- February 22, 2024: Iceland has joined the PID MDTF with a pledge of US$2 million. This new contribution underscores Iceland’s dedication to providing emergency support in the water, urban development, and energy sectors for the Palestinian people.
- November 30, 2023: The West Bank and Gaza Climate Change and Development Report (CCDR) was disseminated during the UN Climate Change Conference- COP28 that was held between November 30th to December 12th, 2023.This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for the West Bank and Gaza examines the social and macroeconomic impacts of climate change under three alternative scenarios that reflect different levels of climate action and divergent economic growth trajectories. For more: watch the video
- October 5, 2023: An event was held in Ramallah to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PID MDTF. The event was attended by representatives from the PA, Development Partners, and the World Bank. Speeches were made by Stefan Emblad, World Bank Country Director; Mr. Julius Liljeström, Consul General of Sweden; and H.E. Mr. Majdi Al Saleh, Minister of Local Government. Speakers highlighted the achievements of the PID MDTF in infrastructure development, service delivery and capacity building; thanked DPs, the PA and the World Bank for their support; and emphasized the continued importance of the PID MDTF for the Palestinian people. The event also featured a video showcasing some of the achievements of the PID MDTF over the past decade.
- August 31, 2023: The Third Municipal Development Project (MDP-3) closed successfully, after supporting municipalities to improve the living conditions of an estimated 700,000 people in the West Bank. MDP-3 built the capacity of municipalities and provided them with a reliable source of funding to provide essential services to citizens. As a result, 96 municipalities have improved their service delivery performance. MDP-3 also generated 5,572 short term jobs in Gaza, 834 of which were taken by women, and supported municipalities in their response to COVID-19. A follow-up project, the Resilient Municipal Services Project, will build on these achievements.
- December 31, 2022: The Gaza Solid Waste Management Project closed successfully, having improved solid waste management for 948,000 people in Gaza. A sanitary landfill and associated facilities were constructed in South Gaza, and three major dumpsites were closed and rehabilitated. The Project also built the capacity of the Joint Services Council for Khan Younis, Rafah, and Middle Area, which is responsible for solid waste services in Southern Gaza. All Project Development Objectives were met or exceeded, and some 96 percent of waste in the project area is now disposed of at the sanitary landfill constructed under the project.
- October 24-25, 2022: A mission with the Swedish Consulate General and the World Bank team to Gaza took place on the 23rd-24th of October. The mission was dedicated to visiting the sites of two strategic projects funded through the PID MDTF. The delegation has visited the sites of the Solid Waste Management project, and the Gaza Wastewater Management project, including NGEST, and the Sofa landfills. These projects have benefited over 1 million Gazan citizens and have successfully improved service delivery and increased the quality of life for the Palestinian population through provision of more efficient, environmentally, and socially sound wastewater and solid waste management systems. As quoted by Klas Svensson from the SCG “partnering with the World Bank on building resilient infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank is a strategic intervention for Sweden in our efforts to support sustainable use of natural resources, environmental improvement and increased resilience to climate change in Palestine”
- September 6, 2022: Norway made a payment in the amount of NOK 38,393,00, equivalent to around $3.5 million. This is part of its pledged contribution of NOK 180,000,000 made in December 2019. These funds will be directed towards supporting the energy sector through the ASPIRE MPA to improve operational and financial performance of electricity sector institutions and promote diversification of energy sources in the West Bank and Gaza.
- July 4, 2022: The Palestinian Prime Minister’s office officially launched the multiphase Advancing Sustainability in Performance, Infrastructure, and Reliability of Energy Sector (ASPIRE) – Phase 2. The amount of a US$15 million grant was approved by the World Bank on April 11, 2022 with an additional US$8.5 million contributed by donor partners through the PID MDTF. The second phase, totaling US$23.5 million, will build on the core activities of the program’s first phase (US$63 million) and will focus on improving electricity infrastructure by upgrading existing lines and building new ones to absorb more solar energy. The renewed focus on infrastructure is crucial for increasing supply to areas facing shortages.
- May 6, 2022: Sweden made an additional contribution of SEK 75 million, equivalent to around $6.9 million. This new pledge emphasizes Sweden’s continuous commitment to the PID MDTF to channel and leverage resources in an effective and coordinated way to support the Palestinian Authority, the World Bank and development partners’ strategic objectives in the water, urban development, and energy sectors.
- March 29, 2022: Agence Française de Développement (AFD) contributed an additional EUR 10 million, equivalent to US$10.9 million. The funds will support investments and reforms to achieve improved access to safe drinking water in Gaza, building on a long partnership with AFD in the Gaza water sector. This funding will be critical to improve the quantity and quality of water available to households and firms in the Gaza Strip, boosting public health outcomes and economic development prospects of Gaza residents and ultimately their quality of life.
Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024
