Palestinian-Dutch Academic Cooperation Program on Water technology and Governance Research

Water scarcity is a major problem in the West Bank and, even more so, in the Gaza Strip. The water resources are under increasing water stress due to a combination of factors, such as increasing demand, economic development, population growth, climate change, and water pollution from untreated waste water. The water sector is therefore to adapt drastically in order to meet the challenges ahead.

The program contributed, through a series of applied research and policy-support assignment, to the effectiveness of the Palestinian water sector, in particular covering the development, provision and management of water resources and services. It will reduce dependencies on donors and external funding, and thereby contribute to an independent Palestinian state. Additionally, applied short-term research contributes directly to knowledge gaps in the water sector, and projects are specifically designed to address the real needs of the agricultural and water sector.