PFU firstly identifies its central problems of (socio)economic nature to be caused by lack of experience and skills at both central and farmers association. The intervention logic of a 2-year project approach is given under the Overall Objective “To empower PFU and its member farmers associations by improving their role in the agricultural and rural sector, up to a stage where both can defend farmers’ rights and FAs become economically self-reliant.“ PFU carries out the project activities along two lines: (1) capacity building and (2) income generating projects for four FAs. A budget for approx 23 trainings is provided: equal to project budget submitted. The economic project, to be carried out by four already selected farmers association, will provisionally take-off in mid-2009, after approval of the first project. For this reason, the economic projects will continue in a next proposal. A project committee of eight permanent staff developed and supervises a project cycle and coordinates all activities within the project described. As regards monitoring and evaluation, the specific objectives on organization capacity building, expected results, indicators, M&E process table including indicator measurement and all activities are all neatly presented. Target group are 29 PFU headquarters and farmers associations staff, members of FAs Boards; 10.068 individual members of 16 FAs. 30% female beneficiaries are claimed. The project activities at association level will be step by step integrated in eight permanent economic programmes of PFU in order to assure their sustainability.

The Palestinian Farmers Union was established in 1993 and it was registered by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. PFU reaches 16 farmers' associations all over Palestinian districts, who are also project beneficiaries: 11 in West Bank and 5 in Gaza strip. These are targeted in this project and reach more than 9.800 member farmers (of whom 15% women). Furthermore PFU reaches about 60 farmers' cooperatives, including 3.040 members. These are active in a.o. grape and palm date cultivation, organic olive oil and other food processing, sheep, beekeeping, protected cultivation, savings and credit and agricultural development (among these are 10 women cooperatives). PFU is regarded as eligible partner to IFAP with a genuine member base-structure and a significant membership base. A prospection mission (June 2007) followed by RPO quick scan (Sept 2007) mark the departure point for project collaboration. The mission enabled assessment of PFU character and outlines, but did yet not lead to further elaboration of the first proposal. Further liaison has lead to a focused proposal now presented to Agriterra for funding. PFU wants to represent Palestinian farmers and assist them in becoming able to defend their rights and benefits and to share actively in the national development of an independent democratic state. As reads the proposal (as derived from more complex wordings - JBO): the general project objective is “to strengthen the PFU structure and empowering the member regional farmers associations through training [ ….. ] to become an important sustainable force in the center of the agricultural and rural sector [ … ] to improve their capacities and infrastructure [ … ] to lead farmers towards their benefits and rights “.