The Palestine Research Unit (PRU) was an interdisciplinary team working on the Palestine – Israel conflict and the role and impact of international aid on the living conditions of the concerned populations. It was affiliated with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva (IHEID) and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP).
The PRU was established in 2000 thanks to the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) and the funding of UNDP, UNOCHA, UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO. It worked in cooperation with the Palestinian National Authority , the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the Palestinian Ministry of Planning, the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre (JMCC), and other local partners.
To foster applied research in Palestine on socio-economic conditions of the civilian population during the second Intifada and on the impact of aid
To develop a model for monitoring the evolution of the socio economic living conditions that is applicable in regions other then Palestine
To be a focal point for the exchange of information for researchers, political decisions makers and other stakeholders working on the Palestine – Israel conflict and on the Near East
Applied research: Development and implementation of regular public opinion polls
Training: Organisation of specialised training sessions on topics related to the monitoring instruments for development and humanitarian work
Teaching: The experiences of the PRU were used as source for teaching classes on development aid and conflict at the Graduate Institute for Development Studies
Information sharing: Through the publication of research reports but also by organising round-tables and debates on the Palestine-Israel conflict, the PRU aimed at raising the awareness about key issues related to the Palestine- Israel conflict but also to the relation between conflicts and international assistance
