Established in 2006 as an independent non-profit nongovernmental organization, the NGO Development Center (NDC) provides financial and technical support to NGOs through its various programs and grant-making schemes. The Human Rights and Good Governance (HR/GG) Secretariat is one of NDC’s main programs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt).
In July 2008, four European donors (Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands) and following a bidding process, entrusted NDC with the establishment and management of the Human Rights and Good Governance Secretariat. The funding which comes solely from the four donors is a continuation of the donors support to the sector. It aims to harmonize and channel financial and technical assistance in a transparent and effective manner through a joint donor funding mechanism, the Secretariat.
The grant component of the HR/GG program targets Palestinian and Israeli NGOs which promote, support, protect, and monitor the observance of human rights and good governance in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). NGOs that receive funding are selected competitively based on advertised eligibility criteria and guidelines set by the donors, and following a rigorous and detailed appraisal and selection process. The final decision on all matters relating to the Secretariat lies with the donors.
The NGO Development Center (NDC) is a mechanism providing programmatic and harmonized donors’ support to NGOs therefore increasing aid predictability while ensuring complementary roles between NGOs interventions and Palestinian Authority actions. NDC advocates greater NGO transparency and accountability through the adoption of professional financial and management practices, promotes sector-wide coordination and sharing of best practice experiences and strengthens NGOs relationship with the development partners. NDC is committed to the highest international standards of professionalism, excellence and transparency in its work.