DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has allocated QR7.3m to support 70 research projects in Gaza.
Funds are allocated under QC’s ‘Search’ project, funded by the GCC countries’ programme for reconstruction of Gaza, in collaboration with Islamic Development Bank.
The ‘Search’ project aims to provide financial and technical support for scientific research and applied projects for researchers, academics and undergraduate and graduate students through grants of between $3,000 and $50,000.
The projects must be viable and contribute to solving social and economic problems in the local or regional community, QC said in a statement yesterday.
“The project is a remarkable development in the concept of humanitarian and development work, as it seeks to complete the humanitarian march in support of development and construction by paving the way for the creativity of researchers in Gaza to produce excellent ideas and results,” said Mohamed Abu Halloub, Deputy Director, QC Office in Gaza.
He said the project will also help meet the needs of the besieged Gaza by finding scientific solutions in the areas that have suffered most in the private, health, water, environment and agriculture sectors.
The total expenditure of the national GDP ratio for research in Arab countries is 0.2 percent and in Palestine 0.3 percent compared to 4.7 percent in the Israeli entity.
This is in addition to lack of opportunities for the adoption of research for researchers and academics by the government and supporting institutions and failure to export scientific research projects for the domestic market, leading to a decline in the quality of research.
QC will receive applications for grants until January 12.
A group of consultants from various scientific disciplines will be assigned to evaluate the applications and final projects for researchers.
Among the conditions for a grant is that the researcher must be from Gaza and affiliated to an institution accredited by the government and official bodies.
He/she must be an undergraduate or graduate student or higher, or a researcher working in the public or private sector, and the research projects must be scientific and environment-friendly, publishable, applicable and must have economic and social benefits.
The projects must be within five research sectors: applied and basic sciences; health medical and pharmaceutical science; engineering and industrial sciences and energy; computer, information technology and communications; water, environment, agriculture and veterinary.
The Peninsula
