative, 128 dunum of green-houses and 197 dunum of open fields -located in the seam zone and in the buffer zone, in the villages of Jayyus, Kufr Jammal and Falamya, in Tulkarem and Qalqilya districts -have been rehabilitated.

Also in the Jordan Valley, 18 Dunum of greenhouses and 152 Dunum of open fields have been reclaimed in the villages of Giftlik and Zu-beidat, through distribution of plastic for greenhouses and irrigation systems. Moreover 80 Dunum have been planted with date seed-lings. The project supplied 261 farmers of these rural areas with ag-ricultural equipments and material to allow farming in an agricul-tural area potentially very productive but lacking in infrastructure and machineries.

Another important outcome of the project was the rehabilitation of a well in the Falamya village, by making available - through the installation of an electric pump which replaced an old (1958) diesel pump- water for agricultural purposes.170 farmers and their families are depending on this well for the cul-tivation of their lands.

Finally, as part of the project activities, thanks to the expertise of the Palestinian NGOs counterparts in the project, an intensive course of 30 hours was carried out and more than 70 farmers were trained on the best practices of farming, irrigation and harvesting in green-houses and open fields.

Humanitarian Relief in the west Bank can not disregard support to agriculture, the primary sector for the livelihood of families in the rural areas. The Italian Cooperation-GVC project, in the way it has been conceived, has paved the path for a sustainable agricultural de-velopment in the area.

Emergency WEST BANKHumanitarian Relief intervention to sustain the farmers of Qalqiklya, Tulkarem and Jordan Valley

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AgricultureTraining courses in Palestinian Territories & Italy

Training in Palestine

During the period from March 3rd to the 18th, 2008, a training course for the “Analysis of olive oil for laboratory technicians” was held at the Center for Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (CEOHS) at Bir Zeit University. The course is one of the activities to be realized under the Pilot Project for the “Production of high quality olive oil”, a three year program 2007-2010 implemented by the Italian Agricultural Institute for Overseas (IAO) and funded by the Italian Government for an amount of Euro 1.1 million.

Ten laboratory technicians participating in the course include six trainees selected from the Nablus Laboratory of the Ministry of Agri-culture and four from the Palestinian National Agricultural Research Centers of Jericho, Beit Qad(Jenin) and Arrub (Hebron). The training program was prepared by Dr. Ramzi Sansur, the head of the CEOHS of Bir Zeit University in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agri-culture.

The main topics of the training course included Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and ISO 17025, analysis techniques for olive oil fatty acids, peroxide, specific gravity, moisture, UV absorption, steroid, pesticides, triglycerides and volatile solvents analysis.

On Tuesday, March 18th a graduation ceremony was held at the University attended by Dr. Ghassan Al-Khatib, Vice President of Bir Zeit University, Dr. Franco Perlotto, Italian Director of the Project from IAO, Dr Ibrahim Matar from the Italian Cooperation Office and Dr. Ihsan Abu Al Rub, the local project coordinator. The ten gradu-ates were awarded certificates for successfully passing the require-ments of the course.

In the final evaluation, the participants expressed their satisfaction of the level of practical and theoretical courses and agreed that the training will improve measurably their performance at their work.

Training in Italy

On April 1, 2008 ten Agriculture Extension Agents from the Min-istry of Agriculture and employed by the project, left for Italy

for a one month training course at IAO, Florence, Italy, to up-grade their skills on production of quality olive oil. The purpose of the training is to transfer the Italian experience and knowledge on the olive tree to the Palestinian participants. The topics include the culture of olive, harvesting techniques, pressing of olives, recent technologies for refining and bottling of olive oil and the Italian expe-rience on marketing of olive oil in world markets.

The graduates of this course are expected to become trainers for transferring their learned skills to olive growers and olive oil export-ers in the Palestinian Territories.

Promoted by the Quality Olive Oil Project

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Campaign on organic olive production

In early February, 2008 the Italian Cooperation Office (Communi-cation Department) in close collaboration with IAO and the Center for Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences of the Bir Zeit University conducted an awareness campaign aimed both at giving information on the Italian initiative and at providing indications on how to improve olive culture through prevention from the hazards posed by indiscriminate use of pesticides.

Informative materials (leaflets and posters) were prepared and dis-tributed to Ministry of Agriculture, the olive mills and at the main offices of the Palestinian Olive Oil Council. The posters provided

Palestinian National AuthorityMinistry of Agriculture

instructions on organic olive production which were shared with all olive growers beneficiaries of the project. These efforts transmitted in communication and awareness campaigns are in line with one of the main objectives of the Italian Program which entails the export of the Palestinian Olive Oil to the International markets channeling at an international level the image of Palestine.

Palestinian National AuthorityMinistry of Agriculture

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AgricultureStart up of land development project

Early March, 2008 witnessed the start up of the two year Land Development Project for the Southern West Bank, Hebron and Bethlehem Districts, funded by the Italian Cooperation for the amount of Euro 2,199,474, administered by the UNDP and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture. Sub-contract agreements were signed with six Palestinian NGOs’ working in the field of Agricultural Development: for the implementation of activities planned for the first year of 2008.The generic name of Land reclamation includes removal of stones and rocks, either manually or by heavy machinery, constructing of retaining walls and terracing, installation of irrigation systems, open-ing of access agricultural roads and planting of trees.The goal of the Italian contribution is to generate employment, reduce poverty and improve the social and living conditions of the target rural population. The project purpose is to increase the area of cultivation, and increase income of the farmers.

The following six contracted NGOs will act as Implementing Agencies for the physical outputs of the projects:Land Research Center (LRC)Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC)Union of Agricultural Working Committees (UAWC)Ma’an Development Center (Ma’an)Arab Center for Agriculture Development (ACAD)Economic and Social Development Center (ESDC)

The expected outputs at the end of the second year of the life of the project comprise the following:1-2000 dunums of land reclaimed and planted with appropriate plants that have no marketing problems and benefiting 400 families.2-Planting no less than 120,000 of fruit plants of suitable variet-ies that meet the needs of the local and export markets and do not confront marketing problems.3-Constructing no less that 100 underground cisterns with a total capacity of 10,000 cubic meters to collect run-off rainfall for farmers enduring from the problem of lack of supply of complemen-tary irrigation water for their fields or for drinking purposes to their animals. 4-Opening and rehabilitation of no less than 50kms of agricul-tural roads to facilitate access to the farmers to their land and mar-keting of agriculture products.

5-Generation of 70,000 workdays benefiting 1000 families.In addition to the above physical outputs, the software part of the project will include training of the human resources involved at every level in the sector of land reclamation and the elaboration of a com-prehensive land suitability map for land reclamation in the hilly and mountainous area of the West Bank, excluding the Jordan valley.It is worth noting that Italy considers the agriculture and water sec-tors a priority. For the period 2008 to 2010, Italy allocated the amount of Euro 25 million for agricultural and water development in the con-text of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP). Pre-liminary steps are already underway to formulate and identify project activities in close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Donor Community.

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On Monday May 12, 2008, the Opening Session of the Second Edition of the Masters program for Academic year 2008/2009 was held at the Notre Dame Conference Center, in Jerusalem. The Program is promoted by UNESCO, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Israeli and Palestinian Universities and funded by the Italian Government.

Introductory remarks were given by the Chairman of the meeting, Prof. Manuel Castello, Director of the Master from University of Rome and a statement was read on behalf of Mr. Pierre Sane, As-sistant Director General of UNESCO.

Welcome and greetings were then delivered by Mons. Antonio Fran-co, Representative of the Holy See in Jerusalem, Mr. Luciano Pez-zotti, Italian Consul General in Jerusalem. Min. Cons. Davide La Ce-cilia, Representative of the Italian Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Prof. Saeed Zeidani, Director of Academic programs at Al-Quds University, Prof. Haim Rabinovitch, Rector of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Prof. Massimo Caneva, Secretary General of the Master Program from University of Rome.

The purpose of the one day seminar was to present the structure and curriculum of the academic year 2008/2009 to the sixteen Israeli and Palestinian graduate students participating in the Program. The first Semester will extend from May to September, 2008, to be fol-lowed by an intensive period in Rome at la Sapienza from November

EducationMasters on Social Sciences and Humanitarian AffairsOpening Session of Second Edition

to December, 2008. The second Semester will run from January to May, 2009.

The students will cover 36 credit hours to complete the requirements of the Masters Degree to be issued by University of Rome. The Cur-riculum is based on the following three pillars:1- Humanitarian Affairs and Crisis Management2- International Relationships and Conflict Resolution3- Education and Community Development

The objective of the Program is to provide a deep understand-ing of most challenging issues related to social sciences and humanitarian affairs by using a multicultural and multidisci-plinary approach. As stated in the opening statement of the UNES-CO Representative, “In this way, it is expected that students develop competencies to participate actively in processes of peace-building and intercultural understanding in the Middle East”.

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138 teachers from primary and secondary schools of Nablus Governorate benefited at An-Najah University from training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve their teaching methodologies at the classroom level and en-hance students’ performance.The activity falls within the framework of the educational process of school development for self improvement promoted by the Italian initiative Support to the Palestinian Education Program (SPEP), funded by the Italian Government with a contribution of US$ 7,000,000 and implemented by UNDP/PAPP, in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Educa-tion (MoEHE).Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the main technical assistance components included in the SPEP which aims at enhancing -in 24 pilot schools, 4 Districts and 4 Universities in the Palestinian Territories- the role of the school as a development unit, as the main player for the self-improvement of the education system.Thanks to technical inputs provided by the Italian University of Bo-logna, partner in the projects, within each of the four Palestinian Universities involved -namely An-Najah (Nablus), BirZeit (Ramallah) Bethlehem and Al-Azhar (Gaza City)- an ICT focal point has been nominated in consultation with the District Offices of the MoEHE and the SPEP team. The ICT expert is in charge of identifying the ac-

tivities aimed at increasing the pedagogical use of ICT in the class-rooms, and the proper training for the transfer of skills and compe-tences to the teachers.The pioneering experience of introducing ICT to support teach-ing and learning methods in schools in Nablus area was con-ducted at An-Najah University where the SPEP and University teams worked together to support the Self improvement of the teachers engaged in the schools. Diagnostic tests were conduct-ed in the schools to classify the main problems and weaknesses in the student learning processes mainly in the subjects of English and Arabic Languages, Math, Science, and Geography. In parallel the ICT training for the 138 teachers was held at the Uni-versity computer labs, and the teachers are now using the skills they gained to develop and improve their teaching methodologies at the classroom level. For example, the internet program Google Earth has been used by teachers to enrich their teaching methods and to facilitate the student performances in reading maps and in better understanding the ge-ography of the world. Positive outcomes are being registered both in terms of students’ performances and teachers’ motivations. The Italian Cooperation Office is monitoring the day to day imple-mentation of all the components of the program with the aim of con-tributing to the development of a quality education in the Palestinian Territories.

Education ICT to support Teaching and Learning Methods In the Framework of the Program to Support to the Palestinian Education (SPEP)

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On May 21, 2008 at the City Inn Hotel in Ramallah an awarding ceremony took place to bestow certificates to 14 consultants of the Ministry of Education and UNRWA for concluding a training course on Management of Classrooms adopting Psycho-Peda-gogical Approach.

The course was carried out in the framework of the Italian project “Building Professional competences in education for the ap-plying of innovative teaching and learning methods in Palestin-ian schools” co-funded by the Italian Government and imple-mented by the Italian NGO CIC (Crocevia) in cooperation with the local counterpart Al-Mawrid Teacher Development Center (TDC).The main objective of this three years project, being implemented in the schools of the Governorates of Jenin, Nablus and Hebron, is the upgrading of school curricula bringing about new teaching/learn-ing methodologies, through dedicated training and seminars to the teachers and professors.Issues such as environment education; awareness on democracy and human rights; understanding of the value of cultural heritage, and of the importance of a healthy school environment are being introduced in the schools’ curricula by mean of new integrated and interactive teaching methodologies.In particular, the course just being concluded, was carried out by Dr. Antonio de Lucia of the Italian “Istituto di terapia psico-corporea” (Institute of Body-Psychotherapy of Rome), and mainly focused on providing teachers and professors with appropriate skills and meth-odologies to manage disruptive behaviors and trauma based on conflict, commonly affecting the Palestinian school community.

Dr. Antonio de Lucia, together with representatives of the Italian Co-operation, the NGO CIC, Al-Mawrid TDC and authorities from the Ministry of Education and from the West Bank Educational Program of UNRWA, attended the ceremony.The malaise of teachers can have negative consequences on the im-portant educational role they have in the building up of a democratic civil society. Thanks to the experience in the sector of the Italian NGO CIC and Al-Mawrid TDC, the project focused its activities on the teachers as promoters of social changes, starting from increas-ing their own motivations, interests and enthusiasm in which they are carrying out their important role, not with standing the difficult

circumstances -low salaries, lack of organization and infrastructures, violence. The Psycho-pedagogical approach and the introduction of new teaching/learning methodologies in the classrooms to face dis-comfort, panic attacks or depression, can help to contain problems teachers and students might come across, and even prevent their occurrence within the society.

The empowerment and upgrading of the education system for the development of a right and democratic civil society is the strength of this pilot successful initiative .

Education Building Professional competences in education and didactics in the Palestinian Schools

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GenderCapacity Building for the Staff of MoWA Awarding ceremony at Birzeit University

On May 19th, 2008 at the premises of the Center for Continuing Education of the Birzeit University (Ramallah) an awarding cer-emony took place to bestow certificates to 50 of the staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs (MoWA) for successfully concluding a Capacity Building Training Course on administrative, mana-gerial and advocacy issues.

The event was attended by Khouloud D’eibes, Minister of MoWA, representatives of the Italian Cooperation Office and of the Birzeit University.

The course falls within the components of the Italian Cooperation project named Tamkeen: Fighting poverty through the empowerment of Palestinian Women.

The general objective of the Italian funded Project with a contribution of €540,000, is to encourage the active participation of the Pales-tinian women, especially those working within local Institutions and NGOs, in the decision-making process related to the society growth, in a local and national gender perspective.

The overall objective of the Capacity Building Course, held at the Unit Center for Continuing Education of Birzeit University -counterpart in the initiative- was to increase the capacity and technical competences of the employees at the MOWA on the implementation of the Ministry’s policies and strategies. The

course focused on the promotion of gender equality and the proper application of the International Law on Human Rights and the Hu-manitarian Law.

The 50 participants, males and females, were trained specifically on the following subjects:

•Advocacy and communication skills in women and gender issues.•Institutionalizing gender related issues (concepts, analysis, plan-ning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, etc.).•International human rights law and Humanitarian law with special emphasis on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Dis-crimination against Women (CEDAW).•Administrative and managerial skills.•English language, Communication and Information skills.The Italian Cooperation, in its action to promote social and human development within the Palestinian Society, sees the empowerment of women as an essential cross-cutting issue at the basis of social growth.

Through the Tamkeen Project, further than the support provided in terms of capacity building to the MoWA, the active participation of women in social life and decision making process is promoted, in cooperation with the MoWA itself, by the institution of Resources and Counseling centers for women aggregation. Four Tawassol Centers are about to be opened in Hebron, Bethlehem Nablus and Jenin.

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Cultural Heritage Workshop Jericho 26/27 March, 2008

Conservation and Enhancement of Cultural HeritageA Cooperation Journey through the Palestinian Territories and Jordan

On March 26th-27th, 2008, a two-day workshop on Conserva-tion and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage took place in Jer-icho. The seminar was promoted by the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem/ Italian Development Cooperation Office, under the patronage of the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and with the partnerships of Al Quds University and the Italian Central Institute for Restoration (Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities).

The meeting focused on the vital importance of cultural heritage as a resource able to contribute to sustainable development.

H.E. Khouloud D’Eibes, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiqui-ties and H.E. Luciano Pezzotti, the Consul General of Italy and Mr. Gianandrea Sandri, the Director of Italian Cooperation in Jerusalem opened the two-day workshop at the Jericho Resort Village.

The idea of a Journey through the Palestinian Territories and Jordan to bridge the history of cultural heritage of the two Countries was largely inspired by the long-lasting experience that Italian, local and international experts have in this field.

Valuable cooperation practices throughout the Palestinian Territories and Jordan gathered in this forum which brought together 160 par-ticipants representing local and Italian Academic Institutions, NGOs, Local Authorities, International Organizations and Offices for Devel-opment Cooperation, students and professors.

Lectures were given by a panel of renowned international ex-perts in the field of cultural heritage in the Middle East coming from: Italy - Italian Central Institute for Restoration; University of Florence; University of Rome La Sapienza , Veneto Institute for Cultural Heri-tage, NGO CISS, NGO Associazione di Terra Santa, Studium Bibli-cum Franciscanum; Palestinian Territories - Al Quds University, Bir Zeit University, Palestinian Department of Antiquities, Department of Tourism and Archeology Al Awqaf , NGO Riwaq, Bethlehem Center for Cultural Heritage Preservation, Hebron Rehabilitation Committee; Jordan - Jordanian Department of Antiquities, Madaba Mosaic School, in consideration of the regional dimension of the seminar.

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It is worth mentioning that since last June, the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem was given the new assignment to be responsible also of cooperation affairs in Jordan.

The two days of works, designed in four sessions, delved into the cooperation experiences for the enhancement of cultural heritage and emphasized mainly the following themes: - Value of training and building of competences for the preser-vation of the invaluable historical inheritance in the Region; - Importance of increasing cultural awareness among the popu-lation through the implementation of significant architectural interventions for the rehabilitation and reuse of historical resi-dential buildings in old cities and - Substance of cultural heritage as a source for sustainable de-velopment.

A striking guided Tour at Hisham`s Palace in Jericho was orga-nized by the Directorate of Site Management and Restoration of the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and antiquities. The Italian achievements in cultural cooperation were acknowledged in this site through the realization of a prominent intervention for the Conserva-tion of mosaics.

On this occasion the photographic exhibition ”A journey through images” by the Italian photographer Monica Biancardi was inaugurated, presenting 30 photo shoots on the cultural heri-

tage of the Region and portraits of its inhabitants. The exhibition, capturing the authentic beauty of architectural masterpieces perfect-ly set in their natural habitats and the verve of ancient traditions, will be taken around throughout the Palestinian territories by the Italian Cooperation office in Jerusalem.

The photographs were also collected in a publication by the Italian Cooperation Office.

A documentary film was circulated during the workshop real-ized by Soul Movie Entertainment Italia on the Cooperation Journey through the sites where the Italian interventions took place throughout the Palestinian Territories and Jordan. The seminar was made possible thanks to the contributions of two Italian Cooperation Initiatives: “Program for the Coordination of the NGOs activities” in light of the numerous projects promoted through Italian NGOs in the sector of cultural heritage and “Com-municating the Cooperation” the communication project aimed at informing and growing awareness on the Italian Cooperation com-mitment in the Palestinian Territories.

The proceedings of the workshop will be soon be published and cir-culated.

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Communicating the CooperationItalian Cooperation promotes News Corners at “All For Peace” Radio Station

The Italian Cooperation through its project “Communicating the Cooperation” is contributing to sponsor the short informative “News Corners”, a program of “All for Peace Radio station”. Radio All for Peace is an independent radio station based on a joint and co-operative Israeli-Palestinian teamwork to provide its listeners with comprehensive explorations into peace and civil society related issues. Its schedule offers both Arabic and Hebrew broadcasts, as well as a few in English, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through its talk shows and news corners “Radio All for Peace” pro-vides also a platform for organizations to contribute their efforts to promote dialogue and increase the visibility and impact of their inter-ventions and resources committed on the ground.The collaboration with “Radio all for Peace” started with the idea of sustaining the important role of this media working in parallel to contribute to foster mutual understanding by empowering the civil society and tackling issues of social interest while communicating the Italian Cooperation commitment for development in the Palestin-ian Territories.

The News Corners, are short informative spaces of 6 to 8 min-utes and deal with issues such as education, health, women, youths, cultural heritage, environment, economy, public aware-ness on specific topics and also providing information on the Italian cooperation related projects and initiatives. These news items are broadcast in Arabic language over the airways at 107.2 FM (from Ramallah to the Central Region of the Palestinian Territories and Israel) & 89.3 FM (from Jenin to the Northern Part of the PA and Israel) as well as via the internet site at www.allforpeace.org,

By using the radio as the most common and popular communi-cation tool, voice is given to the counterparts and beneficiaries of the Italian cooperation interventions, through interviews and the telling of stories collected directly from the field.

A dedicated web page on the web site of the radio, accessible also from the Italian Cooperation web-site www.itcoop-jer.org reports with English articles on the issues dealt within the “News Corners” while it is possible to download and listen to the epi-sodes flashed out.

The Italian Office for Development Cooperation is committed through communication activities to inform and raise public awareness on the Italian projects and interventions in the Palestinian Territories.The “News Corners” of radio All for Peace will help the Italian Co-operation in its effort to support the Palestinian People and promote mutual understanding.

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Theatre and Multimedia Arts Instruments for Peace (TAM)Summer training course for youth interested in theatre professions in the Palestinian Territories

The Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem, in collaboration with The Palestinian National Theatre – El Nuhza Hakawati (PNT) and the Ente Teatrale Italiano (ETI) are organizing a 3 months summer training on theatre professions – acting, dra-maturgy, elements of stage and lighting design, technical skills and dance- for 30 youths ages 16 to 24 years.

The initiative falls into an Italian pilot project in the cultural field named -Theatre and Multimedia Arts: Instruments for Peace (TAM)-aimed at sustaining the cultural activities promoted by the Palestinian National Theatre in East Jerusalem while increasing among Palestin-ian youths sensibility towards integration, cultural dialogue, human rights and peace, by the means of Theater and Performance arts. The Important participation of the Italian Association for Theater (ETI) and the involvement of the Italian Director Gabriele Vacis and of the actor Glen Blackhall in the training sessions, particularly con-note this project with an inter-cultural tone bringing together the Pal-estinian and the Italian experiences in this art.From its side the PNT, funded in 1984, is the greatest cultural in-stitution of East Jerusalem. By adhering to this Italian initiative, the Theater opened to a new opportunity to promote the contemporary Palestinian culture within and outside the Palestinian Territories, mainly in Italy, and to improve its theater productions and manage-ment abilities working together with ETI.The TAM project consists of a three months training in theater pro-fessions and a three months production phase (for more detailed information: www.itcoop-jer.org or write to tam@itcoop-jer.org). Gabriele Vacis, a renowned name in the theater-international scene - actor, author of theater essays, promoter and director of numerous Theater Festivals- came last February to Jerusalem to help in iden-tifying the Palestinian professional artists who will train the aspirant youths. At the end of April 2008, 6 Palestinian trainers left to Italy to join a dedicated seminar at the “InTeatro di Polverigi” the Italian Theater Association of Marche Region, to elaborate efficient and ap-propriate teaching methodologies.

Meanwhile more than 110 application forms were received from many Young people attracted by the Italian initiative.Currently, as the end of May, the selection phase of the 30 young candidates is ongoing at the Palestinian National Theater, carried out by the professionals who will implement the courses. After the

auditions the 30 selected youths will be divided into two classes. Morning and evening sessions will take place with Palestinian and Italian trainers all summer through.The Italian Cooperation is supporting, for the first time, the develop-ment of theater arts with a goal of promoting intercultural dialogue, peace and notions of national and international cultural identity, is-sues that apply to contemporary Jerusalem.

Italian Technical Assistance to the Jordanian SMEs in the Textile & Clothing Sector AMMAN- On February 13th 2008, an Italian-Jordanian Agree-ment was signed in Amman for the realization and management of a Training and Services Center in the sector of Textile and Clothing to support the production and enhance the competi-tiveness of the Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan.The project, funded by the Italian Government/Directorate Gen-eral for Cooperation and development with a total contribution of € 3,536,000, entails the allocation of adequate resources – human and financial – to support innovation and encourage the most competitive enterprises to extend the marketing of their products from the local to the international markets.HE Gianfranco Giorgolo, the Italian Ambassador to Jordan. Dr. Su-hair Al-Ali, Jordan Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr.Amer Hadidi, the Minister of Industry and Mr. Ya’rub Al Qudah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and counterpart in the initiative, signed this important Technical Assistance Program. Thanks to the strong commitment of the Jordan Government, the agreement will allow the opening of local branches of the Training Center in different cities.

The Textile and Clothing industry became a dominant player in the Jordan economy. The Italian Initiative will provide the Center with the top of the line equipment and machineries, know how and support services. The Center will contribute to improve productivity of the Jordan small and medium enterprises and further develop the quality of their products.

Italian Development Cooperation in Jordan: In the framework of the new assignment of the Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem responsible since June, 2007 of Cooperation Affairs in Jordan, this section will be dedicated to report News Items on the Italian Cooperation Initiatives in the Country.

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Rapresentative of the Italian Cooperation Office in Jordan: Amjad Yaaqba - cooperation,amman@esteri.it

The Italian Government allocates € 856.400 to support Iraqi refugees in JordanThe Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGCS) of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated in May 2008 the amount of € 856.400 for initiatives aimed at sustaining more than half-a-million Iraqi refugees in Jordan.The Program to assist the Iraqi refugees in Jordan was promptly set up by the Italian Government in response to the Appeal mutually launched in June 2007 by both the UN Agencies UNHCR and UNI-CEF. The Italian contribution, aims at alleviating the harsh living conditions of Iraqi refugees in line with two of the eight Millennium goals, agreed

to by all the world’s developing countries to meet the needs of the world’s poorest communities. Specifically the interventions included in this Program will target mil-lennium goal number two, aimed at the achievement of universal pri-mary education and goal number three, related to the elimination of gender disparity. The Italian commitment will contribute to ease the load of the Jorda-nian Government hosting the Iraqi population who have fled violence in their homeland.

Remembering Francesca Onofri

The Italian Cooperation Office in Jerusalem remembers the col-league Francesca Onofri, expert at the Central Technical Unit (UTC) of the Directorate General for Cooperation and Development (DGCS) at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome.Throughout the years Francesca shared her exemplary enthusiasm and dedication to the Development Cooperation with all of us, her friends and the people she served all over the world. The strength of her convictions and the rigor of her work have been an important evidence also during the last Mission she undertook to

the Palestinian Territories with her colleagues from the DGCS in the month of April, 2008.This was once again an occasion for all of us to learn from her expe-rience and approach to development work. We will remember Francesca through this image which portrays her and her devotion to the Palestinian people and more in general to solidarity with the poorest.

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Gianandrea Sandri

Many thanks for collaborating in issuing this number to:Gianandrea Sandri, UTL Director

All UTL sector coordinators and staff

Dr. Mario Meinero, Secretary General of the Italian Society for Laparoscopy SurgeryAlessandra Rossi, Rappresentative of NGO AISPODaniela Riva, Rappresentative of NGO GVCGiulia Franchi, Rappresentative of NGO CIC

The Italian Cooperation NewsLetter is also available on our Web Site:http://www.itcoop-jer.org

e-mail: utl@itcoop-jer.org

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Reference links:

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Ilaria Cooperazionehttp://www.ilariacooperazione.it/

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