Implementing CSO: Palestinian Union for Deaf

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the participation of people with hearing impairments in the different forms of elections, in a way that covers the marginalized geographical areas, Bedouin communities, and rural areas, as well as the youth and women with hearing impairments.

- To raise awareness on the importance of elections (general and local) among people with hearing impairments.

- To raise awareness on mechanisms of participation in elections among people with hearing impairments using simulations.

 

Activities:

Seven (7) awareness workshops on the electoral process, its mechanism of conduction, and how people with hearing impairments’ can participate in it.

Implementing CSO: Sharek Youth Forum

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the youth representation in local organizations and institutions.

- Youth empowerment through tailor designed projects.

- To link the youth to local issues and enhance their engagement and participation.

- To raise the youth awareness on their rights and duties.

- To empower the youth through leadership training.

 

Activities:

- Five (5) regional workshops.

- The formation of an active youth council through elections.

-A training program to build the capacities of the members of the formed youth council.

Implementing CSO: Cooperation for Community Development Association

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness on democracy, enhance political participation and support transparency and good governance.

To build the capacities of the youth and women in the political field/s.

 

Activities:

- Two (2) workshops on the principles of democracy and human rights.

- Four (4) training programs targeting the youth and women to build their leadership and political capacities.

- Two (2) symposiums and discussion sessions (Town-hall meetings) with the leaders of local community and governmental officials to discuss issues of political participation.

- Four (4) workshops, targeting the volunteers, on observing elections to ensure integrity and transparency.

- Civic education programs: developing education programs at schools and universities to enhance political awareness among the students by establishing five debate clubs at selected schools and universities for addressing political and social issues.

 

Implementing CSO: Madarat Center for Community Development

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the capacities of the youth and their awareness in the areas of accountability and community dialogue.

- To enhance the values of democracy, citizenship and accountability.

- To improve the preparedness and readiness of elected local authorities to positively interact with the community dialogue efforts.

 

Activities:

1) Recruitment of 28 young persons (females and males) to be part of the “Youth Accountability Taskforce” and providing them with six training hours on the following topics::

• Concepts of democracy, citizenship, good governance and community-based accountability.
• The importance of community-based accountability, its standards and principles.
• Goals of community-based accountability and its success factors. .

2) Organizing preparatory sessions/simulations for the members of the “Youth Accountability Taskforce” in preparation for the four (4) accountability sessions to be organized in Nablus and Bethlehem governorates. The accountability sessions will include a revision of the electoral agenda of local authorities to identify the items providing electoral promises to the youth.

3) Coordination with four (4) local authorities and stakeholders in the areas where the accountability and community dialogue sessions will be organized. The sessions shall address issues related to the youth in the area/s where they are organized.

4) Conducting the accountability sessions.

Implementing CSO:Al-Awda Center for Childhood and Youth Rehabilitation

 

Objectives:

Training the youth on interactive theater skills and empowering them to spread electoral awareness.

 

Activities:

- Training of twenty (20) young persons (females and males).

- Theater performances in twenty (20) local communities.

- A community committee with twenty (20) members to carry out community awareness campaigns.

 

Implementing CSO:Old City Youth Association (OCYA) – Jerusalem

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness of the youth and women on human rights and democratic foundations.

- Increase the bonds within the community fabric, enhancing moral and aspiring for a better future.

 

 

Activities:

- Twenty (20) workshops on various issues related to human rights, democracy, elections, women rights and other relevant topics.

- One training session on the principles of democracy, human rights and elections.

Implementing CSO:The Center for Defending Liberties and Civil Rights (Hurryyat)

 

Objectives:

- To realize a strong public opinion advocating for the necessity of carrying out general and legislative elections.

- To enhance political legitimacy.

- To enhance democracy and civil participation, since general elections serve as a platform for citizens.

- To enhance peace and political stability and to provide a stable political environment in Palestine.

- To enhance national unity and the Palestinian identity while enhancing the sense of national belongingness and maintaining the notion of the Palestinian State.

 

Activities:

- Three (3) extended workshops in the city centers (Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron) with the participation of representatives of political factions, communities, popular and trade unions.

- Three (3) awareness workshops targeting youth groups with the aim of reviving the notion of general elections, to emphasize the importance of political participation of Palestinian citizens as well as the importance of carrying out elections so that they can practice their democratic rights. Moreover, the workshops aim to enhance the political, social and legal conditions.

- Issuing and circulating a position paper on elections, reflecting the key recommendations and directions.

- Round-table discussions with the political factions and communities, as well as representatives of trade unions and CSOs regarding the position paper and next steps.

 

Implementing CSO: The Palestinian Consultative Staff for Developing NGOs (PCS)

 

Objectives:

 

- To promote elections through social dialogue in the locations that formed their councils by acclamation.
- To achieve active participation of the marginalized groups, especially the youth and women with disabilities.

 

Activities:

- Formation of youth committees (citizenship committees) in ten (10) locations where councils were formed by acclamation. The committees will be comprised of youth from the age group 17-25, half of whom are women, and each committee should be comprised of one person with disability at least.

- Ten (10) workshops targeting the youth on citizenship from the perspective of participating in the elections, providing them with the tools of social dialogue and fruitful advocacy. Two workshops (2) will be held in each location.

- Ten (10) social dialogue meetings with grassroots CSOs in the targeted areas as well as the local authority and leaders of local community. Each citizenship committee shall lead a social dialogue session in its location with two aims, the first is related to awareness raising and the second is related to producing a community code of conduct against winning the next elections by acclamation.

- Central debate in Jenin with the participation of the committees from all locations who will debate winning by acclamation in relation to citizenship and reform processes, in the presence of a jury from the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), the Mayor, and an academic, followed by a discussion.

- A central advocacy campaign in Jenin titled “No Acclamation after today”.

 

Implementing CSO: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center - SHAMS

 

Objectives:

- To empower the youth to play a bigger role in enhancing democracy and accountability, thus enhancing the quality of services provided by local authorities.

- To enhance the youth’s awareness on the concepts of accountability, democracy and transparency.

- To develop the youth skills in leadership and community participation and engagement.

- To push local authorities to adopt more transparent policies.

- To enhance the role of the youth in affecting local policies in order to reflect their needs.

 

Activities:

- A training targeting fifteen (15) young females and males on the mechanisms of accountability.

- Accountability sessions with five (5) local authorities.

 

Implementing CSO:Palestine Monitor (Tahqaq), Deraya for Media and Digital Literacy

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the participation of the youth (both females and males) in decision-making and the ability to influence public opinion in service of enhancing the principles of transparency, accountability and the right to access information.

- To raise awareness of the youth (both females and males) on the concepts of democracy and human rights, as well as the importance of participating in the electoral process.

- To enhance critical thinking among the youth (both females and males) on the significance of the information they are exposed to during elections, and the impact of misleading information on voters’ behavior during the electoral process. Moreover, to enhance the practices of combating misinformation in relation to the electoral process as well as enhancing the practice of validation before publishing and interacting.

- To develop a methodology for accountability and assessing the integrity and transparency of electoral speeches and promises during elections.

 

Activities:

- Round-table discussions meeting on accountability journalism during elections.

- A three-day workshop aiming at enhancing electoral participation and a deeper understanding of democracy, while focusing on the importance of acquiring accurate and reliable information during elections. Moreover, it aims to enhance journalistic accountability during elections and the mechanisms of assessing the honesty and credibility of electoral and political speeches.

- An awareness day with a (corner) for information on the importance of youth participation in the electoral process and enhancing their critical thinking skills, as well as holding electoral campaigns and speeches accountable, and their assessment mechanisms.

- Electoral debate (simulation), using the tool of interactive theater.

 

 

Implementing CSO: The Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Al-Marsad)

 

Objectives:

- To look into the actual reasons behind the lack of submitting electoral lists in the 26 locations.

- To look into the actual reasons behind the repeated use of acclamation in several locations over the course of three electoral cycles.

- To suggest solutions to refraining from nomination and candidacy.

- To suggest interventions addressing the repeated use of acclamation.

- To influence the Ministry of Local Government’s (MoLG) policy concerning the classification of local authorities.

 

Activities:

1. Revision of the reports issued by the CEC, observation bodies and the media on former elections.

2. Developing an in-depth questionnaire covering acclamation and the areas with no nominated lists.

3. Conducting thirty-six (36) interviews in twelve (12) locations in the different governorates with no candidate lists (a representative from the local authority in question, a representative from a political faction and a community activist). Moreover, conducting six (6) interviews at the level of the governorate with the Directorate of Local Governance (MoLG), a CEC representative, and a representative of political factions to study the locations with no nominations.

4. Conducting forty-eight (48) interviews in eighteen (18) local authorities with repeated use of acclamation (the interviews should include a council member, a representative of political factions; given the selection of a political faction representative in each location covering all active factions, and an interview with a community activist. Selection should be gender-balanced.

5. Data entry of questionnaires.

6. Conducting three (3) round table discussions in the North, Middle and South of the West Bank.

7. Conducting a national workshop to discuss the research outcomes.

8. Developing a plan for ensuring the inclusion of the suggestions and recommendations of all target groups in the draft law, after introducing the proposed amendments to the Local Authorities’ Elections Law and follow up with MoLG.

9. Outcomes and results follow up during the meetings with all political factions to guarantee their ability to play a positive role in putting an end to refraining from nomination or the repeated use of acclamation. Moreover, to inform CSOs working in the areas of democracy and elections on the research outcomes and the recommendations concerning the mechanisms of interventions tailored for these locations.

10. Print out and disseminate the research.

 

Implementing CSO: Al-Ahli Qalqilia Club

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the democratic process by raising awareness on the importance of the electoral process among voters while increasing their participation in elections and facilitating their pioneer and leadership role in CSOs.

- To provide suggestions to Palestinian CSOs on the development and support of youth participation in public political life.

- To address the causes of the current gap between the Palestinian CSOs and youth, by identifying the tools necessary for addressing that gap, while reducing the obstacles and challenges facing CSOs work.

- To increase participants’ knowledge in the issues of negotiations, leadership, media skills, electoral laws, the international law and the use of technology as a mechanism for enhancing youth participation in political life.

 

Activities:

- A five-day training on the concepts of community leadership and the importance of the youth’s role in the decision-making process.

- A workshop discussing the key issues related to the challenges facing the youth concerning political participation, by hosting experts and specialists in the field.

- Two (2) round table discussions between the youth participating in the project, the members of elected local councils, and political parties’ leadership on the importance of engaging and including the youth in the decision-making process.

- A theater performance supporting the right of the youth to democracy and elections.

- Electoral simulation: forming a youth council following a training leading to its formation accompanied with a training (25 hours) for candidates on civil rights and liberties, political participation, Palestinian Elections Law, advocacy, community media, electoral campaigning and agendas.

- Awareness-raising workshop targeting university and college students to raise their awareness on the issues of elections and the importance of their participation and active role in university youth councils.

- Two awareness-raising meetings with the local community targeting the citizens of marginalized areas, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens (Political factions are encouraged to utilize the votes of persons with movement or cognitive disabilities).

- A discussion on the lack of sufficient spaces for persons with movement disabilities.

 

Implementing CSO: Palestinian General Union of People with Disability

 

Objectives:

To enhance the democratic and political participation of persons with disabilities through training, awareness raising and providing support necessary for enabling them to practice their political rights.

 

Activities:

- Ten (10) workshops and discussion sessions at universities, schools and associations.

- Eleven (11) workshops (1 workshop per governorate) covering topics of leadership, communication and political participation.

- Ten (10) training sessions using digital tools and social media to be conducted in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and Jenin.

- Ten (10) meetings with representatives of governmental institutions and NGOs in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making.

- Working with governmental institutions and NGOs to remove boundaries preventing persons with disabilities from participating in decision-making: developing a detailed report including recommendations and proposed solutions based on the meetings and discussions.

 

Implementing CSO: Future Youth Arms Forum (Sa’ed)

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness among the youth on concepts related to political participation, democracy, elections, and activating the role of CSOs.

- To form and empower a youth group to be called (the Youth of Democracy) to act as an active body for the youth that supports spreading electoral awareness.

 

Activities:

- A promotional video on the program, its idea and outcomes.

- Two (2) introductory sessions about the program for recruiting trainees (Al-Quds University (AKA Abu Dies) – Doura branch, and Al-Quds Open University).

- A five-day training introducing concepts, electoral systems, governance and accountability, stages of the electoral process, preparing electoral agendas and campaigning.

- Simulation of the election of local authority councils.

- A workshop on women participation in elections (coinciding with the week for combating violence against women).

- A workshop on one of the most important human rights, the right to participate in the electoral process (coinciding with the international day for human rights). Invitations will include the heads and figures of local tribes/clans and members of local councils.

 

Implementing CSO: Tubas Sports Club

 

Objectives:

- To identify the reasons behind the youth and women refraining from participating in the community, in addition to submitting recommendations to the competent authorities.

- Raising women and youth awareness on their rights and the importance of their role with regards to participating in the elections.

- To contribute to increase the percentage of individuals participating in voting during the elections.

 

Activities:

- Recruitment of a youth group and providing them with a training of trainers (ToT).

- Two (2) workshops, 2 hours each, one targeting the youth and the other targeting women to discuss and explore the causes behind their refraining from participating in electoral and decision-making process, as well as agreeing on recommendations.

- Twelve (12) awareness workshops, 3 hours each, discussing with target groups the importance of participating in the elections and decision-making processes, as well as its impact on the society’s democratic journey (provided by two trainers, who received the ToT provided through the project).

- A cultural competition and a drawing workshop titled “Voting is our right and our duty”