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Rooftop Gardens Project

Ramallah, Palestine

2021 - Ongoing

Food SecurityGreen RoofsGreen SpacesUrban Agriculture

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Project Description

Approach Words: Capacity Building, Urban Livability, Urban Resilience

Public Policy Instruments: Physical Intervention, Planning

The Rooftop Gardens project is an urban agriculture initiative led by the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) Organization in the West Bank and Gaza Strip of Palestine.¹ This initiative addresses food insecurity in densely populated areas that lack adequate agricultural land² by implementing rooftop farming activities.³ The project involves establishing rooftop gardens on family homes, complete with a hydroponic planting system that optimizes water usage.⁴

The project’s primary aim is to promote food self-sufficiency and combat food insecurity by enabling vulnerable families to grow their own seasonal crops.⁵ Additionally, it provides an opportunity for Palestinian families to generate income by selling surplus crops.⁶ The project is part of a broader Rooftop Gardens Program,ⁱ through which Anera plans to implement more than a thousand rooftop gardens across Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine.⁷

Title: An illustration showing phase 2 of the project implementation.

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Title: Farming in half barrels in Gaza Strip.

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Title: Rooftop Gardens in Jalasoun Camp in Ramallah.

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Title: A photo shows the technical support from the Anera Team.

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Title: An illustration showing phase 2 of the project implementation.

Source: Click Here

Title: Farming in half barrels in Gaza Strip.

Source: Click Here

Title: Rooftop Gardens in Jalasoun Camp in Ramallah.

Source: Click Here

Title: A photo shows the technical support from the Anera Team.

Source: Click Here

To achieve its objective, Anera’s agricultural experts have implemented the project in four phases, and these are as follows:

First, select participating families, evaluate their rooftops, and provide them with necessary materials, seeds, and seedlings.⁸
Second, build customized rooftop greenhouses that fit the available space.⁹
Third, provide roof insulation and prepare wicking beds in barrels or similar containers, layered with water at the bottom and soil on top.¹⁰
Finally, conduct training workshops and offer ongoing technical support to the selected families,¹¹ sharing expertise and best practices in crop maintenance, plant care, and other essential agricultural techniques.¹²

Owner/Developer

Anera ²²

Consultant/Designer

Anera ²³

Funder

Anera ²⁴

Contractor/Implementer

Anera ²⁵

Owner/Developer

Anera ²²

Contractor/Implementer

Anera ²⁵

Funder

Anera ²⁴

Consultant/Designer

Anera ²³

As of the latest data, a total of 102 rooftop gardens¹³ have been implemented in Palestine. The distribution includes 57 greenhouses across different neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip, 49 rooftop gardens implemented in 2021,¹⁴ and an additional 7 in 2022.¹⁵ In the West Bank, 15 rooftop gardens were implemented in 2022,¹⁶ while five were installed in Jalazone Refugee Camp in Ramallah in 2022.¹⁷ These gardens are productive; some can yield up to 2 tons of vegetables annually.¹⁸

The Rooftop Gardens Project was initiated and implemented by Anera,¹⁹ an American non-governmental organization active in the West Bank, Gaza, and surrounding countries. Anera’s agricultural experts design and customize the greenhouse gardens to suit each location.²⁰ The project is funded through donations to Anera, with the cost of one rooftop garden exceeding $3,000.²¹

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

https://www.anera.org/blog/a-look-at-our-rooftop-garden-project-that-combats-food-insecurity/

Endnotes

i Anera Program in Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan is an integrated approach, aligns shared goals and practices across the three countries. Ongoing program enhancement and cross-border knowledge exchange enhance self-sufficiency and decrease reliance on external aid. More info about the Anera Program is available in this link: https://www.anera.org/blog/rooftop-gardens-program-in-palestine-lebanon-and-jordan/

References