The Palestine American Medical Association (PAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme/ Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) signed three agreements valued at US$2 million, aimed at strengthening emergency healthcare and restoring higher education in the State of Palestine.
The agreements were signed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, represented by H.E. Dr. Majed Abu Ramadan, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, represented by H.E. Dr. Amjad Barham, during a high-level ceremony held in Ramallah. The event was attended by both ministers, alongside Mr. Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator; Prof. Rania Abu Seir, PAMA Country Director and Executive Director; and Dr. Mustafa Musleh, PAMA President, who joined virtually. Also in attendance were government counterparts, donors, and partners from the health and education sectors.
Dr. Mustafa Musleh, PAMA President, said: “This latest collaboration builds on our longstanding partnership with UNDP to strengthen health system resilience and medical workforce capacity in Palestine. Through targeted interventions, including critical care training in collaboration with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), emergency support to hospitals in Jenin and Halhoul, and the restoration of specific higher education pathways in Gaza, we aim to ensure the continuity of essential services in communities facing destruction, displacement, and deep humanitarian need. Despite the severe restrictions on aid to Gaza, we remain committed to reaching patients with the care they deserve and to supporting the professionals who serve them under the most difficult conditions.”
Prof. Rania Abu Seir, PAMA Country Director and Executive Director, confirmed: “In Palestine today, healthcare is more than a system; it is where resilience meets daily reality. These projects are not just about budgets or numbers; they’re about people, patients clinging to life, students holding onto dreams, and healthcare workers showing up every day despite everything. With our partners at UNDP and alongside the Ministries of Health and Higher Education, we’re not just meeting urgent needs, we’re choosing hope, protecting dignity, and standing up for every Palestinian’s right to care, to learn, and to live with safety and purpose.”
Mr. Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator, emphasized the significance of the agreements: “The signing today goes beyond emergency support; the agreements represent long-term investments in the resilience of the Palestinian people and the systems that serve them. Aligned with national priorities and implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, these agreements are a practical step toward protecting essential services, supporting national institutions, and laying the foundations for recovery, stability, and inclusive development.”
During his remarks, H.E. Dr. Majed Abu Ramadan, Minister of Health, expressed his gratitude, he said: "At this critical juncture, as we jointly sign a new package of agreements, we are not merely concluding administrative agreements; we are renewing a profound moral and national commitment to the Palestinian people, to the patient, the physician, the paramedic, the nurse, and every citizen who confronts death with dignity in Jenin, Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis, Nablus, Halhoul, and across all corners of our blessed land. This tripartite partnership between the Palestine American Medical Association (PAMA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education stands as a powerful expression of human solidarity, translating a shared conviction that healthcare and education are fundamental pillars of Palestinian resilience and national sovereignty."
On behalf of H.E. Dr. Amjad Barham, Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Nafe' Assaf, Deputy Minister, emphasized the importance of these agreements. He said: “These agreements will play an important role in empowering and supporting medical students in Gaza to continue their educational journey, graduate, and contribute to the healthcare sector with the qualified professionals the Palestinian community urgently needs, particularly in light of the immense challenges facing Gaza’s health system due to the war. We are very proud of the partnership with the Palestine American Medical Association (PAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and their support for efforts to sustain education in Gaza. The Ministry is committed to enhancing the quality of medical education, contributing to the development of capable Palestinian medical professionals who can meet the needs of the health sector and ensure better healthcare services for the Palestinian people.”
Since October 2024, the partnership between PAMA and UNDP has grown significantly. With the signing of these new financing agreements, our joint portfolio now totals US$10 million—marking a major milestone in our shared mission to strengthen healthcare and higher education in Palestine. By channeling resources through TARABOT’s Relief and Recovery Windows, this partnership bridges urgent humanitarian response with long-term development support, fully aligned with nationally defined priorities.
