2) Olive Oil Production: NEF has concluded its fourth year of development of the Palestinian olive oil sector. Started in collaboration with UNDP and a private foundation, the program seeks to improve production and marketing of olive oil through training and equipping producers in the north of the West Bank from planting to harvesting and pressing. In 2006-2007, NEF trained 1,500 farmers and provided tools and equipment to 450 farmers, helping to produce 500 tons of extra virgin oil and sell more than 300 tons. NEF worked through collectives and cooperatives, which it plans to develop into agro-business centers. Last year, NEF began supporting the newly-established Palestinian Olive Oil Council, which shares offices with NEF in Nablus.

3) Women's Mobile Banking: NEF recently launched a MEPI-funded project to train women as mobile bankers to provide credit services primarily to West Bank women. NEF has selected 50 women from five women's associations who will receive training from, and later be hired by, Arab Bank, Bank Al Rafah and Jordan Bank. With these banks, NEF will develop simplified brochures and loan documentation that the mobile bankers can take to remote areas and present to less educated women. They then will bring to participating banks valuable information on local credit markets.

4) Residential Mortgages: NEF manages a housing loan guarantee program in collaboration with Arab Bank that has provided 670 loans, averaging $12,500, totaling $8.25 million. Started in 1997 by NEF's partner organization, the program encouraged Arab Bank in 2004 to launch its own program, which has lent more than $120 million.
NEF is examining setting up a local Palestinian organization to offer residential mortgages to rural youth, in conjunction with its mobile banking project.

NEF's History in Palestine: NEF has operated programs in Palestine since 1991, in partnership with UNDP, WFP, UNICEF, USAID, MEPI and Arab and local organizations in education, agriculture, environment and youth development.

Latest Reports From the Field:

Reports From the Field ; Palestine - Thursday, April 12, 2007 UN World Food Program Reps Takes a Look for Themselves "We jumped at the opportunity," confessed NEF staffer Sam Husseini, deputy director for NEF's West Bank/Gaza program. A six-month pilot project funded at $400,000-plus, the joint NEF (Near East Foundation) and UN World Food Program project is feeding 10,000 Palestinian children in over 130 kindergartens in poor districts of Jenin, Tubas, and Nablus in the West Bank. Plus, it has initiated over 100 new jobs for area women with great potential to be ongoing. NEF is implementing the project, i ... (more) Reports From the Field ; Palestine - Thursday, February 08, 2007 NEF Collaboration with World Food Program Makes Leap in West Bank NEF (Near East Foundation) and a partner organization have worked with the UN World Food Program in the West Bank for more than two years on a number of smaller projects--until the signing of January's agreement of cooperation. This six month pilot project will feed 10,000 Palestinian children in over 130 kindergartens in poor districts of Jenin, Tubas, and Nablus in the West Bank. In addition, the $400,000-plus project will be a boost for five women's centers and their income generating fo ... (more) Reports From the Field ; Palestine - Tuesday, December 12, 2006 NEF Distributes Urgently-Needed Drugs to Palestinian Poor Many essential drugs and vaccines are out of stock in the Palestinian Territories...health care workers haven't been paid in nine months...people are asked to bring in a blank sheet of paper to obtain a birth certificate...there is no gasoline for ambulances.... Pressures on the health care system in the West Bank and Gaza mount daily, nearly to the breaking point in the current deteriorating humanitarian situation. "What is the worse problem facing you?" a Palestinian doctor was asked. "I ... (more) Reports From the Field ; Palestine - Thursday, November 23, 2006 Some Joy for the Poorest West Bank Families Where our multifaceted programs are concentrated, NEF celebrated the holy month of Ramadan and following Eid al Fiter feast in the "cluster" of nine villages northwest of Nablus, conducting a broad campaign of food distribution. Poor families received about 500 food packages and 570 packages of dairy products, while 400 packages of sweets went to kindergarten children. Selected locations were agricultural communities suffering high unemployment: Aseera Alshamalya, Ignisieya, Nusf Ijbeel, B ... (more) Reports From the Field ; Palestine - Sunday, October 01, 2006 Full Speed Ahead in Year 2 of NEF's Revitalization of the Palestinian Olive Oil Industry The story of Qusai Hamarneh, a West Bank farmer and press owner from the village of Asyira Alshamaleyeh, is typical. He has been working in olive oil for 20 years, proudly producing premium and extra virgin oils in a traditional industry where he lives. In fact, olive oil constitutes 15 percent of the Palestinian agricultural economy. Qusai followed the usual methods, including storage of his olive oil in plastic containers. By the end of last season's production, he had a surplus and afte ...