DAI Palestine began
operations in 2004 after 10 years of long-term DAI project experience in
the area. Headquartered in Ramallah with a branch office in Gaza City, DAI
Palestine seeks to enhance the well-being of Middle Eastern societies
through innovative development responses to economic, social, political,
and environmental challenges. DAI Palestine currently has 60 employees in
both the West Bank and Gaza.
DAI Palestine is currently managing five development projects in
Palestine, working with several different industry sectors, hundreds of
individual firms, all major associations leading national institutions,
and local and national governmental bodies. DAI Palestine actively
cooperates with international donor agencies, governments and NGOs,
seeking to expand economic growth and help increase employment
opportunities in Palestine.
It has at its disposal DAI's proprietary training services for
financial institutions, commercial banks, enterprises, and governments
worldwide. DAI consultants, trainers, and courses have provided assistance
to hundreds of financial institutions, working with them to expand the
technical and business skills of management and staff. The courses set the
global standard for bank and business training.
The following are examples of projects being implemented and managed by
DAI Palestine staff:
PALESTINE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (PED) Stimulating
economic growth, improving employment opportunities, increasing access to
markets, and expanding Palestinian exports Although much progress
has been achieved in economic growth issues in the past decade, more work
is required to strengthen democratic and market economy institutions and
thereby maintain positive momentum in the private sector and in key
economic ministries so that the Palestinian economy can compete in the
global market. PED leverages USAID's investments by generating bottom-line
results for Palestinian businesses in promising growth industry clusters,
and by promoting growth of the overall economy by improving the business
environment. PED supports a competitive private sector, which in turn
invests in a transparent, rules-based business environment for the benefit
of all Palestinian society. PED should help drive reform to stimulate
investment, exports, and employment for Palestinians and ensure their
inclusion in the global economy. While the stated objectives of PED are to
"stimulate economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza, improve employment
opportunities and income for Palestinians, increase access to markets and
expand Palestinian exports to international markets," the deeper
significance of PED is its potential to help build a lasting peace between
Palestinians and Israelis. By creating new jobs, raising living standards,
and equipping local businesses to compete in the global economy, PED will
give Palestinians everywhere a new sense of hope.
PALESTINE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR
(PICTI) Developing domestic capacity to deliver financial and
business development services One consequence of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is sometimes overlooked is its effect on
the economy and economic opportunities for Palestinians. Yet, the
expansion of economic opportunity can be viewed as one avenue for easing
the crisis in the region. To this end, DAI is supporting the Palestinian
Information and Communication Technology Incubator, a for-profit,
sustainable institution that is owned and managed by Palestinian
professionals and will serve Palestinian companies. The incubator relies
on local consultants to deliver services that facilitate the creation of a
Palestinian consulting and financial services industry that will support
the growth of information, communication, and technology enterprises. With
a professional staff based in Ramallah, the incubator has advanced
conference and telecommunications infrastructure. Screening criteria such
as best growth potential and ability to attract private investment are
used to determine entry firms. A business development unit provides
business development services and mentors to the firms. The incubator
continuously tests the market for new ideas and entrepreneurs. In
addition, it builds public recognition, acceptance, and understanding of,
as well as support for, the role information technology will play in the
growth of the Palestinian economy.
WEST BANK AND GAZA STRENGTHEN LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY AND
PROCESSES Working to create a stable system of
self-governance The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) must
establish its credibility as an effective governing institution, which in
turn demands expanded internal capacity of the PLC and the broader
legislative community. DAI is implementing an issues-based approach that
uses real-time policy and legislative priorities as the vehicle for
effective capacity building. Starting with the design of a New Member
Orientation program, we involve and build the capacity of the PLC's
Training and Development Unit to create a sustainable mechanism for
continued training. After 2006 legislative elections, DAI will facilitate
a participatory design process whereby the PLC and other stakeholders will
take ownership of institutional reform and identify high-priority policy
issues around which capacity-building activities will circulate. As a
result, members, staff, and civil society organizations build parallel,
practical skills that they can reuse regardless of the policy issue.
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