Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
Least Developed Country:Yes
Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.
Gender Inequality Index:0.575
GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.
Gender Development Index:0.723
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025
Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision
Male:19,976,265 (9.5%)
Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-PAL_D_2.1
National policies promote decent work and economic opportunities for women in Palestine
Several poliy tools, policies and procedures were developed and implemented by national actors (MoNE and MoF). A policy is developed and implemented on legislative procedures related to registration and formalization of Micro, Small and Very Small (MSE’s) led by women, youth and persons with disabilities. This resulted in reducing the registration fees for MSE’s, led by the Ministry of National Economy (MoNE). A policy tool is developed to propose revising the procurement procedures in the National Procurement Law by the MoNE. The tool proposes providing priority conditions for women-led MSE’s to participate in the governmental procurement processes and tenders in Palestine. The MoNE provided its proposal to the National Central Bidding Committee on the adoption and implementation of the tool developed on procurement practices. Since the governmental tenders contribute by 12 per cent to the GDP in Palestine, the proposed tool will enhance women’s economic participation. A Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Fund is established at the national level, providing business development services for women MSE’s in the West Bank and Gaza, by the MoNE, with the leadership of an Advisory multi-stakeholder board. In total, a first group of 90 women business owners had access to in-kind grants. The women business owners are from underserved and remote locations in Palestine, including at risk communities. An E-Souq platform is established by the MoNE, comprising of women-led businesses in the handicrafts and ICT sectors. It serves as an online database for women-led MSE’s and will enhance women’s access to services provided by MoNE and other national actors. The establishment of this platform strengthened the coordination efforts between MoNE and national partners in the WEE sector, including ministries, civil society, chambers of commerce, private sector etc. Amendments to the draft Value Added Tax (VAT) Law, on article 61 on tax exemption ceilings in favour of MSE’s, are proposed and approved by the Council of Ministers in August 2022, led by the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The new version of the draft Law, based on proposed amendments is being reviewed for adoption by the Palestinian Government through beginning of 2023. The proposed amendments contribute to benefitting the MSE’s who have less access to services, mostly affected by the Pandemic and mostly disadvantaged. Since most of these businesses are led by women, youth and persons with disabilities, the proposed amendments take into consideration these businesses’ vulnerabilities. Partners gained knwoledge and skills on policy making from a gender equality perspective. This was achieved through UN Women capacity buidling and coaching programmes co-designed with the partners, based on a needs assessment conducted for the purpose of these interventions. Based on the needs assessment findings, the training and coaching programme was deisgned and implemented.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-PAL_D_2.2
More women own, launch and/or better manage small and medium and large enterprises
This outcome was achieved as planned. 208 Palestinian women business owners (160 young women, 63 in the informal sector, 17 women with disabilities, 62 women from rural areas) benefited from the Ministry of National Economy’s (MoNE) services (including awareness, registration, in-kind grants and procurement procedures) to formalize their businesses. These results (208) were more than targeted (150). These results are evidenced by the additional excel spreadsheet attached here. UN Women supported the establishment and piloting of the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Fund at the MoNE under the Joint Programme “Mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on women’s economic participation in the State of Palestine.” A multi-stakeholder advisory board was formed and launched for the WEE Fund by the MoNE to support the sustainability of this initiative (which consisted of about 17 national member organizations, members states, local and International NGOs, private sector and UN agencies). UN Women is upscaling and expanding the WEE Fund (which is considered a best practice as a national mechanism to enhance women’s access to sustainable financial resources and services) through 2023.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-PAL_D_3.3
Palestinian national actors are better able to prevent violence against women and girls and deliver quality essential services to victims and survivors
Palestinian national actors are better able to prevent violence against women and girls and deliver quality essential services to victims and survivors. This outcome was mostly achieved as planned. Palestinian national actors were better able to prevent violence against women and girls and deliver quality essential services to victims and survivors. These results are evidenced by the increase in the VAW cases managed by the Palestinian Family and Juvenile Protection Department and by the One Stop Centre. Moreover, there is increase in the number of transferred cases by the Public Prosecutors to the Palestinian courts. UN Women continued to lobby and advocate with the relevant ministries and actors for the adaptation of the Family Protection Bill; and the amendment of the Penal Code and the Personal status law. In addition, UN Women developed/ amended/ and customized Five protocols, SoPs and manuals used by the justice, security and social sectors in managing cases of women victims and survivors of violence.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-PAL_D_6.1
The capacity of governments and stakeholders is strengthened to assess progress in implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, and other global normative and policy frameworks
This outcome was mostly achieved as planned. At the civil society level, the CEDAW Coalition is now able to submit the needed reports to assess progress on the implementation of the convention and report on it to the relevant committees in order to improve performance. These results were less than targeted, as no report were submitted by the State of Palestine in 2022 as initially expected. These results are evidenced by the additional documents attached here. UN Women used its strategic positioning and expertise to increase civil society capacity and effectively improve performance. The CEDAW Coalition worked to improve reporting to relevant committees. UN Women provided support on how to assess progress on the implementation of CEDAW. This capacity building support proved extremely effective and should be replicated in the future.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-PAL_O_2
Increased engagement of partners in support of UN-Women’s mandate
This outcome was partially achieved as planned. Dedicated initiatives with private sector partners (such as the 14 March 2022 Ring the Bell virtual ceremony) provided opportunities to engage non-traditional partners (such as the Palestine Exchange (PEX), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Palestinian Capital Market Authority (PCMA)) as women engaged in decision-making on climate change, adaptation, mitigation, and response as well as in providing innovative financial solutions necessary for advancing economic development by both women and men. The number of initiatives were less than targeted, as we’d initially hoped that there would be additional initiatives in 2022. No action were undertaken with non-traditional partners as defined under indicator 2.C as focused was put on strenghtening relationship with private sector partners. These results are evidenced by the three documents attached here. UN Women used its strategic positioning and advocacy to increase gender equality and inclusive economic growth as well as provide necessary support for national efforts to enhance women's access to decision-making positions. More specifically: Bank of Palestine committed to reaching 50 per cent of women on the Board and launching an incentive package that includes financial services for women to enhance their business sustainability; Paltel Group committed to providing child-care services for employees; and the TNB committed to reaching 25 per cent of women in leadership positions. UN Women provided recommendations to policy makers and corporate signatories as UN Women engaged MoNE in a strategic partnership as part of the WEPs network initiative.Showing 1 - 5 of 6
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).