The Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem Society (ARIJ) Towards a Sustainable Palestine AAnnnnuuaall RReeppoorrtt 22001111 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY .................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER II: ARIJ PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1 NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ......................................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Urbanization Monitoring Department .............................................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 Geo-informatics Department .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Water and Environment Research Department .......................................................................................... 12 2.2 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM .................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM..................................................................................................................... 22 2.4 GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................ 23 CHAPTER III: NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIP ................................................................................................... 27 3.1 COOPERATION WITH THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT, NGOS AND INSTITUTIONS .................................................. 27 3.2 NETWORKING AND/OR CONNECTIONS WITH REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BODIES AND NGOS . 30 CHAPTER IV: DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 33 4.1 ARIJ IN THE NEWS ..................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.2 CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ............................................................................................................................. 33 4.3 MEETINGS AND VISITS ................................................................................................................................................ 33 4.4 PRESENTATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.5 SERVICES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ...................................................................................................................... 34 4.6 WEBSITE VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.7 PUBLICATIONS OF THE YEAR 2011 ............................................................................................................................ 34 4.7.1 Sientific Journal Articles .................................................................................................................................. 34 4.7.2 Special Reports ................................................................................................................................................ 34 4.7.3 Books ................................................................................................................................................................. 34 4.7.4 Posters ............................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.7.5 Monthly & Quarterly Reports .......................................................................................................................... 35 4.7.6 Case Studies .................................................................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER V: ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET ........................................................................................................ 36 5.1 HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PLAN ............................................................................................................... 36 5.2 ARIJ EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 2011 ............................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER VI: ARIJ PLAN FOR THE YEAR 2012........................................................................................................ 39 6.1 THE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................................................................ 39 6.2 THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM ............................................................................................................ 39 6.3 THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM ............................................................................................................. 40 6.4 THE GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM ........................................................................................................................ 41 6.5 ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2012 ................................................................................................................ 41 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 44 ANNEX 1: CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ................................................................................................................... 44 ANNEX 2: VISITS AND MEETINGS ...................................................................................................................................... 47 ANNEX 3: PRESENTATIONS ............................................................................................................................................... 53 ANNEX 4: NEWSPAPER ARTICLES .................................................................................................................................... 55 ANNEX 5: SERVICES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................ 55 1 Executive Summary ARIJ has served as a platform for consultation, dialogue and cooperation among development organizations and partners for 22 years. Today ARIJ continue to strengthen our institute and are focused on working with our partners to facilitate and assist ARIJ in all its fields of interest. The alignment of our mission and our work is becoming clearer everyday. In the year 2011, ARIJ combined its applied research projects with the provision of services and the implementation of developmental and emergency projects that address both the short and long term needs of the Palestinian Society. ARIJ continues to play a major role as a national institution and has produced substantial influences through its highly qualified and skilled staff in the fields of Sustainable Agriculture, Natural Resources Management and Development, Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing, Physical Planning, Advancement of information systems, and the newly established Good Governance Program. ARIJ achieved considerable success within all of its specialist fields on both a national and international level. This year’s accomplishments can be summarized as follows: The year 2011 witnessed a significant increase in ARIJ website visits (12.6% increases from the previous year) concerning the total number of visitors and files opened or downloaded (Section 4.6). The social media website accounts established by ARIJ IT team that includes YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, have facilitated more effective and interactive communication among ARIJ and other national and international organizations, communities, and individuals (Section 2.3). In the geopolitical arena, ARIJ continued monitoring Israeli activities and documenting the Israeli violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), in addition to raising awareness through the use of all kinds of publications, audio and visual dialogue interviews; one important aspect is the production of short videos on ARIJ YouTube Account and the Daily Report (Section 2.11). Also, ARIJ team continued to act as a provider of informational services, in which it supports the local community and national organizations with statistical data, reports, maps and geographical records for a variety of purposes (Annex 5). In the field of sustainable agriculture, ARIJ has concentrated its efforts on both research and developmental activities which included village profiles and need assessments, agro-marketing studies, food security information systems, livelihood security and civil society strengthening and improving access to water and food in the OPT. In 2011, the following activities were realized: (Section