Project Summary:

• Duration: (12/04 – 11/05)

• Funding Source: Tamkeen Project

CFI intends to strengthen capacity among Palestinian women in marginalized areas and youth (18-35 years old) to advocate for potential Palestinian Representatives in the West Bank. CFI is working on:

1. Setting women and youth priorities on the agenda of potential candidates

2. Enabling more citizens to participate in the selection of their representatives through targeting youth and women

3. Enhance capacities of women and youth for managing elections, and actively participate in setting an effective and efficient voter registration system

Involving Women and Youth in the Democratic Development Process:

CFI has targeted working with grassroots community based organizations (CBOs) to directly involve women and youth in democratic development process. In 2001, CFI conducted a need assessment concerning project activities related to women and youth in the West Bank. The Bethlehem area was selected as sample. It was found that women and youth are mostly involved project such as: Small business loans; Family planning; Education on women’s rights and women and youth’s projects supporting the disabled. Consequently, there is a lack of civic work and few efforts are made to strengthen women’s and youth’s community participation.

There is a great need for capacity building among women in general. Marginalization of the women sectors in the sample area is clear and is a good representation of Palestinian society in general. Addressing this marginalization is the focus of this project.