Sector Reports Overview

Calvin College and Birzeit University proposed the development of an institutional partnership through the implementation of the proposed water development of the Wadi al-Far'a. The objectives are: (1) to produce an environmentally sound and socially just plan to develop the water supply of the Wadi al-Far'a; (2) to bring together Americans and Palestinians to share common interests in a specific environmental project and to achieve mutual understanding and respect as a basis for peaceful cooperation. Viewed broadly, this project is a peace initiative.
Fieldwork comprises a study of the hydro-geology and political ecology of the Far'a watershed in two winter and two summer field seasons to construct actual and predictive computerized models of the system as a means of developing recommendations for optimum use of water, balancing human need with source sustenance. Mechanisms will be put in place for implementation of these recommendations.
The staff, drawn equally from both institutions, includes professors, specialists, graduate and undergraduate students, organized so that all will participate in a "service-learning" manner and share experience across cultures. Undergraduates participate for course credit, graduate students draw on the research for thesis writing, and faculty engage in joint publication.
The proposal targets ALO*/USAID's UPLINK** objective #2, "Scarce Water Resources," but the outcomes will also bring significant benefits in the other three categories, economy, governance and health. While the primary beneficiaries will be the people of Palestine, the distinct and joint operations of the implementing institutions will also be greatly enhanced.
The Palestinian and American members of the team worked and traveled together for three weeks in August 2001, with meetings held both at ACOR*** in Amman, Jordan and in PNA offices - Ministries of Planning and Culture - in Ramallah.
Because access to the area became difficult for foreigners, field work at the Wadi el-Far'a was carried out by the Palestinian members of the team, mostly from August 2001 until February 2002. The Palestinians' access to the wadi was often difficult, time consuming and dangerous, and became impossible after February 2002.
Data was shared and made accessible through postings on a closed project web site, provided by Calvin College. In late July 2002, the entire team met at a hotel in Beit Hanina for four days for an intense workshop to exchange and discuss the final accumulation of data, and plan the final report, an outline of which is given below.
During August, the American team members have been working at ACOR and at Calvin College to complete drafts of the sector reports and assemble the final report for submission to the ALO and USAID this October.
The Project Public Website is being "constructed" as documents are generated. It contains extensive photo albums and maps as well as written information, and a copy of this report: http//:www.calvin.edu/~dvrb