Terms of Reference –Mid-Term Evaluation

Promotion of Inclusive Agricultural Growth to Ensure Improved Living Standards and Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Area C of the West Bank

Land development and sustainable agriculture practices in Palestine

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. Project summary

DURATION: 36 Months, from February 26, 2019 – February 25, 2022.

COUNTRY: Occupied Palestinian Territory

DONOR: European Union (EU)

1.2. Description of the project:

This project has been designed in response to the manifold challenges facing farmers, including livestock farmers, in Area C of the West Bank. Constituting over 60 percent of the West Bank, Area C accounts for almost two thirds of the West Bank’s agricultural land. As this resource-rich area remains under full Israeli control, farmers are unable to exploit its agricultural potential. The restrictions placed by the Government of Israel on the ability of Palestinians to access land and water resources and weaknesses in PA capacities have impeded agricultural development and have adversely affected living standards of farmers in Area C, who are amongst the poorest and most food insecure in the West Bank. Oxfam has come together with its strategic partners, the Economic and Social Development Center of Palestine (ESDC), the Palestinian Farmers’ Union (PFU), and the Rural Women’s Development Society (RWDS) to propose this action. The design of this project, which was developed in full consultation with key stakeholders in Area C in the West Bank, has been informed by Oxfam and partners’ demonstrable expertise in agricultural development, and extensive field experience in Area C. The findings and recommendations of value chain reports and feasibility studies undertaken by Oxfam as part of its wider Economic Justice program and the specific needs assessment for this project development, have been instrumental in the selection and design of replicable models for integrated land development, water management, and capacity upgrading, proposed through this action. Lessons learnt by Oxfam and its strategic partners in national and international influencing (including policy, advocacy, media and communications), gender mainstreaming and women’s economic initiatives, have also informed the design of this project.

The overall aim of this project is to contribute to resilient and inclusive agricultural growth that improves the living standards of women and men farmers in Area C of the West Bank. Its specific objective is to increase the income of small-scale women and men farmers and their attachment to their lands in Area C through upgraded capacities, improved land development and water management practices and policies.

The project proposed to support small-scale women and men farmers to maximize the use and protection of land by expanding the area under cultivation and by promoting the better utilization of already cultivated land. The project planned to support farming and herding communities in land rehabilitation and water management, capitalizing on investments already made by agricultural stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and agricultural NGOs. The project intended to upgrade farmer capacities to sustainably protect and manage grazing and agricultural lands and water resources and to advocate for improved national policies and strengthened international protection and engagement in Area C. Building upon Oxfam’s rich experience in market systems development, it will also strengthen the market integration of farmers benefitting from land development and water management support and thus improve income derived from agriculture.

In parallel, the project is intended to strengthening the capacities of the MoA to promote more inclusive agricultural development in Area C . Additionally, coordinated advocacy work will be undertaken with farmers organizations and key stakeholders in Area C. Moreover, the project will support and increase all ongoing efforts to mobilize and activate national and international stakeholders through ad-hoc influencing actions on land rights to challenge Israeli planning and permit regime in Area C.

In addition, the project is intended to support women’s economic empowerment (WEE) initiatives to empower them to enhance their access to agricultural resources and income; and in line with policy priorities outlined in the National Policy Agenda, highlight ‘the role of women in agricultural work and their contribution to national output’ through organizing community-level awareness sessions and campaigning.

All of the project initiatives are underpinned by the overall national goal of strengthening women and men farmers’ resilience and attachment to their lands, as per the EU call for proposal, the National Policy Agenda 2017-2022, the national agricultural plan, and other relevant sectoral plans. This project also fully concords with the EU Call’s emphasis on gender mainstreaming and the aim of European Joint Strategy in support of Palestine 2017-2020 to promote ‘gender participation equality and equity in the sector on the policy level, the institutional level, and the project planning processes at the local level’. Finally, all of the project interventions are also in line with PA priority in Area C: “provision of legal and advocacy efforts to strengthen Palestinian sovereignty in Area C”.