العربيةIn a remarkable display of collaboration, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) have extended their partnership for three more years, from December 1, 2021, to November 30, 2024. The decision comes after a thorough evaluation of their joint efforts, which have yielded highly satisfactory outcomes.
The initial agreement, signed in June 2020, aimed to create new opportunities for Palestine refugees in Gaza by leveraging the expertise and resources of both organizations. Through this partnership, UNRWA has provided UNICC with highly skilled ICT and support staff, enabling UNICC to benefit from UNRWA’s cost-efficient resource model. Moreover, this collaboration has not only bolstered UNRWA’s mission to deliver essential services to over 5 million refugees in the Middle East but has also empowered the refugee community itself.
The number of UNRWA consultants has witnessed a remarkable growth, increasing from a mere eight in 2020 to a robust team of 71 experts. This expansion showcases the success of the partnership in nurturing and developing talented individuals within the refugee community. The impact is particularly significant considering the limited job opportunities and persistently high unemployment rates faced by Palestine refugees, especially among the youth and women.
With this agreement, UNICC has been able to benefit from the UNRWA expert resources from web development, cloud computing, and communications to data science, project management and cyber security, as follows:
“I believe that this is a great partnership providing livelihood opportunities in Gaza in the IT domain. This partnership allowed many young Gazans to pursue their career of choice while supporting their families. This is also a unique partnership where it shows how IT organisations evolve from being support organisations to those that directly contribute to Sustainable Development Goals.”
By subscribing to UNICC’s ICT services, UNRWA, as a UNICC Partner Organization, has fostered even closer collaboration between the two entities. This agreement has laid the foundation for a new bridge of partnership, focusing on ICT skills development and delivery. Skilled Palestinian ICT personnel at UNRWA can now actively contribute to the broader UN digital transformation efforts, sharing their expertise and contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are excited to partner with UNRWA since it has given us the opportunity to find very talented young individuals to join various teams across UNICC. These new colleagues are very ably supporting various teams across all of UNICC, and we in return have the privilege of seeing them thrive and grow into their roles. These Gazan colleagues get to work across the UN system through UNICC and we, as an organization, get to do our bit to directly contribute to the UN SDGs.”
The success stories emerging from this collaboration are inspiring. More than a hundred skilled Palestinian professionals have already joined UNICC in supporting the UN system between June 2020 and January 2022. What began with a core team of eight individuals has grown into a diverse group of over 70 professionals working across various projects. Notably, this workforce includes a balanced gender ratio, with 40% female and 60% male professionals, aligning with the UN’s commitment to gender parity.
“Collaborating with UNICC teams gives you the confidence to improve your skills and accomplish your goals. It also gives you a reason to challenge yourself and the obstacles that faced you, especially when you deliver work on time and see the Client satisfaction, with their confidence that their projects are in the right place. I am sure that becoming a member of the UNICC family was a most worthy decision.”
Mai Ibaid, UI/UX Frontend Designer, UNICC
The positive impact of this partnership extends beyond individual career growth. It contributes to UNICC’s goal of engaging more youth and women while advancing its own agenda for digital transformation. By breaking down geographic barriers, the joint project enables young, skilled Palestine refugees to make meaningful contributions to the UN’s digital business domain. Moreover, it strengthens UNICC’s capacity to provide reliable ICT services based on best practices.
The significance of this partnership cannot be overstated, as it aligns with several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It directly contributes to SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG 17 (partnerships to achieve the SDGs). Through their collaboration, UNRWA and UNICC are actively working towards a future where poverty is alleviated, gender equality is realized, sustainable economic growth is fostered, and partnerships drive the achievement of the SDGs.
In conclusion, the extended partnership between UNRWA and UNICC stands as a shining example of how collaboration and innovation can create meaningful change in the lives of Palestine refugees. By leveraging the power of ICT and nurturing the talent within the refugee community, this partnership is empowering individuals, transforming digital capabilities, and driving progress towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.
