21 Sheikh Jarrah-Issawiya Road, Ard Assamar
Jerusalem
Palestinian Territories
- Youth and education
IPCC is a Palestinian NGO, policy research think tank, and an expert in urban planning and development that has been established in East Jerusalem. IPCC’s aim is to enhance the capabilities of Palestinians so that they are able to meet the challenges of building a democratic and participatory civil society, and support the development of a highly informed, competent, and active Palestinian civil society capable of defending its social, economic and political rights. Towards achieving this goal, IPCC has developed and employed an integrated approach comprising of research, urbanism, as well as community engagement and training.
In executing projects, IPCC typically partners with other stakeholders in Palestine’s future. They include:
NGOs, civil society and community based organizations in Palestine. Additionally, IPCC link with international organizations that are interested in peace in the Middle East, as well as in other areas of conflict resolution.
Mission
IPCC support the development of a highly informed, competent and active Palestinian civil society which energizes an urban participatory democracy and which is capable of defending its social, economic and political rights through an integrated approach of research, urbanism, community engagement and training
The Center’s Objectives
1-Developing self-capabilities of the youth, children, women and labor movements.
2-Implementing programs aimed at fostering democracy, civic society and the culture of peace.
3-Establishing relations with peace forces respecting the Palestinian people as a counterpart in peace building, and an important element without which peace and stability cannot be achieved. The mechanisms of these relations are to be set in accordance with the Palestinian national interests, provided they achieve equality and balance, and contribute positively to the building of a democratic civic society.
4-Establishing twin ships and undertaking joint projects with centers and organizations similar to IPCC.
5-Enhancing regional cooperation in issues of common interest.
Building relations with fellow Palestinian nongovernmental institutions fulfilling IPCC’s priority objectives.
Research/publication:
Since 1998 IPCC has been monitoring the urban, political, economic, geographic, and social developments in Jerusalem and its hinterland. The knowledge data base consists of books, policy and position papers, maps, images and guidelines for sector development. IPCC today has 23 publications 18 of which belong to a series on Jerusalem Strategic Planning. These publications are distributed to a broad array of local, national and international decision-makers within governmental and NGO organizations
Projects
Urban Planning
The International Peace and Cooperation Center has created the first multidisciplinary Palestinian planning team to deal with strategic and urban planning in Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank
East Jerusalem
Since 2007, IPCC has been working to sustain and empower the Palestinian livelihood in East Jerusalem through urban planning of Palestinian neighborhoods. Specifically the planning serves to improve living conditions, develop affordable housing solutions, curb Palestinian emigration, empower Palestinian middle class families, develop infrastructure and services, and strengthen the Palestinian economy, save "unlicensed" buildings from demolition, increase building rights and provide expansion areas for new neighborhoods.
Through three projects funded by EU and UK Consulate General and Belgium government, IPCC is engaged in planning intervention in 18 neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. The projects provide planning programs and physical plans at outline and detailed levels. In total, IPCC has frozen the risk of demolition for 5,000 residential units as well as create a potential of development for around 4,500 new residential units in East Jerusalem. IPCC succeeded also in getting approvals from municipality to open files for neighborhoods, where six files are opened till now.
Area C
IPCC provides professional planning assistance to Palestinian communities in Area C of the West Bank. With less than 1% of Area C having authorized plans and a planning system aimed at restricting Palestinian development and offering no Palestinian representation, IPCC has established grassroots planning initiatives, enabling local communities to plan their own development and legally object to the Israeli authority's planning proposals. The work, which began in 2009, has provided 63 localities covering 45,780 residents, with physical plans and planning regulations, which provide suitable development opportunities based on 2030 population projections.
Capacity Building
Design Studio
Last year IPCC established a design studio to provide expert urban design services for planning projects in East Jerusalem focusing on housing and public space.
In addition the studio offers training programs for young Palestinian professionals and students in the fields of architecture, planning and urban design.
Supporting Civil society development
IPCC has a strong civil society department that focuses on two main tracks:
Urban Leadership
IPCC is the first organization to consider and integrate proper and real public participation and Palestinian involvement in neighborhood planning and has thus become a known and respected actor in the Palestinian community. For the past six years, IPCC has been supporting and training civil society, community activists, informal leaders and business people at the local and community level. To date, IPCC has trained over 350 community representatives from over 140 municipal, local and joint services councils.
Women and Youth
IPCC focuses on involving and promoting the participation of women, youth and other indigenous groups through specifically developed and designed projects that fulfill this purpose; youth leadership through which IPCC believes that true transformation is attained through the vision and efforts of vibrant young leaders that look beyond conformities.
IPCC is willing to have meetings with network and work on projects together
Joining ALF network will allow IPCC to apply for proposals and by this way to have a chance to work in support with well known organization