View source for Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development

{{Short description|Israeli NGO promoting peace and development}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development
| abbreviation             = NISPED
| formation                = {{Start date and age|1997|df=yes}}
| founder                  = Dr. Yehuda Paz
| founding_location        = {{flag|Israel}}
| purpose                  = Promoting peace and development through education, training, and community projects
| location_country         = {{flag|Israel}}
| key_people               = {{Plainlist|*[[Vivian Silver]]
*[[Amal Elsana Alh'jooj]]}}
| affiliations             = [[Alliance for Middle East Peace]]
| awards                   = Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East (2011)
| website                  = https://ajeec-nisped.org.il/?page_id=17021&lang=en
}}

The '''Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development''' (NISPED) is a non-profit based in [[Israel]] which promotes peace and development through education, training, and community projects.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED) |url=https://www.annalindhfoundation.org/members/negev-institute-strategies-peace-and-development-nisped |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=www.annalindhfoundation.org |language=en}}</ref> It was founded in 1997 by Dr. Yehuda Paz.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2013 |title=Israeli Movement mourns the loss of a leading co-operator and campaigner for peace |url=https://www.ica.coop/en/media/news/israeli-movement-mourns-loss-leading-co-operator-and-campaigner-peace |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=ICA |language=en}}</ref>

NISPED has three major divisions: the Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJEEC), NISPED Middle East, and NISPED Cooperative Development.<ref name=":0" /> 

== History ==
NISPED was founded in 1997 by Dr. Yehuda Paz. Paz remained the chair of NISPED until his death in 2013.<ref name=":1" />

In 2011, co-executive directors of NISPED, [[Vivian Silver]] and [[Amal Elsana Alh'jooj]], received the Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East from the [[Institute of International Education]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prize Winners |url=https://www.iie.org/programs/victor-j-goldberg-prize/prize-winners/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=IIE - The Power of International Education |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation ==
The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation (AJEEC) focuses on peace and development projects within Israel and the [[Palestinian territories]], particularly among Arab-Bedouin communities in Israel.<ref name=":0" /> It was founded in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=אג'יק – מכון הנגב |url=https://ajeec-nisped.org.il/?page_id=17021&lang=en |access-date=2023-10-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> AJEEC is one of the largest civil society organizations in Israel.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Barry |date=2022-10-07 |title=Shabibat AJEEC: Connecting Jewish, Bedouin youth |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-718873 |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref> It is a member of the [[Alliance for Middle East Peace]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Our Members |url=https://www.allmep.org/about-us-allmep/members/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Alliance for Middle East Peace |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the 2000s, AJEEC began developing Co-operative Produce for Peace, which would see Palestinian and Israeli producers of cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and sweet potatoes working together in a cooperative. The project was suspended in 2007, following Hamas taking control of the [[Gaza Strip]] and the Israel government declaring a blockade on the border.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Voinea |first=Anca |date=2014-08-13 |title=The people-to-people approach to peace |url=https://www.thenews.coop/88705/topic/development/the-people-to-people-approach-to-peace/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Co-operative News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2009, AJEEC launched Joint Ventures for Peace in collaboration with the [[Shorouq Society for Women]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Chaitin |first=Julia |date=2009-11-07 |title=Women creating peace: joint venture for peace |url=https://globalsmenews.com/women-creating-peace-joint-venture-for-peace/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Global SME News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The project brought together Israeli and Palestinian women entrepreneurs and craftspeople, who underwent training together to grow their businesses outside of their home territories.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /> It was suspended during the [[2014 Gaza War]] due to logistical difficulties.<ref name=":3" /> 

In the mid-2010s, AJEEC did several studies in collaboration with the Green Land Society for Health on the recycling of e-waste in the West Bank, and its impact on worker's health and the environment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Anne |date=2017-08-09 |title=Scrap struggle in the Holy Land |url=https://resource-recycling.com/e-scrap/2017/08/09/scrap-struggle-holy-land/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=E-Scrap News |language=en-US}}</ref>

AJEEC has a youth division, called Shabibat AJEEC, founded in 2002 by Sliman Al Amor. It operates under the Ministry of Education, and serves around 7,000 people as of 2022. Originally focused on southern Israel, the initiative has spread to the rest of the country in recent years. Shabibat AJEEC does Arabic-language outreach to primarily Bedouin youth through after-school programs and activities. They also provide programs and opportunities for Bedouin and Jewish youth to interact in positive environments.<ref name=":2" /> 

== International work ==
NISPED has also launched programs outside of the Middle East. 

NISPED provided aid in Sri Lanka following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 tsunami]]. They continued to provide aid through 2007.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Paz |first=Shelly |date=2007-12-25 |title=Israel's post-tsunami work in Sri Lanka bears fruit |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/israels-post-tsunami-work-in-sri-lanka-bears-fruit |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

Another such project is Communities Prosper Together, which was launched in [[Cameroon]] in 2019. The project provides various job trainings to promote positive relations between ethnic groups and community resiliency.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Voinea |first=Anca |date=2022-03-11 |title=East Cameroon project brings together locals and refugees through co-ops |url=https://www.thenews.coop/160466/sector/agriculture/east-cameroon-project-brings-together-locals-and-refugees-through-co-ops/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Co-operative News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==

* [https://ajeec-nisped.org.il/?page_id=17021&lang=en AJEEC-NISPED official website]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Israel]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Israel]]
[[Category:Israeli–Palestinian joint economic efforts]]