On December 31, 2014 two cooperation agreements have finished; they were funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), with duration of 4 years, they have affected the improvement of the quality of primary and secondary education in the Palestinians Territories and the management of water resources to ensure food security in Jordan and Palestinian Territories.
In the believe that efficient water management will improve agricultural productivity and therefore help ensure food security, in June 2010 the agreement “Improving water management in the agricultural sector to ensure safety food in Palestinian Territories and Jordan”, in consortium with JOHUD (Jordan) and PARC (Palestinian Territories) organizations. The agreement contemplated the following lines:
• Creation and improvement of infrastructures and tools in order to maximize scarce water resources: the construction of greenhouses, water piping systems, tanks, rehabilitation of springs, distribution of tensiometers, drip irrigation systems, etc.
• Training of farmers in new agricultural techniques and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure.
• Strengthening of water user associations and promoting social participation in water management through various training and awareness activities.
Moreover the agreement “Improving the quality of primary and secondary education in the Palestinian Territories”, which has counted as a local partner with Bethlehem University, has continued the work begun in an earlier agreement and has paid special attention to teacher training, creating a diploma program for practicing teachers without degrees, and influencing, through its “Quality Education for All Through Partnership” in the use of new technologies in the classroom and in the special Education area to integrate students with special needs, and in pedagogy and teaching methods.
Upon termination, this agreement has helped to improve the capacity of 58 principals, 1,230 teachers, and providing a quality education to 20,000 students.