Project Description

The Palestine Research Unit (PRU) was an interdisciplinary team working on the Palestine – Israel conflict and the role and impact of international aid on the living conditions of the concerned populations. It was affiliated with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (IHEID) and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP).

The PRU was established in 2000 thanks to the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) and the funding of UNDP, UNOCHA, UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO. It worked in cooperation with the Palestinian National Authority , the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the Palestinian Ministry of Planning, the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre (JMCC), and other local partners.

Project activities

• Applied research: Development and implementation of regular public opinion polls

• Training: Organisation of specialised training sessions on topics related to the monitoring instruments for development and humanitarian work

• Teaching: The experiences of the PRU were used as source for teaching classes on development aid and conflict at the Graduate Institute for Development Studies

• Information sharing: Through the publication of research reports but also by organising round-tables and debates on the Palestine-Israel conflict, the PRU aimed at raising the awareness about key issues related to the Palestine- Israel conflict but also to the relation between conflicts and international assistance