Aid Effectiveness in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bath
Department Name: Social and Policy Sciences

Abstract

Since 1993 international donors have invested more than $30 billion as aid meant to develop the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT), in order to support the Peace Process laid out in the 1993 Oslo Accord. The framework for this aid model was developed in 1993 by the World Bank in a policy document "An Investment in Peace"4 and the subsequent 1994 Paris Protocol.5 The Bank has also played a lead role since that time producing reports and policy recommendations for the top donors on how OPT aid should be given, acting as the intellectual leader for an aid process dominated politically by the United States and funded by the EU as the top donor.6 In the process of spending that aid, those Western donors have radically redesigned the Palestinian government and economy in their image built on neoliberal policy models, excluding local ownership over the aid process.

That aid, one of the biggest and most intrusive cases in history, has been a failure.7 Since 1993 the economy of the OPT has significantly de-developed and is now dependent on aid to cover basic needs. Meanwhile, the general welfare of the people in the OPT has become markedly worse due to the combination of economic decline and violence, where repeated outbursts of conflict with Israel have resulted in thousands of deaths, tens-of-thousands of serious injuries, large scale incarcerations and the trampling of basic human rights guaranteed under international law.8 In this time the West Bank has been progressively absorbed into Israel through a rapid programme of settlement building, especially of East Jerusalem. Gaza's conditions are even much worse, bottled up in a stringent economic blockade since 2006 imposed by Israel, with support from Egypt and international donors, in order to destabilise and overthrow the local government.9 In that time three major bombardments have decimated Gaza's infrastructure, where the blockade and donor policy makes reconstruction and recovery impossible. Conditions are so bad that the UN has predicted Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020.10

In my research I show how major donors have deliberately ignored the actual context of Israel's occupation policies and real conditions in the OPT, while excluding Palestinians from ownership of the aid process. Further, those donors deliberately ignore key principles for aid effectiveness agreed to by OECD countries, like the Paris Declaration (2005) and Accra Agreement (2008), which emphasise local ownership over the aid process, and the OECD Do No Harm principle, which emphasises the need for aid to be contextually appropriate in conflicted or fragile states. These flaws are reinforced by Western donors' identification with Israel as a Western, capitalist democracy, and the close alliance of many with Israel. As a result, they often favour (some exclusively) Israel's interpretation of political events. Israel has been able to capitalise on those sympathies and shape OPT aid to meet its needs to sustain the occupation, at a profit. A recent estimate, for instance, is that up to 72% of the value of aid goes on to Israel, an OECD country and the occupying power.11 In this way donors feed and inflame the underlying reasons for conflict.

Meanwhile, donors have operated under an assumption that Israel, as a Western democracy, is by nature inclined toward peace, and that through exposure to Israel the Palestinians could be remade to want it too. Such biased beliefs have been key to donors violating Do No Harm by giving contextually inappropriate aid that has actually undermined Palestinian state building. By not understanding the history and power dynamics in the OPT, donor actions have weakened the incentives for powerful elites to 'buy in' to peace building and increased their incentives to 'opt out'. My project identifies the worst donor policies with the aim of changing how aid is given in order to promote real economic development, peace building and the general welfare of Palestinians.
 
Description Overall the research analysis I produced was much more ambitious than would normally be expected of a limited 1-year grant.

The final reported ended up providing:
- Separate analysis of 9 different major Western donor actors and their aid reporting analysis of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), which includes a brief description of each donor and the funding they provide to the Palestinians in the OPT. The sections are based though on a quantitative and qualitative analyse of the donors' reporting (and policy).
- A section summarising the anonymised interviews of nearly 40 policymakers from those donors
- A section describing the actual socio-economic context of the OPT to compare the donor-actors' reporting to
- An overall summary of the analysis of the report, found as an opening section 'Summary of Findings' for the report.

The following is the introductory abstract describing the findings in the report:

Donor Aid Effectiveness and Do No Harm in the Occupied Palestinian Territory -
An Oral and Documentary Analysis of Western Donor Perceptions of Development and Peacebuilding in their Palestinian Aid Programming, 2010-2016

On the 25th Anniversary of the Oslo Accords, this report assesses the approach taken by 9 of the top Western donor countries/institutions that have for decades determined the structure of development aid in the Occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). It does this by focusing on the period 2010-16 through a quantitative keyword and qualitative analysis of 80 of their combined reports, and interviews with several dozen officials who contribute to the shaping of policy. This examination was conducted in order to offer a better understanding of how these donors perceive the Oslo Peace Process, Palestinian development, Israeli military rule, the ongoing colonisation of Palestinian land and the conflict resulting out of the combination of these processes. This is all carried out using an 'Aid Effectiveness' lens, with an emphasis on local leadership and local knowledge, but while also bearing in mind a 'fragile and conflicted states' framework and the 'do no harm' principle. Thus, the report's analysis acknowledges that all donors involved in a conflict situation become actors in that conflict. For this reason, they should strive to provide their assistance in as neutral a manner possible, and be cognisant of the actual context they are intervening in (through strong analysis) in order to not make conditions worse.

The 9 Western actors analysed comprise not only some of the biggest sources of funding in the $30+ billion spent on 'Oslo aid' since 1993, but are also the 'intellectual drivers' who have determined just how that aid - and Palestinian economic and social institutions - is shaped. They include the United States, which has dominated the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) politically as arbiter of Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding; the European Union, which with its member states has acted as the leading financial contributor of Oslo aid, and the World Bank, which has played a leading role reporting on the state of Palestinian development and guiding donors through the bilateral giving process. Other influential actors analysed include the IMF, Canada, the UK, Norway, Sweden and Germany, all of whom have been funding a peacebuilding model built on an underlying precept that Palestinians need to be endowed with liberal democratic institutions in order for them to be able to cohabitate in peace with Israel, and where that peace will be cemented based on free market international trade and development funding to incentivise the Palestinians to abandon violence.

This report also provides context for living and political conditions in the OPT, which are then compared to the donors' policies and a description of each donor. In so doing, it sheds light on a gap that exists between the overarching Oslo aid model and donors' policies, with actual conditions in the OPT and what is considered effective aid. The report also describes a noticeable rhetorical gap that exists between donors' policies with their actions, and identifies nuances in the donors' positions. The report further engages expert opinions on the state of Oslo and the OPT, while providing recommendations for future research into the role of these powerful and under-researched donors.

The report can be retrieved from my Academia page until published by Aid Watch Palestine - https://www.academia.edu/37951770/Donor_Aid_Effectiveness_and_Do_No_Harm_in_the_Occupied_Palestinian_Territories_An_Oral_and_Document_Analysis_of_W_estern_Donor_perceptions_of_development_and_peacebuilding_in_their_Palestinian_aid_programming

The following is the conclusion from the Summary of Findings that provides a glimpse of the many findings in the report on the research project:

All evidence points to aid not delivering results in the OPT, and this is further affirmed by the fact that living and political conditions have continuously deteriorated since 1993. Over $35 billion (USD) in aid funding has failed to reverse this development, and may even have contributed to the worsening of conditions by being given in a contextually inappropriate manner, and this suggests that there is now a need for a radical departure from the existing aid model. This includes the need to acknowledge how the partisan domestic politics of powerful donors impedes on their ability to retain some measure of neutrality when offering aid funding to a fragile and conflicted state like Palestine / the OPT. This is particularly true for North American donors, where zealous pro-Israel sympathies have long since defined their approach to the Middle East. This suggests that any departure should include altering the hierarchy of leadership in a Palestinian development process that has remained static since 1993.

Based on this survey, there appears to be a spectrum among the nine donors that relates to the extent to which they respect globally accepted principles for aid giving in the context of Palestinian aid, including those that govern spending efficacy and doing no harm in the OPT. On this spectrum, Canada, the US and the IMF appear to sit on one end as more regressive donors, possibly doing inflicting through weak analysis and subsequent policy recommendations and funding. Sweden, Norway and the EU, who generally exhibit more sound contextual analysis and concern for those aid principles. Meanwhile, Germany, the World Bank and the UK lie somewhere in the middle.

Overall, this suggests that in any change in the hierarchy of donor leadership in the Palestinian aid process, continental European donors should maybe take a stronger political role and therefore replace North American donor actors. That being said, even if EU analysis has been - at times - more direct in problematising the issues, concrete action does not necessarily follow. For instance, the goals of the EU in the OPT have been seriously hampered by 'binding constraints', the most significant being Israeli restrictions in relation to the occupation and allocation of resources for settlements, as well as Palestinian political divisions and the absence of a democratic process. Yet while these binding constraints have been highlighted in EU statements, the EU has, 'to date been neither willing nor able to address these constraints squarely with an effective political response'. So, 'notwithstanding ardent declaratory policies, massive financial support, dialogue and [the] deployment of other instruments', EU cooperation has had little demonstrable impact on the main obstacles to achieving the Two-State solution.

So there exists the possibility that the optimal solution may not just be a remaking of the hierarchy of political leadership among Western donors, but of seeking leadership from political actors elsewhere in the non-Western world. Further, nothing will compare to respecting true Palestinian ownership and leadership over their own aid process. This includes developing the Palestinian institutional capacity in government and in civil society organisations to take control over their own aid process, and in compliance with - at minimum - the principles for aid effectiveness. Further, any aid should be based on strong, neutral analysis appropriate to funding in a conflict situation, in order to do no harm. All of that analysis should be made available to the Palestinians in a transparent manner, and donors should make an effort to harmonise how they give, with the intention of fostering downward accountability.

Still, given the incredible complexity of an aid environment populated by so many different donors from around the world, each with their own unique internal complexity, it is very difficult for Palestinians or any non-specialist, to fully comprehend why a donor is giving and what its approach is. For this reason, it would be ideal to have specialists create profiles of these donors that will be available in English and Arabic, as this study has begun to do with nine donor-actors. This should also be done for major donor organisations with large Palestinian aid budgets that work out of those countries, including Oxfam, World Visions and Save the Children, all of whom are active in the OPT. This includes an independently assessment of what the donors are doing, in order to hold them accountable and foster the best aid process possible. Such independent assessments like this study are all too rare once the sheer scale of funding involved in a sensitive region, and its failure to produce results are taken into account.

Finally, in any analysis we must also bear in mind the incredible limitations Palestinian authorities (and Palestinians as a people) face in the development process given their financial dependence on donors and on Israeli tax collection, all while living under the strict (and violent) control of the occupying Israeli military and armed settlers. Further, those donors have shown a willingness to quickly punish the PA with embargoes and to force a change in government when the PA takes policy actions they disapprove of. Meanwhile, the PA has a limited capacity to govern due to fragmentation, leaving it in charge of - at most - over 40% of the West Bank in Areas A and B; meanwhile Hamas rules Gaza, Israel controls East Jerusalem and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) plays a de facto governance role for refugees. For all these same reasons, the PA alone cannot handle this burden of research tracking of Palestinian aid, if at all. Rather, this should ideally be done from outside the PA by Palestinian civil society and research centres, with the support of international researchers. That would include funding for a large-scale and independent audit of donor aid in the OPT, with an aim of producing new policies for an entirely new aid model that can finally contribute to peace and development in the region. This is much overdue following decades of failed donor intervention and humanitarian crises, and this survey can be used as a starting point within this larger research process.
Exploitation Route I hope the output can not only be used by other researchers to affect real world policy, but ideally more research can be carried out based upon what I have done. There is an enormous amount of data on the donors that can and should be analysed, for this specific case study, but also to contribute to the general knowledge on the intervention from a foreign policy and a development studies perspective. As such, there is 'a recommendation for further research section' in my report that specifically lays out ways in which the research can be built upon. I would also really like to see country specialists provide deeper descriptions of the donors I analysed, and descriptions of the donors I did not analyse (i.e. France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Japan, etc...). I am also going to apply for grants to conduct more research on this project. Ideally it can become the basis for further research by local stakeholders and other researchers on the phenomenon of Western donor aid in the OPT and its connection to peace-building and Palestinian state building, just like one colleague that reformatted their own research on BRIC country policy towards the Palestinians to do document analysis similar to my own.
Sectors Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy,Other
URL http://www.aidwatch.ps/resource/donor-aid-effectiveness-and-do-no-harm-occupied-palestinian-territory
 
Description The aim is to empower the Palestinians to influence Western donor (including the UK) ODA policy in the OPT, in order to make it work better (and be less harmful), while allowing policymakers of that aid to themselves reflect on what they are doing. It is a rare independent assessment of ODA in the OPT. For this type of project, which centres on research findings that can be used for transformational change, the results can be anticipated to take place longer-term than a short 1-year funding period. They may take place several years after release. The most substantive impacts can be anticipated to start in 2019 once the report is done being translated to Arabic, published and distributed physically and online by the stakeholder partner Aid Watch Palestine, as well as being promoted by and featured in a policy brief released by the other stakeholder partner Al-Shabaka: the Palestinian Policy Network. EDIT 2019 April 3rd - The Arabic version is now translated and available online: http://www.aidwatch.ps/node/587 In the meantime, it has still led to a large number of other outcomes. This includes highlights such as: • 250 page report analysing 9 of the biggest Western donor actors with interviews from 40 of their policymakers, providing development aid in the Occupied Palestinian territory • Partnerships on projects with multiple scholars across North American, Europe and the Middle East • The development of a Middle East/Palestine research network in Canada, that includes a ground-breaking Symposium at the University of Ottawa 2019 Feb and multiple anticipated publications described elsewhere in Research Fish • The production of 2 peer reviewed journal articles and 1 peer reviewed chapter • Foundational work on my own book about Canadian development aid in the OPT • 5 non-peer reviewed articles online • 5 appearances for expert opinion in print media, and appearances providing analysis on Middle East politics on dozens of different Canadian TV and radio programming • 5 Conference panel appearances • Participation in 2 workshops • 2 Presentations • Additionally, I kept active as a Trustee carrying out overseas humanitarian and development assistance work in conflict and post-conflict regions of the Balkans and the Middle East with the UK charity Firefly International (putting theory into practice)
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy,Other
Impact Types Policy & public services
 
Title Influenced a colleague in their research to match and complement my own 
Description One of my research colleagues, with whom I have collaborated on past academic panels, we influenced by my research study. Whereas I have focused on analysis of major Western donors to the Palestinians, Joan Deas -- a PhD candidate at the Sciences Po Grenoble -- researches the role of southern BRIC donor-actors like South Africa and Brazil in the OPT. She was one of a number of experts who I asked to look over my research outcome. As part of her response to seeing it, she adjusted some of her own research to match and build upon what I did, but with respect southern donor policy analysis. Provided this goes ahead as planned, this would precisely result in an example of what I wanted me research to do, which is to influence outside research and be something other researchers on the topic can build upon. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact This is ongoing research by the other researcher, while will likely be released in 2019. 
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation Rideau Institute
Country Canada 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation University of Ottawa
Department Centre for International Policy Studies
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation University of Ottawa
Department Faculty of Social Sciences
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation University of Ottawa
Department School of International Development and Global Studies
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation University of Ottawa
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation University of Ottawa
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation Zatoun Canada
Country Canada 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Canada and Palestine' Symposium and Academic Network 
Organisation Zatoun Canada
Country Canada 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This academic initiative explores Canada's historical and contemporary relationship with the Palestinians. It involved working with dozens of academics building a research network, writing grants (i.e. SSHRC), fundraising, organising peer and non-peer reviewed publications, setting up a blog and digital media strategy, co-editing several blind peer- reviewed publications, and organising a highly successful Symposium in Ottawa on 2019 Feb 22 that is to date the largest-ever gathering looking at any aspect of Canada's relationship with the Middle East. The initiative began as a 'side-project' in 2017 out of my GCRF, but grew by several factors as I acted as coordinator, while co-organising the initiative with Professors Reem Bahdi (U Windsor), Nadia Abu-Zahra (U Ottawa) and Michael Lynk (U Western Ontario + UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT). In terms of the research and possible policy outcomes, it can be described as ground-breaking. This will be the first academic gathering looking at Canada's relationship with the Palestinians (much overdue), the biggest ever gathering of scholars in Canada looking at any aspect of the Canada's relationship with the Middle East, and the first major initiative since a book was produced as a compilation volume edited by Heinbecker and Momani in 2007 called 'Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and Practice'. This is meanwhile in a country where, in spite of deep demographic linkages and foreign policy engagement, there is effectively an absence of Middle East research programming.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided resources in-kind, such as event facilities, as well as funding necessary to host a major academic Symposium. Some such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa are providing a platform for blogging. I could not upload the Programme here, but all the sponsors are listed on that programme on request. In total they provided around £35,000 in resources in-kind or cash for the gathering.
Impact Starting from 2019 February these will consist of: - An academic Symposium 2019 February 22 at the University of Ottawa bringing together nearly 40 scholars and practitioners presenting original research, as well as nearly 120 other informed participants from government, consular offices, the third sector and academic institutions. It was the biggest ever academic gathering in Canada looking at any aspect of its relationship with the Middle East. - Around 40 academic articles that will be published in one of 4 blind peer-reviewed books (i.e. UBC Press Law and Society series) and/or special edition journals, 3 of which I will be a co-editing - Around 40 blogs summarising each article in 800 to 1000 words for policymakers and a more general non-academic audience, hosted on platforms such as the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa - Podcasts for the Symposium talks - Policy linkages and change through scholarly and practitioner engagement with and Canadian academic institutions, the media, policymakers and third sector organisations - A follow-up Symposium 2020 was already announced - Laying the ground-work for and potentially establishing a permanent research network on the topic
Start Year 2017
 
Description Stakeholder Partner Collaboration: Aid Watch Palestine 
Organisation Aid Watch Palestine
Country Palestine, State of 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Aid Watch Palestine is one of two key Palestinian institutional stakeholder partners on my GCRF research project on Western donor aid in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). They provided some limited input into the research design, and will undertake a key function publishing the report findings locally in Arabic, including the publication of the full 250 page report findings in Arabic and in English. Further, with their role in this partnership, my work qualified as a donation in-kind counting as $USD 45,000, then matched by a cash grant for Aid Watch Palestine by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Collaborator Contribution Aid Watch Palestine is currently translating my report from English to Arabic -- 250 pages total -- and these will be published open-access as a book and online in Arabic and English by Aid Watch Palestine in the Spring 2019.
Impact This is the type of project that will have long-term impacts, which will truly commence when the English-Arabic findings are launched as a book in the Spring 2019. Afterwards there should still be a series of events, media, publications, ideally policy impacts by empowering Palestinian stakeholders, and finally further research collaborations.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Stakeholder Partner Collaboration: Al-Shabaka 
Organisation Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution As part of the GCRF I worked with local stakeholder partners, and 'Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network' was a lead partner on the project. They did provide some advice on the project design, and I regularly throughout the year worked with their Program Director Dr Alaa Tartir, including on publications together. Al-Shabaka also promoted, and will continue to promote outcomes from the project. This includes a Policy Brief they will release summarising in a few thousand words the findings of my 250 page report in 2019 February, just ahead of the release of the full report in Arabic and English by Aid Watch Palestine.
Collaborator Contribution As described above, Al-Shabaka: - Provided advice on the project's research questions - Close collaboration with their Program Director - Promotions of research findings in their international and local OPT networks - The publication of a policy brief summarising the report findings
Impact A summary of my findings will be published with Al-Shabaka to both a Palestinian and international audience in 2019.
Start Year 2017
 
Description A Canadian national news article I was interviewed in 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact A leading Canadian reporter Nahla Ayed included an interview with me on her news report on the Khashoggi murder 2018 October 2.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-timeline-1.4872817
 
Description Aljazeera Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Interview about the future viability of the Palestinian Authority.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/store-palestinian-authority-180125115938726.html
 
Description An interview about Gaza's economy following a World Bank report on the bad condition it is in 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Discussion on the bad state of Gaza's economy
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqm-Ajq7AE0
 
Description Appearance on TRT Money Talks discussing the closure of USAID projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact I was interviewed for 5 minutes on TRT World Money Talks about the impact the closure of USAID projects will have on the Palestinian economy. I relied on my research analysis from the GCRF project while discussing this.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Givology Podcast Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Givology is a P2P online giving marketplace, directly connecting donors to students and grassroots projects around the world. I carried out an interview with them discussing development work in the Middle East and Balkans, using my work with the British charity Firefly International as an example of that work. In addition to the below link to the interview, here is another link to a transcript of some of the discussion: https://www.givology.org/~givologystaff/blog/559913/ There was some feedback on their website from participants in that link, on a platform that may have reached 100s of listeners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://tunein.com/radio/Givology-Impact-Series-p1022082/
 
Description Interview for Aljazeera 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Provided feedback on US funding policies to the Palestinians, and the threat by the Trump administration to hold back funds.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/trump-threat-cut-palestine-aid-unravel-oslo-180104073111503.h...
 
Description Over 20 Appearances on Radio and TV providing Middle East policy analysis in Canada 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact I have also appeared live dozens of times since just the 2018 summer, providing analysis on Middle East politics on CTV News, Global News CKNW (radio), 650 CKOM (radio) and most of the CBC's local radio stations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation for the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Ramallah 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Carried out this presentation in Ramallah called 'The World Bank And An Investment In Peace: An Investment In Conflict?' for around 30 local scholars, practitioners, activists and media discussing the bilateral aid model designed for the Palestinians by the World Bank. There were quite a number of impacts for a small presentation that can be built upon.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.kas.de/palaestinensische-gebiete/en/events/74698/
 
Description The Deal of the Century interview on TRT World - Money Talks 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact A summit in Bahrain laying out the Trump administration's $50 billion economic plan for peace in Palestine has ended without support from Palestinians or Israelis. Neighbouring states like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say they're willing to invest in the plan, while the International Monetary Fund says that peace must be the priority. But Palestinian leaders have slammed the proposal as another attempt to deny them a homeland. Mobin Nasir reports. And we spoke to Jeremy Wildeman, a research associate at the University of Bath. He specialises in aid policies for Palestine, and joined us from the Canadian capital, Ottawa.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://youtu.be/BMQibUdxfdw?t=144
 
Description Why is Aid to Palestine Ineffective? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Policy analyst Jeremy Wilderman discusses his study of aid effectiveness to Palestine through the perceptions of development organizations and donors, highlighting how they tend to ignore the impact of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian economy
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZpGoVRe_fk