The National Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip signed the memorandum of understanding with the German Agency for International Cooperation on Wednesday, to establish a framework for technical cooperation that supports recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Strip. This came according to a statement by the committee, which was established in January/January 2026, as a Palestinian transitional technocratic body responsible for managing public services, daily civil affairs, and recovery files.
The committee clarified that the memorandum was signed at its temporary headquarters in the Egyptian capital Cairo, in the presence of its Commissioner General Ali Shaa and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolai Mladenov. The memorandum establishes a flexible framework for technical cooperation in areas including economic recovery, institutional development, municipal services, social protection, education, employment, planning, and basic sectoral services including water, agriculture, and energy.
Under the memorandum, the German Agency provides technical expertise and specialized consultations, and contributes to needs assessment and capacity building, thereby supporting the work of the Planning and Implementation Unit and the Commissioner's Office within the National Committee. The statement quoted Shaa as saying that the memorandum complements ongoing efforts led by Palestinians in cooperation with international partners, emphasizing that implementation will be led by the committee according to urgent priorities and needs.
For his part, Shaa stressed the importance of translating the understanding into practical steps, reiterating the committee's commitment to working with its partners transparently and effectively. Last August, the committee held a meeting with UN agencies to coordinate early recovery plans. In late September last year, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) announced that recovery needs reached $71.5 billion at the beginning of 2026.
A joint assessment by the European Union and the United Nations had estimated recovery and reconstruction needs at approximately $71.4 billion over the next decade. The assessment stated that approximately $26.3 billion is required during the first 18 months, while physical damage to infrastructure was estimated at approximately $35.2 billion, and economic and social losses at approximately $22.7 billion.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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