Palthink profile

Profile:

Pal-Think for Strategic Studies is an independent non-profit think and do tank that aims to stimulate and inspire rational public discussions and consensus for the well-being of the Palestinians. Pal-Thinks work is structured around a dual focus on 1) in-depth research and 2) civic society empowerment through project work; this way Pal-Think aims to give a clear platform for constructive debate and dialogue and to produce up to date research relevant of the Palestinian cause and the situation in the Middle East. There are multiple Palestinian and international researchers, authors, politicians and activists connected to Pal-think and its work. Up to now, some of Pal-Thinks main priorities have been to conduct research about the reconstruction of Gaza as well as the reconciliation- and peace processes of sustaining a shared Palestinian unit, both politically, geographically and socio-economically. A great effort has also been placed on actively engaging the young Palestinian population in meaningful political work and empowering them to take part in the civic life in Gaza.

History

Pal-Think is based in Gaza, one of the most conflicted areas in the world. The organisation was established in 2007 as a reaction to the controversial election in 2006, which was the point of origin of the current internal division of the political system in Palestine. After the elections in 2006 the political scene changed, not only within domestic policy in Palestine; the international community’s approach and policies towards Palestine changed drastically.

A group of Palestinian researchers and community activists with a diverse background in different fields of academia and with a diverse knowledge of the Middle East, its current problems, potentials and possibilities establish Pal-Think in an effort to ensure in depth research on the development of Palestinian after the election. Since 2006 Palestine, and particularly Gaza have witnessed a devastating de-development, which calls for an increased effort to understand and act towards the injustice and violations that is going on. Rational thought and the integration of the civil society in the process of reconciliation, reconstruction and development of a strong Palestine is what motivates the work of Pal-Think.

Vision

To be a frontrunner in the mediation of the Palestinian reconciliation and peace process and to contribute to the building of a free and democratic Palestinian society

Mission

Pal-Think believes in the power of the Palestinian civil society, and it aims to qualify the general public debate in Palestine through empowering the voice and capacity of the Palestinian people. Through a dual focus on research and civic empowerment, it is the mission of Pal-Think, not only to give the Palestinian people a voice, but also to give them tools to take power over their own lives and to be an active part in changing the situation in Palestine to develop a united and democratic Palestinian society.

Ambitions

Pal-Think for Strategic Studies is ambitious to be:

A highly credible and effective scholarly research unit
An active and visible actor in the Palestinian and international society
A frontrunner in the mediation of the Palestinian reconciliation process
A platform for constructive and creative thinking as well as a safe space for critical dialogue and discussion
Explorative of new and innovative ideas relevant to the Palestinian cause
An attractive partner for the international civil society aiming to support the Palestinian cause
A channel, bringing Gaza and Palestine to the world through international networks and research collaborations
An influential lobby unit for international awareness of the Palestinian cause on the terms of the Palestinian society and its people

Program Areas

Pal-Thinks work can roughly be divided into four thematically defined categories. These program areas are the point of departure of all activities in Pal-Think. This is illustrated by a collaborate effort of the Project Unit and the Research Unit to compliment and support each other in the work on relevant issues related to one or more of the four Programs. The four program areas are the following:

Politics and Governance

Pal-Think aims to conduct research and be a resource for local as well as international policy makers and lobbyists with an interest in the Palestinian cause. Through the focus on politics and governance, it is the aim to tackle some of the complex layers of the many conflicts in the region and to make policy recommendations for local and international policy makers and organisations. Further the aim is to strengthen political international awareness through network activities and to engage the Palestinian citizenry in dialogue about politics and the development of society.

Pal-Think focuses on issues such as:

The current and future political system in Palestine.
Active participation and democratization of the Palestinian political system.
The role of international organisations
Enhancing regional and international cooperation

Reconciliation and Peace Promotion

The current internal division of Palestine, both politically, geographically and socially is one of the greatest threats to Palestinian unity. Pal-Think aims to promote alternative approaches to the current discourse of division by exploring and engaging in international

Pal-Think focuses on issues such as:

Reconciliation and peace processes
Cultural diversity, tolerance and acceptance of others
Bringing Gaza to the world

Civic Empowerment and Education

Pal-Think aim to work towards strengthening the civic society and empower the Palestinian population to take action and work for their rights. Through civic education and political training, Pal-Think aims to empower the most vulnerable groups in society, hence targeting its project efforts specifically towards the Palestinian youth with an emphasis in trying to engage the young women.

Palestine, and especially Gaza have one of the youngest- but most educated populations in the Middle East Region. Most of the young people have lived through three wars, which have resulted in devastation and lack of real livelihood opportunities. The current political situation in the region makes it difficult for the youth to link and apply their theoretical knowledge with practical experience and to engage in civil society and the political life in Palestine. These obstacles can influence the youth in a negative manner, resulting in radicalisation or for the youth to be stigmatized as idle. Pal-Think aims to activate the youth to become a positive influence in the development of an independent Palestinian state and to take precautionary measures against radicalisation by giving the youth a voice.

Pal-Think focuses on issues such as:

Youth, education and active participation
Radicalisation and alternatives to violence
Female empowerment and participation in the public sphere in Palestine
Entertainment projects for the children.

Socio-Economics Development

Due to the siege, many people, especially in Gaza, have lost their livelihood opportunities and the unemployment rate is high, especially amongst the youth who are not able to fulfil their ambitions to contribute to society. The aftermath of the recent decades wars have further left Gaza in an urgent need of relief and development, especially within sectors such as sustainable energy, construction and export of goods. Pal-Think aims to support the development of an empowered public and private sector in Palestine, which can provide social welfare, jobs and increased stability and economic development to the Palestinian people.

Pal-Think focuses on issues such as:

Job creation
Empowering a sustainable private sector in Palestine
Ensuring welfare to the Palestinian people through a strengthening of an accountable public sector

PalThink Projects and Donors:

Year

Project

Donors

Budget

2007

· Production of policy paper “Emerging from the present Palestinian crisis: A Road map towards exit”

Full self-financing

7,000 $

2008

· Engaging the community into the process of reconciliation

· Continuing efforts towards reconciliation” Touching on core issue”

FDFA (Switzerland)

35,000 $

2009

· Empowering the community in the Palestinian National Reconciliation

· Enriching Political Public Debate

· Women can do it too!! Empowering Women through Business Creation

FDFA (Switzerland)

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Fraser institute

42,000 $

12,500 $

12,000 $

2010

· Influential Confidence Building between Decision Makers and the Community

· Promoting Free Markets and Entrepreneurship in the Gaza Strip

· Towards a diversified, democratic and institutionalized Political system in Palestine

· Summer Programme

FDFA (Switzerland)

Atlas Economic Research

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

SDC (Switzerland)

45,000 $

2,500 $

30,000 $

40,000 $

2011

· Restoring the Cooperation amongst Community Actors towards a Reconciled and Civilized Society.

· Advancing Democracy in Palestine

FDFA (Switzerland)

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

52,000 $

20,000 $

2012

· Civil society’s heavy involvement to restore unity, democracy and rule of law.

· Assessing the damage of the Gaza blockade and strategies to cope with the consequences”

· Palestinian strategic options

FDFA (Switzerland)

Heinrich Boll Stiftung

Oxford research group , UK

65,000 $

7,000 $

1,500 $

2013

· Toward holding policies accountable, respecting women rights & empowering tolerance.

· Mapping Study on the Situation of the Public Civil Servants in the Health and Education Sectors in the Gaza Strip,

· 20 years after Oslo Accords What went wrong & ways to return to track!

FDFA (Switzerland)

Swiss Peace & UNDP

Heinrich Boll Stiftung

85,000 $

–

3,200 $

2014

· Consolidating the common interests of the Palestinian people.

· Renewable Energy as a Sustainable Solution to the Electricity Crisis in Gaza Strip

· Youth as Agents of Positive Change (1^st Phase)

· Aid Watch Palestine

· Gaza Visiting Research Fellowship

FDFA (Switzerland)

FES

MEPI

Rosa Luxemburg (RLS)

Heinrich Boll Stiftung

68,000 $

17,500 $

27,460 $

4,200 $

2,000 $

2015

· Youth as Agents of Positive Change (2^nd Phase)

· Youth House for Diversity and Democratization

· Bringing Palestine to the World & Bringing the World to Palestine

· Towards Becoming an Entrepreneurial Society through Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship in Gaza

· Increasing Civil Society’s Role in Palestinian Reconciliation (1^st & 2^nd phases)

MEPI

EED

FES

MEPI

FDFA

57,360 $

90,500 €

12,000 $

35,455 $

88,000 $

2016

· Towards Becoming an Entrepreneurial Society through Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship in Gaza

· Regaining the Attention to the Palestinian Issue

· Youth Coalition for Reconciliation and Tolerance

· Increasing Civil Society’s Role in Palestinian Reconciliation (3^rd phase)

MEPI

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

EED

FDFA

70,000 $

12,000 $

35,000 $

45,000 $

2017

· The Palestinian Issue on the core of the Region and International Politics

· Strengthening the Civic Education and Democratic Values of the Gaza Youth

· Regaining Culture and Spirit of Democracy

· Increasing Civil Society’s Role in Palestinian Reconciliation (4^th phase)

· Building Strategic Capacity: Empowering Civil, Political and Emerging Constituencies in Palestine and Israel (first phase)

FES

CFLI

NED

FDFA

EU, Oxford Research Group

12,000 $

17,500 $

35,000 $

42,000 $

17,000 $

2018

· Building Strategic Capacity: Empowering Civil, Political and Emerging Constituencies in Palestine and Israel (2nd phase)

· The Benefits of Non-Violence as a Culture and Instrument for Conflict Resolution Domestically & Regionally

· National Dialogue with and through universities and COS’s in Palestine

· Enhancing Cooperation among Palestinian CBOs to strengthen a future Palestinian state

Promote Tolerance and Entrepreneurship

EU, Oxford Research Group

FXB

FDFA , Swiss Peace

UK – Jerusalem

Atlas Network

20,000 $

118,000 $

33,000 $

120,000 $

15,000 $

2019- 2020

· Building Strategic Capacity: Empowering Civil, Political and Emerging Constituencies in Palestine and Israel (3rd phase)

· CBOs Consortium: National Coalition for Social Coherence and Unity

· The Benefits of Non-Violence as a Culture and Instrument for Conflict Resolution Domestically & Regionally (1^st phase)

· The Benefits of Non-Violence as a Culture and Instrument for Conflict Resolution Domestically & Regionally (2^nd phase)

· Keeping the Palestinian Cause Alive on the Regional and International Political Agendas

· Understanding and Mapping the Political Interaction between Palestine and Main Regional /International Political Powers

· Strengthening the collective force of Palestinian Civil Society to develop a coordinate strategy for supporting national unity and supporting more sustainable economic development.

· Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)

· Youth Political Club

· Civic Education Corps

· Strengthening Democratic Participation of Young Palestinians

· Young Gender-equality Research Chapter

Gaza in the Eyes of COVID

EU, Oxford Research Group

FDFA

FXB

FES

France Gov.

(POMED)

NED

Canada Gov.

Atlas Network

50,000 $

146,000 $

104,000 $

95,000$

12,000 $

7,000 $

45,000 $

9,000$

30,000$

18,500$

16,850$

15,000 $

2021 – 2022

· Civic Education Corps 2

· Young Gender-equality Research Chapter 2

· Plant Seeds of Hope in Gaza Youth and Children

· Youth Ambassadors for Liberty and Entrepreneurship

· Towards a more Aware Society of its Electoral Rights

· National Coalition for Social Coherence and Unity – 2nd Phase

· Youth Empowerment through Education and Research

· Human Rights explained: “Palthink Academy for Democracy and Human Rights”

NED

Canada Gov.

FXB

Atlas Network

CEC

FDFA

Atlas Network

IFA, German Federal Foreign Offices

35,000 $

26,350 $

58,200 $

15,000$

17,250 $

170,000 $

20,000$

110,000 $