Support sustainable tourism through safeguarding, rehabilitation and promotion of the Agro-Cultural Landscape in Battir

About this project

After 1967, and in particular over the past two decades, this area witnessed the progressive establishment of several new settlements and their connecting infrastructure (i.e. roads, public service outputs), leading to the ‘enclavisation’ of the Battir area and surrounding villages (Hussan, Beit Jala and Wadi Fukin) and a new complex mobility system resulting from the separation of roads. Also, the recently constructed Separation Barrier that surrounds the Bethlehem urban area further isolates the Western Bethlehem Villages from the West Bank, the city of Bethlehem and even from each other. This situation has triggered a socio-economic crisis in the area characterized by agricultural livelihood decline (due to increasing transaction costs, poor market access for local products and expropriation of agricultural land), as well as reduced freshwater availability. This project has the double purpose of promoting sustainable tourism in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Battir through the rehabilitation and protection of its unique cultural landscape with millenary terrasses and irrigation system and to strengthen the sustainable production of agro-ecological varieties typical of the area, even from an economic standpoint, thanks to the efficient use of the natural resources of the area. The project provides training for women's associations and support for women-led farms.

Goals

Sustainable Development Goals this project works towards

• 2Zero Hunger
• 8Decent Work and Economic Growth
• 11Sustainable Cities and Communities
• 13Climate Action
• 15Life on Land

Published by

AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development · Government

Countries

Palestinian Territories

Sectors

Agricultural policy and administrative managementTourism policy and administrative managementSite preservation

Focus

Gender equality · Also contributesDisaster risk reduction · Also contributesEnvironment · Main focusGood governance · Also contributesTrade development · Also contributes

Funded by

AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development

Implemented by

UNESCO - ORGANIZZAZIONE DELLE NAZIONI UNITE PER L'EDUCAZIONE, LA SCIENZA E LA CULTURA

Accountable

AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development

Published by AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 5 Sept 2026 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: XM-DAC-6-4-012732-01-1.

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