Sector Working Groups (SWGs) are key part of Palestine’s aid management structure. They strengthen sector-specific and technical policy dialogue and exchange of information between all relevant stakeholders. SWGs bring together Government of Palestine (GoP), international and local, funding, implementing and other stakeholders with expertise in the specific sector in support of the wider Aid Framework Objectives. They report to the Donor Coordination Group - Heads of Cooperation (DCG HoCs) group. They may also be called to provide evidence to the DCG HoCs and Aid Coordination Platform (ACP), as needed.
SWGs are chaired by the relevant Line Ministry or Agency (LMA), with a key partner serving as deputy chair, and a key technical organization serving as Technical Advisor. SWGs are designed to ensure that contributions are aligned with the Palestinian National Development Plan (NDP) and sector-specific strategies, to identify funding gaps and avoid duplications, and that all relevant government institutions, development partners, NGOs, CSOs, the private sector and other stakeholders are represented and able to contribute to key discussions within the sector.
Membership of the SWG is limited to a number of representatives from partner institutions, UN agencies, the Palestinian government, the private sector and civil society. SWGs should meet 3-4 times a year.
The main deliverables of the SWGs include:
- Coordination between Partners, and with GoP within a sector (or on a specific issue, as needed).
- Discussion of key sectoral issues, opportunities, and challenges, including both policy and activity responses.
- Review of expenditures and learning from activities of all stakeholders.
- Present/provide evidence to DAG HoCs and the ACP.
The aid coordination structure currently includes 22 SWGs:
Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWG):
- Chair: Ministry of Agriculture
- Deputy Chair: Spain
- Technical Advisor: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Anti-Corruption Sector Working Group (ACSWG):
- Chair: Palestinian Anti-Corruption Committee (PACC)
- Deputy Chair: EUREP
- Technical Assistants: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and EUPOL COPPS
Culture and Tourism Sector Working Group (CTSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Culture
- Deputy Chair: Norway
- Technical Advisor: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) & United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Digital Economy Sector Working Group (DESWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy
- Deputy Chair: Enabel
- Technical Advisor: World Bank
Education and Higher Education Sector Working Group (EHSWG):
- Chair: Ministry of Education and Higher Education
- Deputy Chair: Ireland & EU
- Technical Advisor: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Elections Ad Hoc Working Group (EAHWG):
Energy Sector Working Group (Energy SWG)
- Chair: Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA)
- Deputy Chair: Norway
- Technical Advisor: World Bank
Entrepreneurship and Empowerment SWG (EESWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Labor (MoL)
- Deputy Chair: Belgium
- Technical Advisor: ILO
Environment Sector Working Group (EnvSWG):
- Chair: Environment Quality Authority (EQA)
- Deputy Chair: EU
- Technical Advisor: United Nations Development Agency (UNDP)
Fiscal and Public Financial Management Sector Working Group:
- Chair: Ministry of Finance
- Deputy Chair: United Kingdom (UK)
- Technical Advisor: World Bank
Gender Sector Working Group (GSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA)
- Deputy Chair: AICS/Italy
- Technical Advisor: UN Women
Health Sector Working Group (HSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Health (MoH)
- Deputy Chair: AICS/Italy
- Technical Advisor: World Health Organization (WHO)
Justice Sector Working Group (JSWG):
- Chair: Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
- Deputy Chair: EUREP
- Technical Advisor: EUPOL COPPS and UNDP
Labor Sector Working Group (LSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Labor (MoL)
- Deputy Chair: Belgium
- Technical Advisor: International Labor Organization (ILO)
Land Management and Administration Sector Working Group (LMASWG):
- Chair: Palestinian Land Authority (PLA)
- Deputy Chair: World Bank
- Technical Advisor: UN Habitat
Local Government Sector Working Group (LGSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Local Government (MoLG)
- Deputy Chair: Denmark
- Technical Advisor: World Bank
Private Sector and Trade Sector Working Group (PSTSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of National Economy (MoNE)
- Deputy Chair: World Bank
- Technical Advisor: EUREP
Security Sector Working Group (SSWG):
- Chair: Ministry of Interior (MoI)
- Deputy Chair: UK - OSC
- Technical Advisors: EUPOL COPPS and BST
Social Protection Sector Working Group (SPSWG)
- Chair: Ministry of Social Development (MoSD)
- Deputy Chair: EUREP
- Technical Advisor: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Water and Sanitation Sector Working Group (WSWG)
- Chair: Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)
- Deputy Chair: The Netherlands
- Technical Advisor: World Bank
