Occupied Palestinian Territories: Culture and Development

This programme in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) contributes to fostering institutional development, social cohesion and sustainable economic development through culture related activities and tailor-made programmes based on the notion of cultural diversity.

It aims at contributing to the achievement of MDG 1 (eradicating extreme poverty), MDG 3 (promoting gender equality and empowering women) and MDG 7 (ensuring environmental sustainability), through promotion of culture as a venue for development. UNESCO, UNIFEM, UNDP and FAO will work jointly in oPt with governmental institutions, local authorities, community-based organizations and civil society at large. The programme relies on a participatory bottom-up approach to a) establish policies and practices for safeguarding of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, b) develop best practices to foster social cohesion and c) utilize the potential of cultural heritage and creative industries for inclusive economic growth.