Olive Oil Without Borders: Palestinian-Israeli Olive Oil Project Quarterly Report: April-June 2012

The project, implemented by the Near East Foundation, focuses on promoting peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians through economic cooperation. The project's third quarter, spanning from April 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012, saw significant progress in achieving its objectives. Key project achievements during this period include the final project launching workshop at the Gilboa Regional Council in Ein Herod, Israel, which was attended by 21 Israeli participants. The workshop marked the beginning of the project's implementation phase. Additionally, two Whole Systems in a Room workshops were conducted, bringing together 43 Israeli and Palestinian participants to discuss challenges in the olive sector and 46 participants to discuss possible solutions. These workshops facilitated dialogue and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. The project also made progress in building capacity among local institutions. A branding and marketing workshop was held, where 24 Israelis and Palestinians agreed to cooperate in promoting "horizontal" cooperation among oil companies/traders through shared branding and joint marketing. Preparations for the Training of Trainers continued, with the designing of training modules, finalization of the three-day training agenda, and coordination of logistics. Furthermore, the project team conducted field visits to Agritech, an agricultural exposition held in Tel Aviv, where 38 Palestinian farmers, olive millers, and traders attended. The project team also identified six private orchards to serve as farm field schools – four in the West Bank and two in Israel – and prepared memorandums of understanding for signature in July. The project team conducted interviews and research to complete the Crossborder Value Chain Analysis, a crucial component of the project. The project's progress is a testament to the potential for economic cooperation to promote peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. The Olive Oil Without Borders project demonstrates that even in the midst of conflict, economic cooperation can bring people together and foster a sense of shared purpose. The project's activities and impact are closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that they align with the project's objectives and contribute to the overall goal of promoting peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. The project's quarterly reports provide a comprehensive overview of its progress, challenges, and lessons learned, which are essential for informing future project activities and improving overall project effectiveness. The project's geographic focus is on the West Bank and Israel, with a specific emphasis on the olive oil sector. The project's timeframes are quarterly, with the third quarter spanning from April 1, 2012, to June 30, 2012. The project's recommendations for future activities and implementation are based on the lessons learned and challenges encountered during the third quarter. The project's implementation details are outlined in the project's workplan, which is closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that the project stays on track and achieves its objectives. The project's indicators and impact are closely monitored and evaluated to ensure that the project is making progress towards its overall goal of promoting peace and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. The project's upcoming activities include the Training of Trainers, which will equip local trainers with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement the project's activities. The project will also continue to build capacity among local institutions, with a focus on promoting economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. The project's branding and marketing efforts will also continue, with a focus on promoting "horizontal" cooperation among oil companies/traders.