The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) signed in December an agreement with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) amounting to CHF 1.25 million to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) in conducting the Palestinian Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 2017. The agreement was signed by Mrs Veronique Hulmann on behalf of the SDC and H.E. Minister of Finance and Planning Mr. Shukri Bishara and PCBS President Mrs Ola Awad on behalf of the PA. This new support comes on top of the current core support to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics program 2015-2017 amounting to CHF 1.8 million.

“This contribution acknowledges the importance of conducting national census on a regular basis (every ten years) to produce reliable development data and statistics that support the design and implementation of effective policies conducive to reach the goals of the National Policy Agenda 2017-2022 and the Agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals). The Census is necessary to enable the Palestinian Authority (PA), the civil society, private sector, academics and also international actors, to plan effectively and to monitor development processes and results "said Veronique Hulmann, the Director of Cooperation of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Population, Housing, and Establishment Census 2017 would provide high quality statistical data that will be accessible to all citizens in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt). All data will be disaggregated according to gender, age group, marital status, etc. to enable the design of effective, people centred and inclusive policies, strategies and programmes. It will among others enable monitoring of urbanization trends, poverty dimensions, needs of vulnerable communities or groups, , such as  women, children and youth.

SDC trusts PCBS, which is a solid and well experienced institution whose staff is highly professional and committed. PCBS works in in the West Bank and Gaza. Switzerland has been supported PCBS since 1995. This support is in line with Switzerland’s overall objective “to contribute to creating a democratic and viable State of Palestine”.

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For more information, please contact Mrs. Veronique Hulmann

Telephone: +972 2 545 2400 - Fax:  +972 2 582 37 57

E-mail:  gaza@eda.admin.ch