The role of the European donor countries in achieving sustainable development in Palestine, 2015-2019: Civil Society Perspective رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the role of European aid towards the achieving of sustainable development from the perspective of the NGO's. The research relied on personal interviews with NGOs representatives that operate in the domain of sustainable development and working with European funded projects to reach results based on a scientific and realistic basis. Through it, the researcher reached that European aid's reality lies in clarifying how and where it has channeled and addressed. Although valuable European aid is granted to the Palestinian people yearly, the aid's themes are relatively shallow and depthless in strengthening Palestinians' independence path. The European aid's aim and purpose towards the Palestinian people are ambiguous, considering the political limitations and prerequisites demanded recently. The reality of sustainable development remains controversial. At the same time, some argue that it is a myth. Others believe in it to some extent, and others do not believe in its genuine traits. The European aid's aims are on the surface relevant to the Palestinian people's actual needs and necessities. Nevertheless, its relevance remains untransparent. At the same time, several challenges are facing sustainable development in the Palestinian territories. Some are external such as the Israeli occupation and its implications. Others are internal such as; the Government's ability to self-determination, lack of censorship and jurisdictions, the lack of partnership and cooperation and, the lack of national expert bodies responsible for allocating funds. In the light of the conclusions, the researcher recommends first building/ enhance the role an observation body where its primary responsibility is to monitor and watch over the Palestinian people's international funds reallocations and compliance with the Palestinian people's actual needs necessities. Secondly, the researcher advises on the importance of improving the partnership IV approaches between the NGO's and the Government by forming a joint committee or board that oversees the relationship and continuously improves its channels. Thirdly, the researcher suggests developing new investigations, studies, and statistics that look into the sustainable development path within the Palestinian context regarding the actual accomplishments and the actual deficiencies. Fourth, the researcher proposes conducting additional research on sustainable development in the Palestinian territories from the private sector's perspective and the Palestinian community's perspective. Finally, the researcher urges the NGOs to join forces and understand the allocation of external funds' projects specialties by formulating an effective internal network that connects the Palestinian NGO's and either connects or complement their development work