The Palestinian Autonomy ranks 97^th (2010) in the HDI (Human Development Index) published by the UNDP, which annually monitors the social and economic development of countries around the world. The Palestinian Autonomy was created on the basis of the Oslo Accords of 1993 and the 1995 Interim Agreement signed in Washington. Its budget is largely based on foreign aid. The territory (Gaza Strip, West Bank) is inhabited by some 4m people. Due to the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict and internal power struggles, living conditions are extremely harsh. Since 2005, the Palestinian Autonomy has been a priority recipient of Polish foreign aid. In February 2009, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Palestinian National Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki signed a framework agreement on development cooperation between the MFA of the Republic of Poland and MFA of the Palestinian National Authority. The agreement provides for cooperation which will include technical support and scholarships, deliveries of goods, equipment, materials, services, payments towards the budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) and financing of development and/or humanitarian projects described in the Palestinian national strategic plans. This is the first such agreement signed by Poland and a development aid partner and Polish aid recipient. The full text of the Agreement is available on the Website:

2010

In 2010, over PLN 1.34m was channelled into the co-financing of aid projects for the Palestinian Autonomy. The following projects were implemented:

• Polish Centre for International Aid: "On the Milky Way to South Hebron: Linking Small Goat and Sheep Farmers from Bedouin Communities and the Local Dairy Production Cooperative in the Massafer Yatta, Hebron District, West Bank";
• Together Polska Foundation: "Youth Media Centre";
• Polish Humanitarian Organisation: "Development of Human Resources Through Social Activation of Children and Youth from Hebron District - Extra-Curricular Activities";
• Representative Office of Poland, Ramallah: "Promoting Cultural Diversity in Jerusalem by Supporting Activities Depicting Palestinian Culture", "Implementation and Purchase of Sports Equipment for the Qadura Fitness Park in Ramallah" and
  "Implementing, Equipping and Staffing of the Day-Care Room in the Bethlehem Children's Home";
• International Cooperation Offices of the National Border Guard Headquarters: "Trainings to Aid the Modernisation of the Palestinian Autonomy's Border Guard".

2009

In 2009, aid was provided in the following areas:

• developing human resources,
• developing rural areas and local communities,
• social projects,
• access to potable water.

In 2009, 8 projects were implemented with partial financing of over PLN 866 000.

These include:

"Fencers for Palestine" - a project implemented by the Tischner European University in cooperation with the Palestinian Fencing Federation (PFF), aimed at raising the qualifications of Palestinian fencers and fencing instructors, with whom the University has been cooperating since 2007. In the framework of the project, a Polish coach was in charge of the Palestinian national team, a sports camp was organised in Jordan, and equipment was purchased for sports clubs. One important element of this project was the popularisation of fencing by organising tournaments.
In 2010, a documentary film entitled "Fencers for Palestine" (dir. by Urszula Laskowska and Mateusz Mularski) was produced. The movie depicts the project's implementation in the Al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah, West Bank.

"Inaugurating Drama Classes in Schools and Youth Clubs in East Jerusalem" -  the Representative Office of Poland in Ramallah implemented this project in districts in East Jerusalem inhabited by Palestinian communities, which are extremely affected by their economic, cultural and social isolation from other areas inhabited by Palestinians (the West Bank and Gaza Strip). The aim of the project was to create youth drama groups to facilitate the process of self-identification and constitute a form of group therapy. The project's initiator and main implementing party was the Sanabel Theatre.

"Repair and Installation of Window Protection Systems in Wadi Al Hassin" - the Representative Office of Poland in Ramallah implemented a project to install window protection systems in several dozen houses in the Hebron area inhabited by Palestinians who were victims of acts of vandalism perpetrated by radical Israeli settlers.

"Trainings to Aid the Modernisation of the Palestinian Autonomy's Border Guard" - in response to Palestinian needs, the National Border Guard Headquarters implemented a project aimed at supporting Palestinian law enforcement agencies in preparing and implementing modern methods for building a national border protection system.

Additional aid for the Palestinian Autonomy (over PLN 1m) was provided in response to the appeal made by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).

2008

Polish development aid covered the following areas:

• increased access to potable water;
• healthcare;
• education.

In 2008, 3 projects were co-financed with over PLN 1m.

"Civil Palestine" - a joint undertaking of the Tischner European University and the Palestinian Vision partner organisation, aimed at activating youth, making creative use of youth potential, and implementing civil initiatives. The project culminated in the organisation of a Polish Day in Ramallah, which included a Polish-Palestinian friendship tournament in men's and women's épée fencing, and a festival in Bethlehem presenting the implemented activities.

"Improving Water Supply for Three Palestinian Schools in Bethlehem District, 2008" - a Polish Humanitarian Organisation Foundation project aimed at improving sanitary conditions and access to potable water in selected schools. In cooperation with the Environmental Education Centre - a local organisation - the project implemented trainings and workshops for pupils, staff, parents and representatives of local communities, devoted to environmental protection, agriculture, water economy and usage and maintenance of water purification stations.

"Developing Entrepreneurship Among Women - Small Animals, Big Value: Rearing of Animals and Production of Dairy Products by Women in the Palestinian Autonomy, 2008" - a Polish Humanitarian Organisation Foundation project aimed at developing a dairy production cooperative operated by impoverished women from rural areas around Hebron. Apart from professional consultations and trainings, the initiative consisted of the purchase of professional dairy processing equipment, which enabled mass production. During the term of the project, its beneficiaries were helped by staff from the local partner, the Palestinian organisation Shorouq. Additional aid was provided to the Palestinian Autonomy by transferring funds towards multilateral initiatives: the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan Trust Fund PRDP-TF (USD 500 000) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - UNWRA (USD 150 000).