Theory of Change
PWWSD's theory of change is based on its vision of a free and democratic Palestinian society based on gender equality, respect for human rights, and social justice.
From Inputs to Impact
Inputs
Skilled staff, donor funding, partnerships, community trust, and 35+ years of field expertise.
Activities
Legal aid, psychosocial support, vocational training, advocacy campaigns, research, and policy briefs.
Outputs
Women served, cases resolved, training sessions delivered, publications produced, councils trained.
Outcomes
Increased reporting of GBV, higher female labour participation, more women in local councils.
Impact
A Palestinian society where women live free from violence, exercise full rights, and shape decisions.
Multi-Level Approach to Change
PWWSD operates across a number of intervention levels: organizing and engaging women in groups, building community awareness of women's rights, creating a supportive community for human rights, influencing laws and policies at the national level by pressuring decision-makers, and at the international level by working with the international community to support Palestinian women and expose the Israeli occupation's violence and assault on Palestinian women.
PWWSD is a Palestinian women's mass, developmental, learning human rights organization that contributes to developing the feminist struggle within national, social, and developmental dimensions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The organization believes that liberating women is directly connected with ending the occupation and establishing a full Palestinian democratic sovereign civil state. It is an active member in several local, regional, and global networks and coalitions and aims for gender equality and the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women.
PWWSD's strategic plan sets out its priorities and provides a guide to programs, activities, and financial and human resource management. Based on an emerging Theory of Change, the strategic plan describes the strategic objectives, outcomes, and interventions formulated in line with PWWSD's vision and informed by a participatory methodology that included workshops and interviews with stakeholders, PWWSD staff, and beneficiaries.
Main Problem Statement
Building on our contextual analysis, PWWSD's theory of change focuses on challenging and changing these core problem statements.
Women’s Exclusion from Decision-Making Processes
Women’s Exclusion from Decision-Making Processes Despite declared commitments to gender equality (mainly in the Palestinian Basic Law and the Declaration of Independence), women remain underrepresented in political, public, and community decision-making spaces. Social norms, patriarchal structures, and hate/incitement discourse, limited democratic participation, and institutional barriers continue to prevent women from having meaningful influence over decisions and policies that shape their lives. PWWSD works to promote women’s leadership and participation, voicing women in public life, and advocate for governance structures that are more inclusive, accountable, and responsive to women’s rights and recognize their role as agents.
Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence Women and girls in Palestine
Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence Women and girls in Palestine continue to face different forms of discrimination and gender-based violence, including domestic violence, economic abuse, psychological violence, and forms of violence resulting from the occupation and conflict. Gaps in protection systems, weaknesses in legislation, and harmful social attitudes often prevent survivors from accessing justice, protection, and support. PWWSD works to prevent violence against women, provide comprehensive support services, strengthen protection pathways, and advocate for legal and institutional reforms that ensure safety, dignity, and accountability.
Economic Exclusion and Inequality Palestinian women
Economic Exclusion and Inequality Palestinian women continue to face significant barriers to economic participation and independence, including high unemployment rates, unequal access to resources, limited opportunities for decent work, and restrictions related to movement and the broader economic conditions created by occupation. Women working in informal and vulnerable sectors are particularly affected by these challenges. PWWSD promotes women’s economic empowerment through support for entrepreneurship, cooperative initiatives, decent work opportunities, sustainable livelihoods, and advocacy for economic policies based on equality and social justice.
Occupation, Conflict, and Humanitarian Crisis The prolonged Israeli occupation and its consequences
Occupation, Conflict, and Humanitarian Crisis The prolonged Israeli occupation and its consequences—including military attacks, displacement, movement restrictions, settlement expansion, settlers’ violence, and ongoing humanitarian crises—have a profound impact on women and girls. These conditions increase women’s exposure to poverty, insecurity, violence, and barriers to accessing essential rights such as education, healthcare, justice, and economic opportunities. PWWSD applies a feminist humanitarian approach that recognizes women not only as affected populations but also as active agents of resilience, leadership, and social change, while promoting the principles of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Weak Legal Protection and Limited Accountability
Weak Legal Protection and Limited Accountability Although Palestine has committed to international human rights standards, women continue to face gaps in legal protection and access to justice due to outdated laws, delayed reforms, and limited accountability mechanisms. The absence of comprehensive legislation protecting women and families, together with weaknesses in implementation and enforcement, continues to undermine women’s rights and equality before the law. PWWSD advocates for legal reform, gender-responsive policies, and stronger institutions capable of protecting rights and ensuring justice and accountability.
Restrictive Social Norms and Gender Inequality
Restrictive Social Norms and Gender Inequality Deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes and discriminatory social norms continue to shape unequal gender relations and restrict women’s freedom, opportunities, and participation in public life. These norms contribute to the persistence of violence, economic dependency, and exclusion, while reinforcing inequality across generations. PWWSD works with women, men, youth, communities, and institutions to challenge harmful practices, promote positive social change, and build a society based on equality, dignity, and human rights.
Our Interventions
The interventions PWWSD must undertake in order to achieve change across three levels of work.
Programs & Activities Level
- Influencing laws, policies and procedures related to the political, economic and social rights of women
- Continuing to network, build and expand partnerships locally, regionally and internationally
- Providing counselling, psychological, social and legal services for abused women
- Conducting community awareness activities
- Capacity building through leadership among youth
- Organizing women in union and community structures and bodies
- Supporting and implementing community initiatives planned by women around civic, economic and social participation
- Strengthening the capacities of community institutions
- Documenting and issuing an annual report on cases of violence against women
- Monitoring, documenting and exposing violations of the occupation
Resource & Advocacy Level
- International advocacy and conducting policy dialogues
- Developing policies and plans for resource recruitment and management to enhance independence and financial sustainability
Human Resources Level
- Developing and managing human resources
- Strengthening administrative procedures and skills
- Institutionalizing results-based planning and budgeting processes
- Developing a results-based monitoring and evaluation system
PWWSD's Theory of Change reflects its experience that…
We implement all our interventions — influencing laws and policies, building partnerships, providing services to abused women, conducting awareness campaigns, building youth leadership, organizing women in community structures, supporting women-led initiatives, strengthening community institutions, documenting violence, exposing occupation violations, conducting international advocacy, ensuring financial sustainability, and developing our human resources and monitoring systems…
- Palestinian women participate in decision-making in the private and public spheres on the basis of equality and justice
- There is security and protection of Palestinian girls and women from all forms of gender-based violence
- Effective participation of women in ending the occupation and in implementing the women's agenda for peace and human security
- An efficient and effective association serving its mission
Active participation of women in public and private life.
Contributing to a free and democratic society based on justice, dignity, respect for citizenship, human rights, diversity and difference — in which women enjoy complete equality.
Assumptions & Key Risks
Underlying Assumptions
- Communities are open to dialogue on gender norms when approached through trusted local leaders.
- Legal reforms create durable change when paired with grassroots awareness.
- Economic independence reduces women's exposure to gender-based violence.
- Cross-sector partnerships multiply our reach beyond what any single actor can achieve.
Key Risks & Mitigations
- Political instability — flexible programming and emergency response funds.
- Funding volatility — diversified donor base and long-term partnerships.
- Movement restrictions — distributed offices and digital service delivery.
- Backlash to gender work — community engagementز