LocationsPRESS RELEASE
UNDP and Germany Inaugurate Project Sites in Hebron
December 13, 2022
The Head of Mission of the German Representative Office, Mr. Oliver Owcza together with UNDP/PAPP Deputy Special Representative, Ms. Chitose Noguchi, Mr. David Kunze and Representatives from the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and the Palestinian Government in Hebron's old city.
© UNDP/PAPP image bank
Jerusalem, 08 December 2022 – The Head of Mission of the German Representative Office, Mr. Oliver Owcza together with UNDP/PAPP Deputy Special Representative, Ms. Chitose Noguchi, Mr. David Kunze and Representatives from the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and the Palestinian Government inaugurated project sites in Hebron's old city that have been financed by Germany.
Since 2002, the Government of Germany, through the German Development Bank KFW, its implementing partner UNDP/PAPP, the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC), civil society actors, and the Palestinian Authority, have renovated the interiors of 183 shops in the Old City of Hebron, restored 96 homes, rehabilitated the Al Yakaza School and a clinic that serves the residents, and renovated a Turkish Bath in Khan Shaheen to preserve cultural heritage and to serve as tourist attraction in the old city. A total of approximately 2.8 million EUR has been provided for such Interventions.
The Head of Mission of the German Representative Office, Mr Oliver Owcza expressed: "I am impressed to see the results of German support revive the old center of Hebron. It leads to new opportunities for tourism and economic development. Germany remains committed to support the economic development and Improvement of living conditions In the West Bank and Gaza."
The activities have been financed under the "Employment Generation Programme" (EGP). During the 11 phases of the EGP, over 102million EUR in funding was contributed to support the Palestinian people in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. This has resulted in the creation of over 1.37 million workdays and 2,200 permanent jobs.
Chitose Noguchi, the UNDP/PAPP Deputy Special Representative, thanked the Government of Germany for their cooperation and emphasized the historical and cultural significance of the old city of Hebron for Palestinians. "The residents of Hebron's old city deserve to live in dignity, with access to basic services and employment opportunities to sustain their livelihoods," she added.
After twenty years of implementing the EGP and benefiting local communities by rehabilitating vital infrastructure and providing job opportunities, the Government of Germany and UNDP are continuing their partnership by implementing the new program "Investment Programme for Resilience (IPR)", aimed at strengthening the resilience of the most marginalized communities throughout the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The IPR supports Palestinian communities through community infrastructure, enhancing access to sustainable and quality services, focusing on capacity building and community engagement activities, to enhance social cohesion.
