“Qualitative Research on Recruitment Processes in Palestine.” Belgian Development Cooperation (BTC). 2015.
AWRAD recently partnered with the BTC to conduct a qualitative research project examining the transition of recent graduates into the Palestinian labor market. The aim of the research is to identify the impact of various labor market constraints on recruitment processes and the ability of young Palestinians to find work. As such, the research draws on respondents from the supply side, graduates and recent hires, and the demand side, HR managers and enterprise owners. The research itself is conducted through the Delphi method and will be defined by three stages of qualitative research: interviews, focus groups and workshops. After the three stages of data collection are completed, a final report will be authored with recommendations and identification of good practices. This research also supports a regional effort undertaken by the International Labor Organization to better understand labor market and recruitment practices.
“Skills Gaps and Development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.” CARE International. 2014-2015.
AWRAD was contracted by CARE International to perform an assessment of the skills gaps in Palestine as they relate to economic development. To successfully complete this assignment AWRAD developed a mixed-methods approach, drawing on questionnaires, focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Working from the perspective of a gap analysis between skills supply and skills demand, AWRAD prepared survey tools for recent graduates, employers, educational institutions, with special attention for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers and others. In addition to determining the skills gaps in Palestine, AWRAD compared and contrasted results with data from the Jordanian and Egyptian labor markets to determine Palestine’s comparative advantage. All of these data and issues where compiled and addressed in a final report detailing recommendations for programming and policy that can positively improve Palestinian laborers and the labor market. Two national-level workshops were organized and facilitated by AWRAD to disseminate the findings of the research in the West Bank and Gaza.
“Final Evaluation of the Post Trauma Rehabilitation of Palestinian Child Ex-Detainees in the West Bank project.” Save the Children International. 2014.
AWRAD partnered with Save the Children to carry out an evaluation of assignment of their five year $1.8 million EU-funded and EJ YMCA implemented rehabilitation program focusing on child ex-detainees. The central goal of this assignment was assessing the impact of the program on child ex-detainees, their families, and the broader communities, including educational institutions and decision-makers. The evaluation also assessed the program’s contributions to the monitoring and reporting system established under UN Resolution 1612 and the role this played in establishing an effective and efficient feedback loop. This research, and its results, generated lessons learned from program design and implementation as well as providing actionable recommendations for immediate and longer term changes to improve impact on the program beneficiaries. AWRAD adopted a mixed-method approach to the evaluation, reviewing EJ YMCA’s detainee database, project records and reports and conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with project stakeholders including direct beneficiaries, parents, program managers and staff, staff of educational institutions (vocational and regular public schools) involved in the program and PA institutions responsible for rehabilitation of ex-detainee children. Ethical considerations were integrated into all evaluation tools.
“Palestinian Workers: A Comprehensive Report on Work Conditions, Priorities and Recommendations.” Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU). 2012-2013.
AWRAD was recruited by the PGFTU to assist in their development of a research-based future strategy to enhance their responsiveness to the requirements of Palestinian workers in the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel and Israeli settlements. AWRAD distributed 1,000 questionnaires, conducted 12 in-depth interviews and convened seven focus groups to assess economic and labor conditions across gender, employment sector, occupation, residence and age. Recommendations were provided including priorities for action.
“Comprehensive Analysis for the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), World Food Programme (WFP), UNWOMEN. 2012.
For this assignment, AWRAD completed a Common Country Analysis (CCA) in support of the UNDAF. AWRAD identified priority development themes, challenges and gaps within the oPt, as well as highlighting the comparative advantage of the UN Country Team (UNCT) in addressing significant issues. In pursuit of these goals, AWRAD’s researchers conducted dozens of in-depth interviews with PA and UN officials, civil society representatives and the private sector to determine outstanding development priorities and the potential role of partners in addressing existing gaps.
“Situation Assessment of drug use and HIV among injecting drug users in West Bank and Gaza.” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Ministry of Interior. 2011.
AWRAD implemented an assessment of drug use in Palestine that included interviewing 350 drug users in West Bank and in Gaza, in addition to conducting 4 focus groups with ex-drug users and with specialists in the field. Furthermore, 20 in-depth interviews were also carried out to collect qualitative data for the assessment. The study was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNDP. The study was accompanied with a campaign directed at government institutions, NGOs, and youth. At the conclusion of the project, AWRAD prepared a comprehensive report that examined the nature of drug use and HIV prevalence in Palestine. The report provided a profile of respondents and also elaborated on lifestyle behaviors and treatment options available to users. AWRAD provided four sets of recommendations, provided by former users, counsellors and social workers, professionals and the research team itself. This was intended to provide the most nuanced and detailed explanation of the problems and obstacles to its amelioration drawn from multiple perspectives. In the appendices, AWRAD provided an index detailing all quantitative results, as well as expert testimony and guidelines for interviews and focus groups.
“Baseline Household Survey on Socioeconomic Conditions of Vulnerable Localities.” CARE International. 2011.
AWRAD and CARE International carried out a household survey that identified and ranked the neediest Palestinian communities and families in 155 localities in the West Bank and Gaza to determine potential target groups for emergency projects in livelihood and food security, health, water, and NGO safety. The survey also identified the profiles of the families with the most acute and unmet needs to inform the development of priority criteria for assistance. A survey of 3,290 households was completed in 52 communities to determine the degree of vulnerability of each household. The indicators developed reflected a comprehensive approach to vulnerability that focuses on human poverty as defined in various international studies to reflect themes such as: economic well-being, health, water, and access issues. The ranking of the 52 communities included in the study provided the best estimation of the degree of vulnerability in each community as compared with other listed communities. Factor analysis was used to simplify and reduce the number of variables (originally used to serve a number of purposes other than ranking) to determine a unique list of ranking indicators for each of the communities to accommodate the divergent living conditions and issues faced by the two populations. A final ranking table was produced for West Bank and Gaza communities.
“Needs Assessment of the Psychosocial Needs in Private Schools in Gaza.” AMIDEAST. 2010.
The overall goal of the assessment was directed at serving the needs of AMIDEAST and USAID in the implementation of their project with private schools in Gaza. It helped AMIDEAST to determine how to focus their psychosocial services and interventions in the private schools through identifying students’ psychosocial problems and supports needed, identifying the training and capacity building needs and priorities of schools’ administrators, counsellors and teachers regarding psychosocial problems, and drawing recommendations and specific suggestions for the design of an adequate and detailed psychosocial support program prior to interventions. These goals were accomplished through the conducting of specialized surveys and focus groups with students, parents, school administrators and counsellors. In total, AWRAD conducted 13 focus groups and roughly 1,100 interviews.
“Refugee Research Project” (Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan). The US-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), Williams & Associates. 2008.
To fulfil this project AWRAD has conducted field research in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan to assess the living conditions and needs of Palestinian refugees in these three states. The project’s data collection strategy was defined by survey research, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Over 3,000 refugees, inside and outside of refugee camps were interviewed in the three states. The central themes addressed throughout the assessment were living conditions, human relations, and political recommendations to address, and ideally resolve, outstanding issues. At the conclusion of the project, AWRAD issued a series of conclusions designed to guide the programming and focus of stakeholders.