Green Funding for Wider Water Access in Palestine
published on 14 November 2019
For a decade, moves to preserve water resources have culminated in an important new development. On November 13, the “Water Banking and Adaptation of Agriculture to Climate Change in Gaza” project, with support from Agence Française de Développement, received support from the Green Climate Fund.
The project will receive €23.8 million in financing from the Green Fund, on top of the €13.2 million already scheduled by AFD and €8 million from Irish Aid. This is the fourth project presented by AFD to receive support from the Green Fund since its creation in 2010, and the first for Palestine.
Progress for 200,000 People
Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with more than 5,000 people per square kilometer, and beset with minimal water resources. And the situation is not likely to improve with climate change.
This project hasn’t come a moment too soon. It will help improve irrigation services for 1,500 farmers while bringing drinking water to nearly 200,000 people.
The Palestinian Water Authority and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are planning to set up a system for replenishing groundwater with water from a sewage treatment plant (NGEST), whose construction was co-financed by AFD, the World Bank and the European Commission.
Improving Access to the Land for Women
Using a system of wells as part of an irrigation network to be upgraded as part of the project, the groundwater will be drawn up to supply crops. An 8.5-hectare solar power plant will also be installed to provide the facilities with electricity.
This project, costing a total of €45 million, also aims to broaden access to land and water for the women of Gaza. AFD will continue to forge an ambitious partnership with the Green Climate Fund.
Additional key steps are already on the agenda, such as the COP 25 to be held in Spain from December 2 to 13.
