15.5 Strategic Planning to Improve Palestine’s Bioeconomy
The national strategy plan for the State of Palestine (2023–2028)
In recent years, the State of Palestine has faced worsening socioeconomic conditions, with a prolonged crisis affecting various aspects of life, including food security. This crisis is the result of trade and movement restrictions, conflicts, and economic stagnation, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the pursuit of sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda have been hampered, and rising inflation has added to the challenges, intensifying food insecurity. Within this challenging context, the State of Palestine grapples with several drivers of food insecurity, which the new strategic plan for 2023-2028 aims to address:
1. High unemployment rates and limited income opportunities, particularly affecting the Gaza Strip, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
2. Sociocultural gender disparities that hinder women’s economic prospects, financial inclusion, and access to nutritious food.
3. A decline in national food production and increased reliance on food imports due to constrained access to natural resources, climate change impacts, and limited technological innovation adoption.
4. The Palestinian Authority’s dependence on external funding, limiting the scope of the national social protection system and its ability to combat poverty effectively.
The new strategic plan, led by the WFP, adopts a comprehensive approach, addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and long-standing socioeconomic vulnerabilities. It combines food assistance with tailored programs to promote self-reliance, labor market integration, and the participation of women, youth, and individuals with disabilities. The plan also aims to strengthen national systems, enhance targeting mechanisms, and implement shock-responsive social protection programs that consider various factors like nutrition, gender, and disability.
This strategic plan is aligned with Palestine’s national development and investment plans, the UN sustainable development framework, and the humanitarian response plan. It directly contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on improving food and nutrition security, enhancing livelihood opportunities, strengthening national institutions, and providing efficient services and support for humanitarian and development efforts throughout the year.