National Strategy, Action Programme and Integrated Financing Strategy (NAP-IFS) to Combat Desertification in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The National Strategy, Action Programme and Integrated Financing Strategy (NAP-IFS) to Combat Desertification in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a nationwide sectoral document aiming at representing a basis and guiding framework for future national and sectoral policies and plans. In fact, it adopts a cross-sectoral approach, with particular attention to poverty reduction since poverty and desertification are closely linked and affected by each other, as poverty is a cause of over and misuse of the land, which leads to desertification and land degradation, which in turn leads to low production and ultimately less income and poverty, especially for marginalized groups.
The overall objective of the Strategy is to prevent, halt and where possible reverse the effects and impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought, in order to contribute to poverty alleviation, improve livelihoods of people and achieve sustainable development. The following four strategic objectives have been identified to contribute to achieving the overall objective and other national and sectoral objectives (i) to upgrade institutional, legal and human capacities and frameworks and to create the enabling policy environment; (ii) to improve awareness and attitude of stakeholders and to seek maximum participation and partnership of the affected people and the private sector; (iii) conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; and (iv) to improve mobilization, efficiency and effectiveness of financial and technical resources available to combat desertification, land degradation and drought.
The IFS for combating desertification identifies the potential internal and external financing sources and recommended key policy recommendations to be adopted in order to make available the necessary fund. In addition innovative and new financing sources whether national or international have been identified to tackle issues of relevance to desertification, land degradation and drought.
To help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, the Strategy in the AP seeks for improving income, food security and livelihoods of the people in the targeted areas indicated in the maps for the Hot spots and Endangered Areas.
In order to make agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable, main actions will aim to (i) develop optimal water harvesting, water collection and soil conservation measures; (ii) develop range land restoration and rehabilitation; (iii) small ruminant development; and (iv) land reclamation, including construction of soil conservation and optimal rain-water harvesting measures and planting with appropriate fruit trees, forest trees and range shrubs and plants.
A more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems will be enabled through (i) an improvement of productivity and markets for small ruminants and their products and (ii) development of the small ruminants' processing and marketing facilities.
Main focus of the document is the increasing of livelihoods to disasters. It is will be achieved through (i) upgrading capacities and capabilities of the institutions involved in mitigation and combating desertification, land degradation and drought; (ii) development and amendment of the legal and regulatory framework governing mitigation and combating desertification, land degradation and drought; (iii) raising the awareness of both local communities and the general public; (iv) involvement of local communities and affected groups in all aspects of design, implementation and adjustments of projects, plans, policies and strategies; (v) establishment, unification and harmonization of the data and information related to the issue; (vi) allocation of more national funding to financial issues related to mitigation and combating desertification, land degradation and drought; (vii) establishment of new mechanisms and seeking new and innovative sources for funding the interventions; and (viii) ensuring efficient use and management of the available resources.