São Paulo – The World Bank should work on improvement of living conditions for women in Palestine and promote more inclusive development. “Women the world over are still fighting for change, but Palestinian women face economic and political challenges that make this battle even harder,” declared Caroline Anstey, director general at the organisation in a three-day visit to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to a statement disclosed on Wednesday (15) by the institution.
According to a press statement disclosed by the World Bank, during her visit, Anstey visited several projects supported by the institution, as well as meeting with representatives of the Palestinian National Authority, the civil society and donors.
On visiting Ramallah, Anstey met with a group of women engaged in the development of the Palestinian society. “Today I was inspired by the extraordinarily motivated and empowered women I met. The World Bank is determined to ensure that the work we do here advances gender development in a meaningful and measurable way,” she said, according to the press statement.
Anstey also visited the University of Hebron, where she discussed a programme for the training of professors developed to help the Palestinian National Authority increase the quality of education in the country. In Gaza, the World Bank director met with students from a graphic arts technical institute.
“This was an invaluable opportunity to learn first-hand about the development challenges Palestinians face every day,” said Anstey. “The Bank’s assistance to the Palestinians includes a variety of projects. What they have in common, though, is that they are all designed to reduce external dependence on aid through investment in the skills and talents of Palestinians,” she added.
*Translated by Mark Ament