Project: SWITCH: Turning Human Rights and Democracy Principles into Daily Practices in Gaza

Project Title: SWITCH: Turning Human Rights and Democracy Principles into Daily Practices in Gaza

Duration: 2022 – 2025

Funding Organization: European Union (EuropeAid/NDICI)

Lead Implementer: Pal-Think for Strategic Studies – Gaza, Palestine

Partners: ACTED (France) and Ajial Association

Budget: EUR 394,629

Simple Summary:

The project aims to promote a culture of human rights and democracy in the Gaza Strip by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs), youth activists, and media professionals to translate these principles into everyday action.

Implemented by Pal-Think for Strategic Studies in partnership with ACTED and Ajial Association, and funded by the European Union, the initiative focuses on strengthening civic participation, enhancing organizational capacity, and supporting locally driven initiatives that foster inclusiveness, accountability, and democratic resilience — with a particular emphasis on the role of women and youth.

Overall Objectives:

  1. Promote human rights and democratic values as practical tools for community engagement and social development in Gaza.
  2. Build the institutional and advocacy capacity of local CSOs to become more effective actors for accountability and citizen participation.
  3. Empower activists and media professionals to advocate for civil rights, transparency, and freedom of expression.
  4. Enhance women’s and youth’s participation in civic and political life through training and inclusive mechanisms.
  5. Establish sustainable cooperation networks among local and international actors to ensure the project’s long-term impact.

Main Activities:

  1. Capacity-building programs for CSOs on governance, advocacy, transparency, and accountability using ACTED’s GOCA (Governance & Organizational Capacity Assessment) tool.
  2. Small-scale grants (FSTPs) to support local initiatives promoting human rights, democracy, and civic participation.
  3. Workshops for activists and media professionals on countering hate speech, promoting inclusiveness, and advancing gender equality.
  4. Final to showcase successful practices, lessons learned, and policy recommendations with local and international stakeholders.
  5. Awareness and advocacy campaigns through traditional and digital media to raise public understanding of democratic values and human rights.
  6. Gender mainstreaming integrated across all project components to ensure women’s equitable participation and leadership.

Expected Results:

  • Strengthened capacity of Gaza’s CSOs to advocate for and protect human rights.
  • Increased civic engagement and participation of youth and women.
  • Broader collaboration networks between local and international actors.
  • Improved public awareness of democracy, equality, and accountability.
  • Transformation of human rights and democratic principles into concrete, daily social practices across communities.

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