About NIED
National Institute for Environment and Development (NIED) is a joint-stock limited liability organization established in 2015. The institute is one of the first organizations in Middle East to demonstrate a developmental and environmental nature whose core work is the environment and health-focused projects in parallel with social, economic, and managerial plans, projects, and programs. NIED endeavors to assume an effective role in developing all aspects of life in Palestine and in the Gaza Strip particularly through protecting the environment and its components..
Achievements of NIED in Figures
Vision
The institute seeks to attain a high and distinctive rank locally and internationally through a clear vision and lofty objectives. It aspires to assume the role of a leading and central organization that wins the trust of all stakeholders. NIED shoulders the responsibility of implementing all projects, programs, activities, and interventions pertaining to the environment and public health under sustainable development projects that aim to develop individual and collective performance in different fields: management, strategic planning, economy, accounting, society, and family development. While conducting activities, NIED puts into consideration local and international quality-assurance standards and the utilization of technology.
Dr. Ahmed H. Hilles
Head of NIED
Mission
NIED places faith in humans, individually and collectively, and in their awareness and culture. It also believes in the activities and interventions of a human as an essential pillar for development and progress. In addition, NIED values the importance of a healthy environment, its different components and natural resources, which has to be protected from pollution or degradation and secured for the future generations; thus, all can live healthily and enjoy a decent life with social justice and balanced economy.
Objectives
Key Objective :
The key objective of NIED is the improvement of the life of a Palestinian individual through enhancing the concepts of sustainable development that protect the environment and all of its components, ensure economic development and prosperity, and safeguard social justice and stability. The Institute accomplishes its primary objective through the implementation of all kinds of developmental projects and emergency and non-emergency appeals utilizing the best tools and methods compatible with technological advances and after a thorough study for available recourses and capabilities.
Special Objectives :
NIED has many special objectives set up to achieve the institute’s key objective, which include:
Being a leading institution that incubates highly competent staff and professional
Preparing competent staffs and professional experts who are qualified to work
Enhancing the performance and developing plans
Reserving the limited environmental and water resources
Promoting and enhancing human rights and providing protection to the most vulnerable groups
Activating and enhancing the role of women and youth in development
Principles
NIED adopts basic principles derived from its vision, mission, and objectives, to develop, mentor, and implement projects, programs, and interventions, which are:
1- Respecting human rights and enhancing the concepts and principles of social protection for the most vulnerable groups that suffer from an increasing marginalization, including children, women, disabled persons, and elderly people.
2 – Giving urgent priority to the development of human resources and energies through promoting positive cultural values, heightening social awareness, and enhancing effective participation of all social groups, given that NIED believes in the role of individuals and families to develop the present and future of society.
3 – Demonstrating a profound belief in the importance of developing the capacities of staffs at local institutions, including public and private ones, as this leads to an enormous and effective enhancement at the level of performance and delivered services.
4 – Paying special attention to devising plans and strategies, conducting needs assessment studies and carrying out field and scientific surveys needed to improve the work mechanisms of projects and organizations. Furthermore, such studies facilitate the best utilization of available resources and capabilities, thus ensuring the most possible performance.
5 – Expressing full and unconditional belief in the role of the law to organize and enhance performance in addition to protecting rights and prompting people to honor duties among society within institutional and social work for achieving prosperity and development.
6 – Believing in the critical role of women, who are the half of society, and youth, the pillars of the future, in development within the projects, programs, and interventions that NIED seeks to implement responsibly.
7 – Enhancing the trust and respect of partners and friendly organizations on a continual basis through demonstrating high-quality and solid performance of a competent administration and professional team compatible with modern standards.
Documentary Movies and International Media Programs:
More than 300 videos of interviews via international TVs talking about many environmental topics and issues locally and globally, as shown in the following YouTube Channel:
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Dr. Ahmed Hilles, President of NIED
Social Responsibility
NIED shoulders a social responsibility towards the Palestinian society and believes that all efforts should be consolidated to develop the environmental and health situation in Palestine. Out of social responsibility, NIED thinks that it has to enhance the performance and working conditions of institutions, thus bringing about a positive and direct impact on people’s lives. Therefore, NIED seeks to implement activities, projects, awareness-raising, cultural, and developmental programs. All of these activities target society and all social groups; therefore, they are intended to make a tangible and sustainable impact on society in order to open gates of a bright future for creativity and innovation, eventually
Eco-friendly performance and green safeguards (sustainable development)
As an environment and development institution, it is essential that we work to minimize our environmental impacts and foster a healthy work environment. We recognize our responsibility to embrace environmentally friendly practices and strive to make sustainable practices toward a green economy and sustainable development that enhance the consumption of natural resources and prevent all types of pollution in order to preserve the healthy life for the current and future generations as same. According to the believes and attitudes of NIED toward the environment, the basic environmental concerns and practices of NIED include:
Energy Considerations:
– Using natural light and ventilation where possible.
– Main energy in NIED offices is solar (clean and renewable).
Waste Generation and Resources Consumption:
– Minimizing paper usage, primarily through the increasing sophistication of creating, exchanging, and archiving electronic documents.
– Re-using paper wherever possible.
Eco-friendly Performance/Greening of Practices (reducing GHG emissions):
– Obtaining materials/products locally when available to reduce transportation
– Favoring purchasing environmentally friendly products.
Local and International Initiatives
Impact Assessment of the Israeli War on the Gaza Strip 2021. Community-based Initiative implemented by the National Institute for Environment and Development (NIED) in cooperation with international expert, to assess the effects of the last war on the different sectors (Environment, Water, Energy, Soil, Agriculture, Air, Sea, Infrastructure). June/2021.
Translation of one of the most common international reference in the field of environment: Environmental Science: Toward A Sustainable Future, Books a la Carte Edition 13th Edition, by Richard Wright (Author), Dorothy Boorse (Author). 2/2021.
First and biggest Environmental Christmas Tree (Recycle and Light it) in the Gaza Strip, made by recyclable handcrafts and decoration items, implemented by NIED in cooperation with AMIDEAST (Success program), 26/12/2019.
Biggest initiative for Encouraging the people to keep their streets clean called: Balash Al-Ard Initiative, Funded by Islamic Relief Palestine, in cooperation with NIED, Green Knowledge Community (GKC), Ahdaf team and Joint Service Council for Solid Waste Management (JSCGN), 28 days, started on: June 18, 2019 and ended by July 13, 2019.
The first and biggest initiative of cleaning and rehabilitation of Gaza Marina (seaport and beach area), as supervisor/consultant, many activities were involved in the initiative, sponsored by Islamic Relief-Palestine, 12/2018.
Hackathon/creative ideas and projects and environmental initiatives (as a mentor), sponsored by Palestinian Higher Council for Innovation & Excellence, in cooperation with University of Palestine, 11/2018.
Organizational Structure and Staff of NIED
The major executive team of NIED consists of competent of experts and specialists who hold high academic degrees and enjoy a wide, professional, and hands-on experience. The executive team shoulders the responsibility of implementing daily tasks and following up work at the institute. Furthermore, the team members demonstrate advanced and professional skills, the fact making them capable of handling large-scale projects, programs, and tasks professionally and competently. The executive team of NIED consists of:
- The director general.
- Projects and programs’ coordinators.
- Secretary and public relations officers.
- Administrative and financial affairs officers.
NIED maintains good relationships with a big number of experts and specialists with whom the institute reciprocate trust and respect besides years of partnership. NIED works with specialists under clear contracts and hires them, upon request, to work on projects, which need specialized and rare knowledge or skills. Moreover, such specialists enjoy experience and competence in different fields of study, such as:
- Business management, strategic planning, and building up structures of different institutions.
- Accounting, commerce, and financial affairs.
- Life skills, human development, and capacity building.
- Architecture, applied sciences, and infrastructure enhancement.
- Humanities, social sciences, psychology, and sociology.
- Project evaluation and assessment, surveys, reporting, and feasibility studies.
NIED keeps contact with a number of specialists and experts in different fields whose job is developing the performance of the institute and the quality of delivered services. The same team is responsible for enhancing the work mechanisms of the institute compatible with advanced techniques and modern standards, when needed. The responsibilities of the performance enhancement team cover the following aspects:
- Computer and information technology.
- Translation, editing, and proofreading.
- Management, accounting, and development plans.
- Strategic planning and developing project proposals.
NIED has developed strong relations with a big number of consultancy offices and organizations that carry out specialized tasks. The institute contracts such bodies, when necessary, to implement certain projects and to ensure high-quality and professional achievement within a project timeframe.
NIED’s Staff
NIED’s Experience :
Programs and projects that have been conducted by the institute’s staff:
NIED’s staff has conducted a big number of projects and developmental interventions in different fields. The staff has implemented all of these projects in cooperation with a set international, regional, and governmental and non-governmental institutions. Moreover, all of the previously conducted projects had developmental, architectural, awareness-raising, social, or institutional nature. Notwithstanding the relief projects and programs, some of the NIED-carried out projects were focused on infrastructural or constructional development.
NIED’s Scope Of Work
The environment and natural resources
-Management of the water sector.
-Integrated management of solid and hazardous waste.
Public health and personal hygiene
-Public health and social hygiene.
-Personal hygiene.
-Food security and healthy food.
Management, economy, evaluation, and following-up
-Management, evaluation, and following-up on the implementation of projects and programs.
Family development and building up society
-Environmental and social surveys.
-Awareness-raising and cultural values-promoting programs.
Scientific research and surveys
-Conducting scientific researches and surveys.
-Developing references and sources on NIED’s core work.
Training and capacity building
-Conducting all kinds of training: specialized or general training programs.
-Preparing training and scientific materials for a target group.
NIED’s International and Local Partnerships
International Partners
Local Partners
Our Projects
Training Programs
Local and International Conferences and Workshops
Humanitarian Projects and Interventions
Water Projects :
The Project Overview: Desalination plants for brackish / groundwater with a production capacity of up to 15,000 liters of healthy, safe freshwater per day compatible with World Health Organization (WHO) standards and funded by PI O U S Projects. Drilling a water well with a depth of approximately 70m. The plant includes a chemical disinfection (chlorination) unit to ensure 100% clean water.
The Project Overview: Distributing and filling water tanks in the marginalized areas, and the border ones which are overpopulated in the Gaza Strip, funded by HEROIC HEARTS.
This has been achieved by contracting with healthy clean water suppliers, water distribution companies, with taking into account the commitment to the standards of WHO.
The Project Overview: Distributing and filling water tanks in the marginalized areas, and the border ones which are overpopulated in the Gaza Strip, funded by HEROIC HEARTS.
This has been achieved by contracting with healthy clean water suppliers, water distribution companies, with taking into account the commitment to the standards of WHO.
Food Security and Living Program :
The Project Overview: Distributing food parcels on all governorates of Gaza, funded by PIOUS& HEROIC. The parcels included a set of essential and nutritional requirements, such as canning, oils, legumes, rice, etc. Thus, the living conditions have been improved, and the sound nutrition has been provided to the marginalized families. Moreover, food parcels have been distributed fairly and systematically to ensure reaching the assistance to the most deserved category in the best possible way.
The Project Overview: Distributing meat/Odheia (Qurbani) on the law-income families in the Gaza Strip (poor people), funded by PIOUS Projects foundation, and in partnership with civil society organizations distributed along the whole Gaza Strip.
The Project Overview: Distribution of hot meals on the low-income families in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and Nablus, funded by PIOUS & HEROIC, and in cooperation with local institutions. These meals contain healthy food integration of carbohydrates and vitamins to give family members an integrated healthy meal containing the nutrients necessary to build healthy bodies.
Winter and Educational Assistance Program :
The Project Overview: Distributing winter and educational aid, funded by PIOUS, and in partnership with the civil society institutions in all the governorates of the Gaza Strip. Many law-income families have been targeted in these areas to meet their needs during winter, and to ensure the progress of their educational career.
Home Rehabilitation Program :
The Project Overview: Houses rehabilitation and restoration project, funded by PIOUS foundation, aims at restoring the dilapidated houses lacking minimum conditions to protect residents, and provide basic comfort in addition to the houses that lack adequate bathing, cooking, or toilet facilities.
Orphan Sponsorship Program :
The Project Overview: Distributing 298 sureties (money) for orphans in all governorates of Gaza, funded by PIOUS foundation, to provide care and support for children who lost one or both of their parents. This program also aims to improve orphanage conditions and insure their basic needs. Moreover, a special party is held for orphans to show them a kind of interest and care, and to enhance the spirit of solidarity and love in the society. It also includes folkloric shows, different entertainment games, and contests to encourage children to participate and interact. In addition, sureties are distributed during the party.
Health Care :
Assessment For WASH in Health Facilities Interventions of the project: "Supporting WASH services to ensure continuity of health care during pandemics and emergencies, as well as the repair of community WASH infrastructure damaged during the conflict, while strengthening the impact of the Cash Working Group in the Gaza Strip