Assessing the effects of aid donor conditions on human rights in Palestine. What are the opportunities for achieving a more rights-based aid system?

Abstract

In The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) the extreme dependency on aid which pours in in vast quantities renders a critical discussion of the aid model in this region, with respect to upholding human rights, essential. Firstly, this study seeks to look at the impact of international donor aid, specifically the donor conditions imposed with aid, on the human rights of aid recipients in the OPT. Further, it discusses the notions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ aid and concludes that the lack of ‘good’ aid is due to a failure of effective accountability mechanisms. International aid donors are not being held accountable for their actions or their complicity in Israeli violations of Palestinian rights. Secondly, this study will explore how the human rights framework could be used to strengthen accountability mechanisms and achieve a more rights-based aid system. This research constitutes an in-depth ethnographic study employing key informant interviews carried out during field work and building on participant observation that began two years ago. The approaches followed are that of critical activist research and critical social science. The study concludes with some recommendations for further research, policy and practice in for humanitarian and development practitioners and aid donors.