The Brussels Region is to subsidise five projects in the occupied Palestinian territories. A budget of 430,000 euros has been set aside to fund the projects.
The subsidies are being released within the framework of an appeal for projects to support the South. Belgian organisations and not-for-profit organisations can launch a bid to secure funding for their development project. It is the twelfth time a call like this is being made. This year's project call hopes to support initiatives that focus on sustainable and inclusive economic development in urban settings.
The escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict led the Brussels Region to increase the annual development budget in 2024 and put the Palestinian territories first. According to Ans Persoons, Brussels secretary of state for European and international relations (Socialist/Vooruit.brussels) believes this fits in well with the broader vision of Brussels' development cooperation: “Brussels will always show solidarity with those in need” she said.
In total, South 2024 is awarding 10 grants this year, half of which will go to initiatives in the Israeli occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Gaza Strip does not currently form part of the project. The remaining grants go to projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco.
The five Palestinian initiatives selected centre on issues like the rights of Palestinian farmers, improving food security within the occupied territories and training unemployed youngsters.
The Brussels government hopes that its appeal for projects will contribute to the United Nations' poverty reduction goals. By 2030, the UN aims to eradicate poverty altogether.