Ramallah, Palestine: Durable Qaddura

About

In 2023, the City of Ramallah, Palestine, was selected as a grantee of the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees (GCF), the MMC’s instrument to channel international funding directly to cities to implement inclusive projects of their own design. 

With support from the GCF, Ramallah is upgrading Qaddura Refugee Camp’s solid waste collection system and rehabilitating its public park to improve quality of life and promote healthy play for children living in the camp.

Context

There are over six million Palestinian refugees worldwide. More than 871,000 of them live in the West Bank, Palestine, with around 2,000 residing in Ramallah’s Qaddura Refugee Camp. Living conditions in Qaddura are poor, especially for the camp’s 700 residents younger than fifteen years of age.  

Qaddura is not officially recognized by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine Refugees, and lacks consistent government service provision. The camp’s solid waste system is outdated and unreliable, contributing to the spread of disease and pollution. Qaddura is also densely populated with limited green space and recreational areas. The camp’s public park, which receives more than 1,000 visitors daily, is dilapidated and in urgent need of repair.

Action

The City of Ramallah will use its GCF grant to upgrade Qaddura Refugee Camp’s solid waste management system, refurbish its public park, and launch an awareness campaign about environmental stewardship for camp residents. 

Working alongside the Qaddura Camp Services Committee, the project team will survey camp residents to identify their needs around waste collection. Using insights from this survey, the city will implement waste management reforms, including replacing the camp’s waste collection vehicle and installing over a hundred new garbage bins. To ensure the sustainability of its waste management reform, Ramallah will lead an awareness campaign to teach children living in the camp about environmental stewardship and proper waste disposal.

In addition, Ramallah will refurbish a popular recreationalpark in Qaddura. Improvements to the park will include safe spaces which promote healthy development. The park renovation will create an age-responsive and gender-inclusive public space for refugee children and their caregivers to play and interact. 

Ramallah’s project will be implemented in close partnership with refugee leaders from Qaddura, ensuring that the park and waste management reform create a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for all residents. This project is supported by the Global Cities Fund for Migrants and Refugees.

Impact

Ramallah is using its GCF grant to transform the quality of life for residents in the Qaddura Refugee Camp.

The city has completed renovations on Qaddura Park, including upgrading playgrounds, basketball courts and restrooms, and installing new lighting, benches, and play equipment. These renovations have made Qaddura Park a more accessible and safer space for all residents to play, learn, and grow. For example, the park’s improved lighting and visibility make it more welcoming for women and young girls while shaded areas provide a more relaxing space for caregivers to rest while their children play. In a recent survey, 50 caregivers reported satisfaction with the park renovations.  

In addition to the park renovation, Ramallah’s project is improving critical solid waste infrastructure in Qaddura Camp. The project supplied the Camp with a new waste collection vehicle and 134 waste containers, resulting in more consistent and effective public solid waste removal and decreasing environmental pollution. This renewed investment in the Camp’s sanitation system is creating a healthier and cleaner environment for all residents.