Luxembourg's development cooperation - Annual report 2016

The Occupied Palestinian Territories* have a special status similar to Luxembourg’s development cooperation’s partner countries. As in previous years, in 2016 Luxembourg’s development cooperation has supported Palestinian civil society via three local NGOs: a total of 112 056 euros to the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee (PARC) in the agriculture and sustainable development sector, 200 000 euros to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) in the sector of reproductive health for women and 205 876,49 USD to the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) in the transparency and good governance sector. These contributions are lower than in the previous year because the projects end this year. Negotiations are underway with the 3 NGOs to ensure the continuation and/or creation of new projects for 2017.

The largest part of the contribution to the OPT is the annual contribution to the UNRWA of 4 500 000 euros for 2016. Apart from its voluntary contribution of 3 750 000 euros, Luxembourg’s development cooperation contributes the sum of 750 000 euros to the “Healthy Life and Lifestyle for Youth in West Bank and Gaza” project, a project focusing on reproductive health and combating diabetes in children and young teenagers. More than ever, the UN agency has shown itself to be a reliable partner to over 5,5 million Palestinians.

* The Occupied Palestinian Territories are to be considered as one of the main partner countries of Luxembourg’s development cooperation as specified in Article 3 of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 7 August 2012 setting intervention thresholds, the annual financial ceiling, the local non-financial contribution and the audit obligations as part of the co-financing of programmes or projects presented by non-governmental development organisations under the modified law of 6 January 1996 on development cooperation and humanitarian action.