West Bank and Gaza

Report

Utilizing Solar Energy for Water Pumping and Brackish Water Desalination in Agriculture

Increasing demand for agricultural crops has put an increased strain on limited freshwater resources in Jordan and Palestine. The area currently has shortages in freshwater and an abundant supply of saline water which has not been utilized for agriculture due to the economics associated with pumping and desalinization mainly from limited availability to electricity and high running cost of the alternative diesel generators.

Article

Teaming Up to Improve Efficiency of Water Use for Crop Production

The Middle East Regional Irrigation Management Information System (MERIMIS) project is a quadrilateral effort to help farmers better manage scarce water resources. Started in 2003, MERIMIS involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture and government agencies and NGOs from Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. 

Article

Enhancing Media Coverage of Water Issues in Africa and the Middle East

With funding from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has trained nearly 30 journalists from the Nile Basin and across the Middle East on a variety of water issues. The trainings built capacity among journalists who often do not have the resources to focus on a single topical issue, such as water. This project represented whole-of-government thinking resulting in an U.S. government interagency project that impacts millions of people by bringing them reliable news and information about water issues. 

Article

Hydrologists Without Borders

Through a cooperative program with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), the U.S. Water Partnership (USWP) has deployed U.S. hydrologists and water experts abroad for short-term consultancies, training programs, and public diplomacy missions. The program, termed by one expert participant as “Hydrologists without Borders,” helps U.S. embassies build cooperation and support for critical water issues in key countries, and has served as a new avenue for U.S. embassies to market U.S.

Activity

Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development Project

USAID has supported the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health in its development of the public health sector since the ministry was established in 1994. Recognizing the ministry’s commitment to creating a successful, integrated health sector, USAID supported its National Health Reform Strategy through the Palestinian Health Sector Reform and Development Project.