Ramallah, March 28th, 2023 – The ILO and the Government of Japan have launched a project on “Promotion of an Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises and decent jobs for women and youth in the Agricultural Sector” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The project is funded by the Government of Japan to the amount of US$740,740.
Almost 80 guests representing Palestinian ministries, diplomatic missions, UN agencies, cooperative unions, cooperative associations, civil society organizations, academia, private sector, and other development partners attended the launching ceremony.
The new project aims to contribute to more sustainable and decent jobs in the agricultural sector in the OPT. Through inclusive markets, system innovations, and value chain development in the food and agricultural sector, the project will help produce more sustainable and decent jobs by creating linkages between innovation, productivity and environmental sustainability, based on the advancement of the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” initiative launched by the Government of Japan in 2006.
During the ceremony, Japan’s Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs Yoichi Nakashima stated: “We hope that this project will add another qualitative value to the achievements made by Japan in the Jordan Valley and Jericho governorate, where the Government of Japan has completed several development projects within the ‘Corridor of Peace and Prosperity’ initiative since 2006, including the Jericho Agricultural Industrial Park (JAIP) and the Palestinian business prosperity Center (PALPRO), located in the center of the JAIP Industrial Park.”
Ambassador Nakashima added: “Agriculture is the backbone of the Palestinian market. I personally taste different types of Palestinian agricultural products every day, including vegetables, fruits, dairy products and cheeses, which I always find fresh and delicious. Therefore, I appreciate the high skills of the farmers who produce them despite the burden of the occupation, which imposes daily obstacles on many aspects of their work and life.”
The intervention will also help in promoting partnerships to facilitate access to marketing services and business-to-business linkages with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector. Further support to small farmers and cooperatives, mainly women and youth, will be provided to improve their managerial skills and capacities in both farm and non-farm activities, as well improve their access to markets, thereby boosting their productivity.
Based on the gaps to be identified across the selected value chains, the intervention will benefit from innovation and expertise in agricultural production and agri-food business targeting women, youth, and small producers.
Palestinian Minister of Labour Nasri Abu Jaish said during the launching ceremony: “The implementation of any project and support in the Jordan Valley region means support to the resilience of our people and citizens in this region, support to our production, support to small producers and protection of land and livelihoods particularly in Area C where land is at risk of confiscation”.
Palestinian Minister of Agriculture Riyad Attari highlighted the importance of the intervention, noting that the project is in line with the strategy of his ministry that seeks to develop and build the capabilities of young men and women to create jobs in the agricultural sector, which is an essential pillar of the national economy and provides jobs to sustain tens of thousands of familie.
The project contributes to the ILO’s OPT Decent Work Programme (2023-25), the ILO framework of support to the Palestinian Authority and to employers and workers in the OPT, especially through enhancing employment and livelihood opportunities for Palestinian women and men. The project is also in line with the National Employment Strategy 2021-2025 and its focus on advancing decent work for all, in particular for youth and women.
Commenting on the importance of increasing farmers’ resilience, President of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA) Abdo Idrees stated that “today we need not only to cultivate but also to preserve the resilience of farmers, and ensure that their production goes to the right places and markets. We in the FPCCIA are working with the International Labor Organization to enhance agricultural production and agricultural manufacturing to support Palestinian farmers and help them maintain production levels.”
ILO Representative in Jerusalem Frida Khan underlined that the project “builds on globally developed, well tested, and contextually modified ILO tools on agricultural Value Chain Development and enterprise development. It builds on the work we have done in strengthening the cooperative sector… and brings together a range of expertise including technological expertise from Japan.”
At the launch event, women from cooperatives around OPT displayed some of their food products, which were also used to prepare dinner for guests attending the event. While visiting the stalls, Ambassador Nakashima commented that he tasted different types of Palestinian agricultural products every day, including vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and cheeses, which he always found fresh and delicious. “Therefore, I appreciate the high skills of the farmers who produce them despite the burden of the occupation, which imposes daily obstacles on many aspects of their work and life.”
For media inquiries, please contact: Nezar Marouf, Communication Officer, Japan Representative Office, via [email protected] or +970 59793000 Salwa Kanaana, Regional Communication & Public Info Officer at the International Labour Organization Regional Office of Arab States, via [email protected] or +961 1752400
