Political Dialogue > Occupied Palestinian Territories

A good recipe for farming? Trading pesticides for owls

n The Palestine Wildlife Society briefing the audience on the project

www.enpi-info.eu It was a cultural barrier that the European Union had to address together with its partner at the start of a new programme to assist Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley. How can owls be good for farming? In Arab culture, owls are a symbol of doom. But as time goes by, results speak for themselves, and farmers are starting to believe that the birds can be an excellent alternative to chemical pesticides At the same time, by working together, Jordanian, Palestinians and Israeli organizations foster a culture of understanding and dialogue across this troubled region.
Text by : Elias Zananiri Photos by: Mounes Abu Shilbayeh ENPI Info Centre

JERUSALEM How can owls be good for farming? At first farmers wouldnt believe it. It was a cultural barrier that the European Union had to address at the start of its new programme to assist Palestinian farmers in six villages of the Jordan Valley. EU representatives and their local partners have had a hard time convincing farmers that owls are good for their land, when, in Arab culture, they are a symbol of doom. In the past, farmers relied a lot on chemical pesticides: but the programme is telling them that once This publication does they skip the chemicals they have the option of producing organic products. Today, at least 13,000 not represent the Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley are considering this organic alternative. Owls can be the modocial view of the EC ern substitute to chemical pesticides, because they eat mice and rats at night. Kestrels do the rest of or the EU institutions. the job, feasting on the rodents in broad daylight. The EC accepts no Raptor pest control as a sustainable resource management model ENPI Info Centre Feature no. 46 responsibility or in the Jordan Valley is a three-year project implemented under the This is a series of features on liability whatsoever projects funded by the EUs EU Partnership for Peace programme, financially supported by the with regard to its Regional Programme, prepared by European Union. The initiative aims at the preservation of environcontent. journalists and photographers on mental quality and ecological balance in the Jordan Valley. At the the ground or the ENPI Info same time, the project's overall objective is to improve co-operation Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2011 and long-term dialogue between Arabs and Israelis in the Jordan

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Valley, as a means to strengthen civil society action in peace building.

Palestinian villages, a hard life to live

At present, many villages in the West Bank suer from a severe lack of services, including access to water, sanitation, roads, schools, hospitals and local clinics. On top of everything comes the high rate of unemployment that has a disastrous impact on farmers and their families, increasing poverty levels. And high tension with the occupying Israeli authorities is daily business. Through this project which is coordinated by the Hanns Seidel Foundation and implemented by Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli organizations the EU hopes to foster environmental sustainability for agricultural practices, but also to generate a better environment of coexistence in the region. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Palestine Wildlife Society and Amman Centre for Peace and Development, all make sure that birds are used round the clock by the farmers. Through the daily exchanges, they also strive to achieve a culture of understanding and dialogue across this anguished region. The idea is to have joint activities, explains Nasser Ali, the project manager from the Hanns Seidel Foundation, to have a joint plan against using pesticides. Each partner is responsible not only for working in their own territory, but also to keep up the dialogue and activities at regional level. By working together, we can help the peace process. A concrete example? There is exchange of farmers between countries. They go and meet each other, continues Nasser Ali, they talk about their own experiences, their challenges and how they meet them Facing concrete common problems helps people to overcome their dierences.

n One of the beneficiaries of Jiftlik

village addressing the EU delegation

The EU is deeply committed to the support of these areas of the West Bank: it is critical at this very time to sustain Palestinians living in communities like these

n Al Walaja, children wearing

T-shirts Peace starts here written on them

Building stronger communities People talk about their own experiences, their challenges and how they meet them Facing concrete common problems helps people to overcome their differences.
The European Union Representative, Christian Berger, is engaged in a tour of many villages throughout the West Bank. During his visit to the village of Jiftlik, Mr. Berger stressed that "the EU is deeply committed to the support of these areas of the West Bank: it is critical at this very time to sustain Palestinians living in communities like these. In fact, Jiftlik and its surroundings are also the target of a second EU intervention, designed to turn ordinary residents into advocates for their rights and services. Fostering Community Change is a three-year project with a budget just over half a million euros. It is implemented by Oxfam GB and its overall aim is to provide Palestinians with access to the decision making process and with defending their rights within the community. The target population is people living in the severely impoverished villages of Jiftlik, Fasayel, Uja, Walajeh, Jabaa and Zbeidat across the West Bank. "This project will help community residents to realize and exercise their rights on a local level," continues Berger. "They will learn how to work with local authorities to demand fair access to services. What is the main element here? A proper communication and cooperation. According to Joan Summers, Oxfam GB acting Country Director, people who are informed and engaged find it much easier to feel they have a stake in what happens, which is especially important when trying to support a family in such dicult circumstances. At the end of the day, she says, these farmers need a better future and a stronger community. And providing ordinary people with access to the decision making process is the key to building a stronger community. The EU has a number of local partners that work on this programme, including Palestinian Vision (PalVision), the Ansar Centre for Children, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), and the Women's Study Centre. Represen-

It is through the empowerment of local communities to realize and exercise their rights, that real, long-term change in the everyday life of Palestinians can be achieved

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tatives of those organizations work with village councils, local organizations, women, youths, and other stakeholders in the community to form community committees. In turn, these committees work with the local authorities to identify the needs of the community as a whole. A citizens handbook defining rights and services will also be produced in the framework of the project. The EU is deeply committed to the support of these deprived areas, concludes Mr. Berger, and this project is central to this EU objective. It is through the empowerment of local communities to realize and exercise their rights, that real, long-term change in the everyday life of Palestinians can be achieved.

Middle East Peace Projects (Partnership for Peace)

Supports local and international civil society initiatives that promote peace, tolerance and non violence in the Middle East
Participating countries Israel, Jordan and Occupied Palestinian Territory Timeframe Ongoing Budget Annual budget ranging from 5-10 million Aims The Partnership for Peace (PfP) supports initiatives in areas which are likely to have a direct impact on peoples everyday lives and welfare, including practical activities to promote communication and understanding. Projects include mechanisms for conflict management and educating communities about dealing with disputes and promoting peace. The PfP also seeks to strengthen and increase direct civil society relationships and cooperation, based on equality and reciprocity between Israelis, Palestinians and other Arabs. On average, 15 projects are selected each year, with a maximum duration of 36 months, and EC contributions ranging from 50,000 500,000. The Raptor pest control as a sustainable management model in the Jordan Valley in support of the Middle East peace process is one of them. Find out more ENPI Info Centre project fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=11&id_type=10 Political dialogue - Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=3

Fostering community change in the occupied Palestinian territory

Contractor: Oxfam GB LBG (UK) Partner/s: Palestinian Vision (PA), Ansar Centre for Children (PA), Women's Study Centre (PA), Miftah (PA) Starting date/End date:15/12/2009, 15/12/2011 Total amount: 533,780 EUR Summary: The project seeks to empower communities in the West Bank to actively participate in community development processes and to contribute to better access to services through enhanced local governance structures and processes. More info: European Union technical assistance oce for the West Bank & Gaza Strip > http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/index_en.htm

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