Ambassador Tarja Kangaskorte, Head of the Representative Office of Finland, added that “It is a great honour for Finland to mark the launch of TARABOT II, now evolving into Palestine’s National Resilience and Development Facility. This Palestinian-owned and Palestinian-led initiative reflects our shared commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, advancing inclusive and gender-responsive national planning, and supporting the most vulnerable communities. Finland firmly believes that TARABOT II will boost socio-economic recovery, encourage clean and sustainable investment, and enhance climate resilience, ultimately contributing to a more self-reliant Palestinian economy. We remain dedicated to promoting transparency, equity and full participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and civil society, and we look forward to continued close cooperation with all partners in this important national effort.”

Dr. Stephan Salameh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, emphasized the Programme’s importance in supporting the resilience of Palestinian communities, highlighting its alignment with the Government’s development, recovery, and national priority frameworks. H.E stressed the need for robust coordination among local and international partners to strengthen sustainable development and ensure that Government priorities are translated into tangible results on the ground.

In his remarks, Mr. Jaco Cilliers, Special Representative of the UNDP Administrator, affirmed that TARABOT reflects UNDP’s commitment to strengthening national systems through evidence-based policymaking, integrated planning, and institutional coordination, while ensuring that resilience efforts respond to real needs and the lived realities of the Palestinian People. He pointed out that the Programme’s vision is shaped by the voices of families, youth, local producers, frontline workers, and community leaders, voices that guide priorities, interventions, and investments, making resilience-building a practical and human-centered pathway that responds to people’s needs and aspirations.

H.E Minister Sami Hajjawi, Minister of Local Government, also highlighted the programme’s role in supporting the local government units after clearly identifying their challenges and needs. He affirmed that the programme components dedicated to the local governance sector are fully aligned with the Ministry’s strategy and its reform agenda. Since the start of this government’s term, the Ministry has launched an extensive reform process aimed at empowering local government units, expanding their authorities, and ensuring their financial sustainability. The objective is to enable them to assume broader social and economic responsibilities, moving beyond the traditional service-delivery role to become leaders of social and economic development within their localities, while strengthening their engagement and networking with civil society and community-based institutions in their areas.

The launch event featured a presentation of the programme’s vision for its second phase, which seeks to reinforce local ownership, self-reliance, and national coordinated actions among the government entities and local and international partners, contributing to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Palestine.