Baseline assessment report for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) pilot sites in Wadi Al-Fari’a in the West Bank

dc.title: Baseline assessment report for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) pilot sites in Wadi Al-Fari’a in the West Bank
dc.contributor.author: Belhaj Fraj, Makram; Rabi, A.; Murrar, A.; Samhan, S.; Fragaszy, Stephen; Ruckstuhl, Sandra; Abdelwahab, Noura; Samarasekara, Vidhisha
dcterms.abstract: This baseline study draws on Resilient Nature-Based Water Solutions (RNBWS) pilot interventions undertaken by the Al Murunah project in the upper catchment of Wadi Al-Fari’a, specifically in the communities of Ras Al-Fari’a, Wadi Al-Fari’a, and the Fari’a Refugee Camp in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). It provides a detailed account of the 2023 analysis of the biophysical, socio-economic, agricultural, and policy contexts shaping the technical, social, and market design of the pilot, as well as broader project activities, including capacity building, training, and policy engagement.

The study presents a synthesis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) related to RNBWS in Wadi Al-Fari’a, and outlines strategies for the planned pilot, alongside general recommendations for advancing RNBWS and the integrated development of agricultural and water resources in the West Bank. By linking local insights to policy priorities, Al Murunah aims to forge a strategic pathway for implementing RNBWS, strengthening agricultural resilience, and fostering inclusive, sustainable socio-economic growth.

The pilot and its recommendations seek to position the project’s approach as a scalable model for sustainable development across the OPT, contributing to the Palestinian Authority’s vision for water security, food production, and effective climate change adaptation.