Final report : West Bank and Gaza Strip -- building an informed and active civil society in the West Bank and Gaza Strip : USAID grant no. 294-A-00-96-90571-00 -- October 1996 to December 1998

In June 1998, NDI"s civic education program, Civic Forum, was established as an independent organization committed to advancing the democratic development of the Palestinian territories. The Forum has grown into a popular feature of democratic activity and boasts the largest non-partisan grassroots network in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Through hundreds of moderated, community-based discussion groups and the regular distribution of printed materials, the organization enables more than 5,000 Palestinians every 6 weeks to learn about democratic institutions and practice democratic concepts. The establishment of Civic Forum ensures the sustainability of project efforts. Through Civic Forum discussion sessions, companion handouts, and quarterly newsletters, NDI raised awareness among a significant percentage of the Palestinian population on key democratic issues. The program included over 50,000 Palestinians in regular discussions about topics ranging from elections and political parties to the role of the media and citizens" rights and responsibilities. Participants have used this knowledge to hold their representatives in government accountable and to organize civic activities to address local problems. NDI helped establish mechanisms for interaction and communication between Palestinian citizens and their elected representatives and other government officials. The Civic Forum program introduced what became a regular series of "town hall" meetings across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. These meetings gave citizens an opportunity to express their concerns to government officials and for elected representatives to educate their constituents about their work in government. NDI contributed to the resolution of local problems. Veteran Civic Forum participants, armed with an understanding of their rights and a new appreciation for petitioning government, have called on governing authorities to improve water and sewer systems, urged action on pollution, started schools and sports clubs, built soccer fields, and volunteered their time to community efforts. NDI strengthened the advocacy capacity of individual civil society organizations and provided an avenue for participation in the development of public policy. At NDI training sessions, more than 1,500 civic group representatives have learned how to identify a realistic program goal and create a strategy to persuade decisionmakers, mobilize allies, and overcome obstacles. One of the groups with which NDI worked, the General Union of the Disabled, became a model for civic advocacy. Previously devoted to resolving individual cases of discrimination, the Union successfully advocated legislation on disability access and organized a disability caucus in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). These achievements marked two "firsts" in the West Bank and Gaza: the first time that a Palestinian civic organization drafted legislation that was subsequently debated by the PLC, and the first time that the Council established a caucus devoted to a specific issue. The Union"s work represents a standard for conducting an effective issue-based campaign for other organizations in the Palestinian territories. With NDI support, Civic Forum established a Field Activities Unit, tasked with training other civic groups in community organizing and advocacy skills. The establishment of this training unit will help ensure the sustained development of Palestinian organizations to undertake issue-based advocacy campaigns and continued participation in the formation of public policy. NDI produced a guide to help NGOs organized a successful issue-based advocacy campaign; individual chapters cover planning, NGOs and governmental relations, influencing a ministry, the PLC, influencing a village council, organizing a town hall meeting, elections, coalitions, media relations, identifying community needs, fundraising, using volunteers, and getting things done in the West Bank and Gaza. Distribution of more than 10,000 copies of the Arabic-language guidebook was accompanied by NDI forums explaining the manual"s contents and use. (Author abstract, modified)