Highlights:

This rapid Food System Assessment (FSA) identifies the key drivers to unlock the full potential of the food system in addressing the key food security and nutrition, socioeconomic and environmental challenges faced by the Palestinian society and territory.

Related to the key sustainability question 1 “What are the reasons behind the rise in food insecurity and malnutrition, and the widening gap between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip?”, the following systemic levers are proposed:

• Nutrition-specific interventions comprise investments that help address the immediate causes of malnutrition.

  • Data generation and use, through research and improved monitoring of nutritional levels, to identify nutritional trends (nutrition surveillance system) and fine-tune analysis of the underlying causes;

  • Investment dedicated to social behaviour change, including communication campaigns to raise awareness of healthy diets and nutrition;

  • Prevention and treatment of micronutrient deficiencies.

• Facilitate diversification and increase production of nutrient-rich crops.

  • Enhance the production and marketing of highly nutritional and high-value horticulture, livestock and aquaculture products, by fostering public and private partnerships;

  • The development of mobile markets;

  • Fostering community linkages and territorial approaches and promoting partnerships between producers and consumers.

Related to the key sustainability question 2 “What are the reasons behind the low adaptive capacities of the Palestinian food system to sustainably use and manage natural resources?” the following systemic levers are proposed:

• Effective and widespread investments for climate change adaptation.

  • Investing in knowledge and preparedness of institutions;

  • Investing in the dissemination of climate adaptation practices, including drought-resistant varieties and hydroponic agricultural technology;

  • Improving the energy-water nexus, by supporting the adoption of energy-efficient processes and renewable energy in agribusiness, and investing in nonconventional water supplies.

• Increased availability of water for agriculture, including treated wastewater.

  • Investment in hard infrastructure  and in soft infrastructure (user associations, extension staff);

  • Rehabilitation of agricultural wells and springs;

  • Investments in upscale small, medium and large water harvesting facilities.

Related to the key sustainability question 3 “What are the reasons behind the underperformance of a number of agrifood value chains, which is threatening their long-term sustainability?”, the following systemic levers are proposed:

• Public-private dialogue on policy shifts towards value chain integration.

  • Inclusion of smallholders into corporate value chains;

  • Transparent implementation of social and environmental standards for agribusinesses sourcing raw materials from smallholders;

• Professional advisory services to farmers, including consultancy on the use of digital technologies.

• Public investment in aggregation and market infrastructure.

  • Investments in physical and technological infrastructure need to target collection centres, wholesale markets, cold chain elements and food safety labs.

Related to the key sustainability question 4 “What are the reasons behind the limited employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in the agrifood sector in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially for women, young people and people with disabilities?”, the following systemic levers are proposed:

• Policy dialogue towards a better enabling environment for inclusive entrepreneurship.

  • Analysis and improvement of the legal and fiscal frameworks;

  • Development of innovative insurance solutions;

  • Establishment of a one-stop-shop for startups;

  • Promotion of financial inclusion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and vulnerable families;

  • Connecting the Palestinian startups, incubators and accelerators to global networks.

• Investment in human capital to enable the employability of Palestinians in agriculture and agrifood industries.

  • Reviewing the high school, vocational training, and extension system curricula, incorporating the knowledge required to farm sustainably in the modern context;

  • Establishing thematic networks connecting universities, young graduates in agriculture and food-processing technologies, research institutes, and industry associations to support professional development of youngspecialists, their employment, and facilitate information flows.

  • Introducing and scaling up programmes that subsidize access to professional business advisory services in all areas of expertise needed by MSMEs;

  • Introducing and expanding mentorship programmes for grant and loan recipients.