Overview

In the State of Palestine, women represent half of the population. Palestinian women have high enrollment rates in education (94.4 percent), but in the labor market, there is still a wide gap between female and male participation 19.1% compared to 72.5% respectively in 2015). On the other hand, while progress has been registered in women’s participation in Palestinian public life through their presence in legislative bodies, ministries, enterprises, female participation in political life remains low.

UNDP targets gender equality as part of its programming in its three main work streams: sustainable development; inclusive and effective democratic governance; and risk prevention and resilience. UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People has an extensive portfolio of projects and programmes that is contributing to the mainstreaming of gender and empowerment of women in the Palestinian society. 

UNDP’s social and public infrastructure interventions, including in the education and health sectors, ensure improved access to basic services for women and girls. On a different front, UNDP is supporting women in decision-making processes and ensuring women’s access to justice and legal representation in courts.

Thousands of women are benefiting from enhanced access to more equal, efficient and effective business development services, business finance, entrepreneurial programmes, business incubators and accelerators, trade and export services throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

During the month of March 2016, UNDP/PAPP organized a series of internal and external activities marking the 2016 theme for International Women’s Day “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality”. In addition to programme related activities, UNDP/PAPP interviewed several Palestinian prominent figures to seek their perspective on gender equality, conducted a social media campaign and embarked on its first office wide inclusion survey to collectively identify margings for improvement.