Evaluation of Sweden’s support to the Human Rights Programme in Palestine 2018–2023

This report is an ‘Evaluation of Sweden’s Palestinian Human Rights Programme (2018-2023)’. The purpose of the evaluation was to
learn whether the programme design maximises opportunities to facilitate the work of Israeli and Palestinian non-government
organisations in defending human rights and to provide a broader audience with insights on the programme’s value. The evaluation
has examined whether the programme remains relevant despite changes to the context since 2005. It also assesses the
programme’s effectiveness, impact, efficiency and coherence and coordination.
The evaluators conclude that there is robust evidence that the programme remains relevant, effective, and efficient and it has
achieved impact at multiple levels. For example, it has improved the rights of some Palestinians (men, women, boys, and girls) to
family reunification, medical assistance, legal aid, protection, and livelihoods. It has improved Palestinian policies concerning child
rights. In an increasingly polarised environment, it has demonstrated the viability and value of Palestinian and Israeli organisations
working together on a shared agenda to keep the issue of Palestinian rights on the international agenda. It has provided high-quality
evidence to international bodies. Evidence generated by the programme continues to demonstrate a downward trajectory for human
rights in Palestine and a worrying trend of increasing impunity and disregard for international human rights and international
humanitarian law standards and norms – primarily by the State of Israel but also increasingly by Palestinian duty bearers.
This report recommends retaining current design features (core funding to a small group of internationally recognised Palestinian
and Israeli human rights organisations). It recommends continuing with the present funding modality with minor adjustments that
include: the need to continually assess and strengthen efforts to promote core human rights principles concerning gender equality
and non-discrimination; leveraging political dialogues for peer-to-peer learning on this issue as well as strategy and tactics; and
more efforts to ensure coherence between local support for human rights and support in international venues with other third party
states and coalitions.