The Ministry of Agriculture and partner institutions hold the fourth session of the Higher Steering Committee for the Palestinian Agricultural Insurance Development and Sustainability Project, coinciding with a workshop to exchange lessons learned.

Ramallah: August 12, 2026

The Ministry of Agriculture, headed by Undersecretary Eng. Bader Al-Hawamdeh, held the fourth session of the Steering Committee and a workshop for exchanging lessons learned on "Building Palestinian Agricultural Insurance Systems and Services" project. The meeting was convened at the invitation of Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural Aid and Insurance, Ms. Adiba Musleh, and included representatives from relevant institutions and partners. The aim was to review the project's outputs and achievements, and to discuss future priorities for developing and sustaining agricultural insurance in Palestine.

Al-Hawamdeh emphasized the importance of effective partnership, cooperation, and coordination between the public and private sectors and relevant institutions to serve the agricultural sector and Palestinian farmers. He noted that the Ministry's efforts in this area are in line with the directives of the Minister of Agriculture, to strengthen partnerships and develop support tools for farmers. He commended the role of the European Union, Oxfam, the Palestinian Center for Economic and Social Development, and Al-Baraka Islamic Insurance Company in the success of the agricultural insurance pilot program and their continued efforts to institutionalize it. He stressed that developing this system will contribute to revitalizing and supporting agricultural production, especially given the current circumstances where Palestinian farmers are in dire need of support.

The meeting included representatives from the European Union, Oxfam, Al Baraka Islamic Insurance Company, the Palestinian Center for Economic and Social Development, the General Union of Palestinian Farmers, the Federation of Farmers' Associations, the Palestinian Federation of Insurance Companies, and the Agricultural Aid and Insurance Sector. Participants discussed the project's key outcomes and achievements in developing frameworks, systems, and services related to agricultural insurance, including technical and institutional aspects and capacity building. They also reviewed experiences, lessons learned, and challenges encountered during project implementation, aiming to leverage these experiences to improve future work mechanisms.

The attendees emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between the Ministry of Agriculture, governmental institutions, the private sector, donors, farmers' representatives, and insurance companies. This collaboration is crucial for building a more effective and sustainable agricultural insurance system that enhances farmers' ability to cope with risks and losses in the agricultural sector. They also stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts, identifying priorities and future needs for sector development, and capitalizing on the project's outcomes and lessons learned. The workshop concluded with the importance of continuing efforts towards institutionalizing and sustaining agricultural insurance, which enhances the protection of the Palestinian farmer, supports his resilience and the continuity of agricultural production, and contributes to providing more effective tools to deal with the risks facing the agricultural sector under the current circumstances.