International Collaboration for SDG Data Collection

Overview

ANNU works with international universities, UNESCO, research networks and development organizations to gather, analyse and share evidence relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals. Its collaborations extend well beyond health, water and renewable energy: they address food security, climate change, disaster risk, sustainable cities, education, employment, equality and human rights. Through its research centres, UNESCO Chairs, faculties, University Hospital and international project offices, ANNU contributes Palestinian data and expertise to joint studies, comparative assessments and shared monitoring initiatives.

These partnerships draw on sources ranging from water-quality measurements and clinical studies to agricultural field trials, climate observations and urban risk assessments. They also support the use of common research methods and indicators, so that findings can inform decisions in Palestine and contribute to wider international evidence on SDG progress.

Key Institutional Partnerships and Data Contributions

Examples include:

• UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management: Through the joint efforts with UNESCO, ANNU contributes data on water quality and usage through the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management, vital for SDG 6, which is shared in international sustainability reports and databases.

• UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace: Through the joint efforts with UNESCO, An-Najah National University (ANNU) contributes data on human rights, democracy, and peace through the UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy, and Peace. This initiative aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The data collected and research conducted under this chair are shared in international reports and databases, enhancing global efforts to monitor and advance human rights and peaceful societies.

• Energy, Water and Food Security Research Center: Through the research and data initiatives at the Energy, Water, and Food Security Research Center, An-Najah National University (ANNU) contributes vital data on sustainable resource management, directly supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). By focusing on the intersection of energy, water, and food security, the center provides insights and data shared in international sustainability reports and databases. These efforts support global collaboration to address essential resources, helping to shape policies and strategies that promote resilience and sustainability.

• Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center: Through the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center, An-Najah National University (ANNU) actively contributes to international data and research on sustainable urban development and resilience, supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By focusing on urban planning, disaster preparedness, and climate resilience, the center gathers and shares critical data that aid in global efforts to create safer, more resilient communities. This research and data are disseminated in international sustainability reports, disaster risk reduction frameworks, and urban planning best practices databases, reinforcing ANNU’s commitment to building sustainable and resilient urban environments.

• Medical and Health Sciences Research Center: Through the research and data initiatives at the Medical and Health Sciences Research Center, An-Najah National University (ANNU) contributes vital health data to international research efforts, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The center focuses on areas such as public health, infectious diseases, mental health, and preventive medicine, gathering data that is essential for improving health outcomes and shaping global health policies. This data is shared in international medical and public health databases, contributing to evidence-based practices that inform health improvements and policy-making on a global scale.

• Economic and Social Development Research Center: Through the initiatives at the Economic and Social Development Research Center, An-Najah National University (ANNU) actively contributes data and research to support international efforts on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By focusing on issues such as economic development, social equity, labor market trends, and inclusive growth, the center gathers and shares crucial data that informs policies and supports sustainable economic practices globally. These research findings are shared in international economic and social development reports, helping to shape policy recommendations and promote equitable economic development on a global scale.

• International Projects & Grants Center (IGPC): Through the International Projects & Grants Center (IGPC), ANNU coordinates multi-country research consortia and manages funded projects across health, water, energy, environment, and social policy—standardizing data collection protocols, indicator tracking, and shared repositories that feed international SDG measurement (esp. SDG 17, with links to SDG 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13). Public portals documenting collaborations and outputs: www.najah.edu/en/igpc, eu-projects.najah.edu, igpc.najah.edu.

• International Office – Partnerships & Memberships: Through the International Office, Partnerships & Memberships, ANNU maintains formal memberships and partnerships with global universities and networks, enabling structured data-sharing agreements, joint surveys, and multicountry monitoring initiatives that support SDG 17 collaboration and measurement across SDG themes (e.g., SDG 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 13).

• Water and Environmental Studies Center (WESC): Through the Water and Environmental Studies Center (WESC), ANNU conducts systematic monitoring of surface water, groundwater, and wastewater quality (e.g., physico-chemical and microbiological indices). These datasets support SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and are shared with international research consortia and comparative sustainability studies to inform water-resource policy and practice.

• An-Najah Global Health Institute (GHI): Through the An-Najah Global Health Institute (GHI), ANNU collaborates with international partners on epidemiological surveillance, health-system performance audits, and community health assessments. The institute (GHI) contributes de-identified datasets and analyses to multicountry studies that advance SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), informing global guidelines and evidence syntheses.

• Climate & Earthquake Center and University Meteorological Station: Through the Climate & Earthquake Center and the University Meteorological (Weather) Station, ANNU generates long-series climate and seismic observations that support SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). These observations are shared with regional and international collaborators for risk modeling, early-warning research, and climate-resilience planning.

• Energy & Climate Change Research Unit: Through the Energy & Climate Change Research Unit, ANNU provides performance data from renewable-energy pilots, building energy audits, and decarbonization studies. The unit’s datasets support SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) and are contributed to international research projects and benchmarking reports on energy efficiency and transition pathways.

• Najah2Twin Smart Campus Digital Twin and Sustainability Dashboard: Through the Najah2Twin Smart Campus Digital Twin and the University Sustainability Dashboard, ANNU collects high-resolution time-series data on electricity, water, waste, mobility, and space utilization. These IoT-enabled datasets underpin SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 12, and SDG 13 indicators and are shared in multicampus comparisons, partner project deliverables, and international ranking submissions.

• Faculty of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine: Through the Faculty of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine (experimental farm and agri-tech laboratories), ANNU gathers field-trial data on crop yields, water-use efficiency, soil health, and sustainable inputs. These data contribute to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and are disseminated via international research collaborations and open scientific outputs.

• An-Najah National University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: Through An-Najah National University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, ANNU contributes ethically approved clinical quality indicators, registries, and public-health survey data to multicountry collaborations, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and informing international evidence-based practice and policy.

• Innovation Park (InnoPark) and Technology Transfer Office (TTO): Through the Innovation Park (InnoPark) and the Technology Transfer Office (TTO), ANNU tracks impact metrics for sustainability-oriented startups (e.g., green jobs, revenue from sustainable products, emissions avoided, waste diverted). Aggregated insights are shared with regional innovation networks and international partners, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 12.

• GIS & Remote Sensing Unit: Through the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Remote Sensing Unit (Geography/Civil Engineering), ANNU collaborates internationally on land-use/land-cover mapping, hazard and exposure modeling, and urban growth analyses. Resulting spatial datasets support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) and are shared in cross-institutional geospatial repositories and studies.

• UNIMED (Mediterranean Universities Union): Through UNIMED (Mediterranean Universities Union), ANNU participates in cross-Mediterranean research and capacity-building consortia (e.g., Erasmus+ initiatives), enabling joint surveys, harmonized indicator frameworks, and shared data repositories across partner universities. These collaborations strengthen SDG 17 and contribute evidence toward SDG 4, SDG 7, SDG 11, and SDG 13 through comparable, multi-country datasets and peer-reviewed reporting.

Continuing Collaborations (2024–2026)

Institutional framework for international SDG data collaboration

An-Najah National University (ANNU) participates institutionally in international and regional collaborations that collect, harmonize, analyse, validate and share data relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working with United Nations bodies, international universities, research networks, development agencies and cross-border consortia, ANNU contributes Palestinian evidence to multicountry studies, international monitoring frameworks, shared research databases, comparative assessments and policy reports.

This work is coordinated across the University through the International Projects and Grants Center, the Partnerships and Global Initiatives Office, scientific and research centres, faculties, the University Hospital, UNESCO Chairs and specialized institutes. These units help establish research protocols, common indicators, ethical and data-protection procedures, quality assurance, analysis, reporting and dissemination. This institutional framework ensures that ANNU’s contribution extends beyond individual research activity and supports sustained international collaboration for measuring progress toward the SDGs.

ANNU’s collaborative data activities cover public health, water and sanitation, energy, food security, climate change, air quality, disaster risk, urban resilience, education, employment, equality, human rights and institutional sustainability.

Consortium for Sustainability

ANNU participates in the Consortium for Sustainability, an international collaborative framework through which universities and partner institutions exchange sustainability evidence, align indicators, compare institutional practices and develop shared responses to the Sustainable Development Goals. Its joint knowledge exchange, benchmarking and evidence-sharing activities directly strengthen SDG 17 and contribute to SDGs 4, 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13. Read about the Consortium for Sustainability.

UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management

The UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management gathers data and evidence concerning water quality, water use, wastewater, hydrology and sustainable resource management. It contributes to SDGs 6, 11, 13 and 17 and participates in international knowledge networks. Visit the UNESCO Chair.

UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace

The UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace produces research and policy evidence concerning human rights, education, peace and institutional protection. Its international engagement supports SDGs 4, 5, 10, 16 and 17. Visit the Chair.

Water and Environmental Studies Center

The Water and Environmental Studies Center monitors surface water, groundwater and wastewater quality using physicochemical and microbiological indicators. Its data support international research and comparative water-resource assessments under SDGs 6, 12, 13 and 17. Visit the Center.

Energy, water, food and climate evidence

The Energy, Water and Food Security Research Center produces integrated evidence on resource management, renewable energy, water efficiency, agricultural systems and resilience under SDGs 2, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 17. Visit the Center.

• The Energy, Environment and Climate Change Research Unit gathers performance information from renewable-energy pilots, building-energy audits and decarbonization research for use in international projects and benchmarking under SDGs 7, 11, 13 and 17. Visit the Unit.

• The Climate and Earthquake Center and the University Meteorological Station generate long-series climate and seismic observations used in risk modelling, early-warning research and climate-resilience planning.

• The Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine’s farm and laboratories collect field-trial information on crop yields, soil health, water-use efficiency and sustainable agricultural inputs under SDGs 2, 6, 12 and 15. Visit the Faculty.

Urban planning, disaster risk and geospatial evidence

The Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center, Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit, and GIS and remote-sensing specialists collect and analyse hazard, exposure, land-use, urban-growth and resilience information. These data are used in international modelling, risk mapping, decision-support systems and comparative urban studies under SDGs 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17. Visit the Center.

Health and clinical evidence

The An-Najah Global Health Institute, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and medical research centres contribute ethically approved and de-identified data to multicentre and multicountry research. Activities include epidemiological surveys, health-system assessments, clinical-quality indicators, patient outcomes, nutrition, infectious diseases, mental health, violence and community-health studies. These collaborations support SDGs 2, 3, 5, 10, 16 and 17. Visit the Global Health Institute, An-Najah National University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Smart-campus and sustainability data

Through the Najah2Twin Smart Campus Digital Twin and the University’s sustainability systems, ANNU gathers high-resolution information on electricity, renewable energy, water, waste, mobility and space use. These data support operational improvement, international comparison, research projects and institutional reporting under SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 17. Visit Najah2Twin and the Sustainable Development Office.

Employment, inclusion and innovation evidence

The Economic and Social Development Research Center, Innovation Park and Technology Transfer Office gather and analyse evidence on employment, social inclusion, enterprise development, innovation and sustainability-oriented start-ups. Indicators include participation, skills, green jobs, enterprise outcomes and innovation impact, supporting SDGs 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 17. Visit Innovation Park.

Research governance and responsible data use

ANNU’s international research and data collaborations are supported by institutional governance and ethical-review procedures. Research involving human participants is reviewed through the University’s Institutional Review Board, which examines study design, informed consent, confidentiality, data-collection procedures and participant protection. Health and social data shared with international partners are aggregated or de-identified as appropriate, while project teams apply agreed protocols, indicator definitions and quality-control procedures. Visit ANNU’s Institutional Review Board.

The University promotes responsible data use through:

• Institutional Review Board examination of study design, informed consent, confidentiality, data-collection procedures and participant protection.

• Aggregation or de-identification of health and social data shared with international partners, as appropriate.

• Agreed protocols, indicator definitions and quality-control procedures applied by project teams.

Supporting Source Records

Overview

ANNU contributes to international research networks and reporting initiatives that gather, standardize and analyse data relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with universities, UN bodies and regional partners, the University helps produce comparable evidence on education quality, public health, climate and water resources, energy use, food security and disaster risk. Its role includes contributing institutional information to a UNESCO-supported Arab higher education quality report, as well as participating in international projects that use shared indicators, surveys and research methods. The examples below show how these collaborations turn Palestinian data and expertise into evidence that partners can use for cross-country assessment and policy development.

International Research Networks and Projects

Research centres, networks and major consortia

• SAGE-Centre – Sustainable Adaptation to Global Change in the Middle East (DAAD Global Centre): Based at ANNU with University of Tübingen and regional partners, the Centre develops joint education–research programmes and shared climate/water/land datasets for policy (SDG 6, SDG 13, SDG 15, SDG 17). Official site and DAAD programme overview confirm ANNU’s hosting role.

• BASE – Bologna for Science Education in Palestine & Jordan (Erasmus+ CBHE / UfM-labelled): ANNU leads a multi-country higher-education reform that standardises QA indicators, graduate tracking and programme benchmarking across partner universities—feeding comparable datasets back to EU/Euro-Med stakeholders (SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 17). ANNU announced the initiative in July 2024; project page and 2025 UfM-label confirmation available.

• HERA – Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse (NIHR Global Research Group): ANNU (oPt lead) contributes de-identified multicountry health-systems data and policy evidence on responses to domestic violence (SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 17). 2024 outputs include a PolicyBristol brief and LSHTM/Bristol releases highlighting cross-country indicators and outcomes.

• Med-EcoSuRe (Mediterranean University as Catalyst for Eco-Sustainable Renovation): ANNU is a key partner in this Mediterranean-wide initiative focused on improving energy efficiency in public buildings across the region, which aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). By gathering data on energy performance and integrating renewable energy solutions in public facilities, ANNU contributes to an international framework for sustainable renovation. This collaboration aims to reduce the environmental footprint of public buildings and serves as a model for eco-sustainable infrastructure across the Mediterranean.

• EU-Funded Project on Sustainable Food Systems: In partnership with European universities and research centers, ANNU participates in a project aimed at building community resilience and enhancing food security in the West Bank. This initiative, conducted in collaboration with the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting sustainable agriculture practices and improving local food systems. Data collected from this project addresses food security challenges exacerbated by climate change, with a focus on sustainable agriculture in Palestine.

• Tomorrow’s Cities Project: ANNU is involved in the Tomorrow’s Cities project, a global initiative that brings together universities and research institutions to reduce disaster risk in urban areas, especially for vulnerable populations. This project supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by focusing on risk-informed, people-centered urban planning. Through this partnership, ANNU researchers contribute data on urban resilience, disaster preparedness, and inclusive urban development strategies.

• Climate Futures Exchange Project: In collaboration with Arizona State University (USA), ANNU is part of the Climate Futures Exchange project, which addresses SDG 13 (Climate Action) by promoting awareness of climate change through innovative technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Immersive Experience Design (IXD). This project involves gathering data on climate vulnerability and resilience in Palestine and the United States, aiming to develop sustainable building solutions for climate-sensitive areas.

• BREEDTECH: Building Capacity in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology: ANNU collaborates with institutions from Kenya, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, and Serbia on the BREEDTECH project, which supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This initiative enhances research and educational capacity in plant breeding and biotechnology, particularly in food security and sustainable agriculture. Data from this project will aid in developing more resilient crop varieties, improving productivity, and conserving biodiversity across different regions.

• Establishing a Climate Change Center with the German DAAD Foundation: ANNU is working with the German DAAD Foundation to establish a climate change center, which will address SDG 13 (Climate Action). This center will support research on climate adaptation and resilience and will offer scholarships for doctoral studies in climate change-related fields at German partner universities. The project includes community outreach activities to gather local climate data and raise awareness about climate resilience in Palestine. Link: DAAD Climate Change Center Project

Education, employment, inclusion and innovation projects

• TESI: Technical Education Support for Higher Education Students Initiative: In collaboration with the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), ANNU participates in the TESI project, which provides remote learning resources to support students in Gaza affected by educational disruptions due to conflict. This initiative aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and contributes data on educational resilience and digital learning access in crisis settings.

• GREENLAND Project: The GREENLAND project focuses on social inclusion and poverty reduction by developing green economy skills among youth and women in the Mediterranean region, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). ANNU helps gather data on skill gaps and labor market needs in the green economy, supporting inclusive job creation and sustainability. Link: GREENLAND Project Overview

• Palestinian Research and Library Platform (PaLib): As a partner in the PaLib project, funded by Erasmus+, ANNU contributes to the development of a digital library and research portal for Palestinian universities. This platform enhances access to academic resources and strengthens research infrastructure in Palestine. Link: PaLib Project

• REACH Project: Reinforcing Access to Cross-Border Employment at Palestinian Higher Education Institutions: Through the Erasmus+ REACH project, ANNU partners with Palestinian and European institutions to improve cross-border employment opportunities for Palestinian students and graduates. This project supports SDG 8 by enhancing career center services and providing training in essential employability skills. Link: REACH Project

• 5TOI 4EWAS: Quintuple Helix Approach to Innovation in Energy, Water, Agriculture: Under Horizon 2020, this project brings together Mediterranean partners, including ANNU, to innovate in energy, water, and agriculture sectors. It aligns with SDGs 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting sustainable practices and resource efficiency. Link: 5TOI 4EWAS Project

• ETRERA 2020: Empowering Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Research Alliance for Europe 2020: ANNU participated in this FP7-funded project to advance renewable energy technologies across the Mediterranean, contributing to SDG 7. The project focused on sustainable energy systems and reducing regional carbon footprints. Link: ETRERA 2020 Project

• MoreThanAJob: Social and Solidarity Economy for Unemployed and Refugees: As the coordinator of this ENI CBC MED project, ANNU supports the unemployed, uneducated, and refugees in creating job opportunities within the social and solidarity economy, addressing SDG 8 and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• MedRiSSE: Replicable Innovations of SSE for Post-COVID-19 Job Creation: ANNU participates as a partner in the MedRiSSE project, which focuses on creating sustainable jobs in the social and solidarity economy post-COVID-19, supporting SDG 8.

• Let’s Start Up – Inclusive Business and Self-Employment for Women and People with Disabilities in Palestine: This project, funded by EducAID, promotes self-employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups, contributing to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10.

• NEURODEV – Inclusive Education & Research on Neurodevelopment: multicampus datasets and curricula indicators supporting comparative analysis (SDGs 3, 4, 10, 17).

• PhDGov – Reforming Doctoral Education Governance: shared QA, supervision, and completion metrics across partner HEIs (SDGs 4, 9, 17).

• SPEED – Supporting Project Engagement for Education & Development: HE–industry partnerships with innovation/employability tracking across MENA (SDGs 4, 8, 9, 17).

• EPISODE – Digital Social Entrepreneurship: open micro-learning, graduate outcomes and participation analytics (SDGs 4, 8, 9, 17).

• TECGREMED – Green Engineering Skills for the Mediterranean: VET learner outcomes and green-skills monitoring (SDGs 4, 7, 8, 9, 13).

• BENEFIT – Precision Agriculture in Palestine: digital farming pilots generating yield and resource-use datasets (SDGs 2, 4, 9, 12).

• TVETCQ – TVET Pedagogical Competences & Qualification: teacher-training KPIs and qualification frameworks (SDGs 4, 8, 9).

• TAP Palestine – Transforming Assessment Practices: comparable learning analytics in large first-year courses (SDGs 4, 17).

• METHODS – Modernization of Teaching Methodologies: faculty development indicators and teaching-innovation metrics (SDGs 4, 17).

• OpenMed – Opening Up Education in the South Mediterranean: OER adoption and open-education capacity metrics (SDGs 4, 9, 17).

• MED-HEALTH – Mediterranean Public Health Alliance: regional competency benchmarks and program indicators (SDGs 3, 4, 17).

• CliVEx – Climate Virtual Exchange: participation/impact surveys supporting climate-literacy outcomes (SDGs 4, 10, 13, 17).

Continuing Collaborations

SAGE Centre: Climate, water and land evidence for the Middle East

ANNU hosts the Sustainable Adaptation to Global Change in the Middle East (SAGE) Centre, a DAAD Global Centre developed with the University of Tübingen and regional partners. SAGE combines research, graduate education and policy engagement and supports the development of shared climate, water, land-use and adaptation evidence for the Middle East. These datasets inform research and policy under SDGs 4, 6, 13, 15 and 17. Visit the SAGE Centre and read about the second-phase agreement.

HERA: Multicountry health-system data on violence and abuse

Through HERA—Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse, an NIHR Global Research Group, ANNU contributes de-identified health-system data and policy evidence from the occupied Palestinian territory to multicountry research on healthcare responses to domestic violence. Common research protocols and comparative indicators enable partners to examine service preparedness, referral pathways and system responses across settings. This work contributes to SDGs 3, 5, 10, 16 and 17.

BREEDTECH: Plant breeding, biotechnology and food-security evidence

ANNU collaborates with partners in Kenya, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden and Serbia through BREEDTECH—Building Capacity in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. The project develops research capacity and generates agronomic and biotechnology evidence concerning crop traits, resilience, productivity and biodiversity. It supports SDGs 2, 4, 9, 12, 15 and 17. Read about BREEDTECH.

Sustainable food systems and precision agriculture

ANNU works with European universities, research institutions and Palestinian agricultural partners on sustainable food systems, food security, community resilience and climate-smart agriculture. Through projects including BENEFIT, researchers generate field and digital-farming evidence concerning crop performance, yield, soil conditions, inputs and resource-use efficiency. This work supports SDGs 2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17. Read about the community-resilience and food-security project.

5TOI 4EWAS: Energy–water–agriculture innovation

Through the Horizon 2020 5TOI 4EWAS project, ANNU worked with Mediterranean partners using a quintuple-helix approach to innovation in energy, water and agriculture. The collaboration supported common assessments, stakeholder evidence and research-to-innovation pathways addressing resource efficiency and the water–energy–food nexus under SDGs 2, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13 and 17. Read about 5TOI 4EWAS.

ETRERA 2020: Trans-Mediterranean renewable-energy evidence

ANNU participated in ETRERA 2020—Empowering Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Research Alliance for Europe 2020, an FP7 initiative that connected Mediterranean institutions working on renewable-energy technologies. The project supported shared research evidence, capacity mapping and regional cooperation on sustainable-energy systems under SDGs 7, 9, 13 and 17.

Education, employment and social-inclusion projects

ANNU also contributes to international projects that use shared indicators, surveys, participation information and outcome monitoring in education, employment and social inclusion:

• TESI: Implemented with the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), TESI generates information on educational access, participation and continuity for students in Gaza affected by conflict, supporting SDGs 4, 10, 16 and 17. Visit TESI.

• GREENLAND: The project develops green-economy skills and gathers information on skill gaps, labour-market needs and the participation of youth and women across the Mediterranean, supporting SDGs 5, 8, 10, 13 and 17. Read the project overview.

• REACH: The Erasmus+ project uses graduate, employability and career-service information to improve cross-border employment opportunities for Palestinian students and graduates, supporting SDGs 4, 8, 10 and 17. Visit REACH.

• MoreThanAJob and MedRiSSE: These Mediterranean partnerships monitor social and solidarity-economy interventions, employment pathways and inclusion outcomes for unemployed people, refugees and vulnerable groups under SDGs 1, 8, 10 and 17. Visit MoreThanAJob and MedRiSSE.

• EPISODE: The digital social-entrepreneurship project monitors participation and graduate outcomes through open digital learning under SDGs 4, 8, 9 and 17. Visit EPISODE.

• SPEED: The project tracks higher-education–industry engagement, innovation and employability across partner institutions in the Middle East and North Africa, contributing to SDGs 4, 8, 9 and 17. Visit SPEED.

• TECGREMED: Partner institutions develop and monitor green-engineering competences, training participation and learning outcomes across the Mediterranean under SDGs 4, 7, 8, 9, 13 and 17. Visit TECGREMED.

• PhDGov: Palestinian and European partners use shared quality, supervision, governance and completion measures to strengthen doctoral education under SDGs 4, 9 and 17. Visit PhDGov.

• PaLib: The Erasmus+ Palestinian Research and Library Platform strengthens shared research infrastructure and monitors access to digital academic resources across Palestinian universities under SDGs 4, 9 and 17. Visit PaLib.

• TVETCQ, TAP Palestine, METHODS and OpenMed: These partnerships use common competency, qualification, learning, assessment and open-education measures to improve teaching and higher-education systems under SDGs 4, 8, 9 and 17.

• MED-HEALTH: Regional partners develop comparable public-health competencies and programme evidence across Mediterranean higher-education institutions under SDGs 3, 4 and 17.

• CliVEx—Climate Virtual Exchange: The project uses participation and impact surveys to measure climate-literacy and intercultural-learning outcomes under SDGs 4, 10, 13 and 17. Visit CliVEx.

WHO regional poison-centres network: Real-time monitoring and annual reporting

ANNU participated in a World Health Organization expert consultation to finalize the regional public-health response framework for chemical incidents and establish a network of poison centres across the Eastern Mediterranean. ANNU was represented institutionally through its Poison Control and Drug Information Center and Clinical Research Center.

The proposed WHO network was designed to enable real-time data monitoring, annual reporting, shared operational standards, exchange of antidotes, staff training and coordinated response to chemical incidents under the International Health Regulations. ANNU presented the services and experience of its Poison Control and Drug Information Center, which has been recognized by WHO among regional poison centres. This is direct evidence of international collaboration on health surveillance and standardized reporting under SDGs 3, 9, 12, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report: International SDG 4 assessment

The holder of ANNU’s UNESCO Chair on Human Rights, Democracy and Peace was appointed to represent Arab countries on the Advisory Board of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report. The report is one of the principal international mechanisms for assessing progress toward SDG 4. Through the Advisory Board, ANNU contributed regional expertise to the review, strategic direction, thematic priorities and communication of international education-monitoring evidence. This engagement supports international interpretation and use of education data under SDGs 4, 10, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

UNESCO-supported quality-management data for Arab higher education

In response to a request from the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education within a wider UNESCO initiative, ANNU contributed institutional information to a comprehensive 2024 quality-management report for Arab countries. The exercise used comparable evidence to assess quality-management practices and educational standards and to align higher-education improvement with the 2030 Agenda. It provides direct institutional evidence for collaborative data gathering under SDGs 4 and 17.

UNDRR Sendai Framework Monitor: Reporting against 38 international indicators

ANNU’s Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center participated with the Palestinian national technical team in training organized in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The training focused on the Sendai Framework Monitor, which measures national progress against the seven Sendai targets through 38 internationally standardized indicators.

The activity strengthened ANNU’s capacity to collect, enter, interpret and report disaster-risk data through a UN monitoring system and to contribute evidence to national and international assessment of disaster-risk reduction and sustainable development. It directly supports SDGs 11, 13 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Regional OpenQuake collaboration: Earthquake-data analysis and risk mapping

ANNU participated in delivering a regional programme on earthquake-risk assessment and modelling using the OpenQuake Engine, jointly organized in Algeria by the Arab Center for Earthquake and Disaster Risk Reduction of the League of Arab States and the GEM Foundation. The programme brought together 21 participants from 10 Arab countries and included practical analysis of earthquake data, estimation of potential damage and preparation of risk maps using common open-source tools and methodologies. This collaboration supports regional comparability and science-based decision-making under SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

UNDRR Arab Regional Platform: Nablus decision-support evidence

At the sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organized by UNDRR with the League of Arab States, ANNU presented the Tomorrow’s Cities work on a decision-support system for risk-conscious urban planning in Nablus. The University discussed transferring the Nablus experience to Iraqi cities in collaboration with UN-Habitat and proposed a unified assessment of earthquake risks across Arab countries. The activity demonstrates regional exchange of risk information, assessment methodologies and urban-resilience evidence under SDGs 11, 13 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Global Earthquake Model Foundation: International hazard-data collaboration

ANNU advanced toward membership on the Board of the Global Earthquake Model Foundation, strengthening the University’s participation in international collaboration on open earthquake-hazard and risk data. Through the Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center and the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Unit, ANNU contributes Palestinian experience and evidence to internationally comparable risk-modelling approaches used for resilient-city and disaster-reduction planning. Read the official ANNU news item.

University of Texas partnership on children’s nutrition and physical activity

The An-Najah Global Health Institute established a research partnership with University of Texas researchers to study children’s nutrition and physical activity. The collaboration supports jointly designed health research, collection and analysis of child-level health and behavioural data, and evidence addressing nutrition, physical activity and disease prevention. It contributes to SDGs 2, 3, 10 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

World Bank international report on the business environment

ANNU contributed academic expertise to an international World Bank report on the business environment. This participation placed University expertise within an international evidence-gathering and comparative-reporting process that evaluates regulatory and institutional conditions affecting economic activity. The work supports comparable policy analysis relevant to SDGs 8, 9, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Arab Universities Knowledge Network on climate change and carbon footprints

ANNU participated in launching the Arab Universities Knowledge Network on Climate Change and Carbon Footprints. Through the University’s scientific centres and Energy, Water and Food Security Research Center, the network provides a regional platform for exchanging measurement methodologies, institutional greenhouse-gas information, carbon-footprint evidence and climate knowledge among Arab universities. It supports comparable measurement and collective learning under SDGs 7, 12, 13 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

ACoRN: International evidence on Palestinian children’s health rights

Through the ACoRN project, ANNU works with University College Cork and other partners to strengthen research and evidence concerning Palestinian children’s health rights. The collaboration supports shared research approaches, comparative evidence and translation of health findings into advocacy and policy recommendations, contributing to SDGs 3, 10, 16 and 17. Read the 2025 project activity.

NEURODEV: Neurodevelopment and inclusive-education evidence

Through the international NEURODEV project, ANNU and its partners collaborate on neurodevelopment, inclusive education and research capacity. The project supports development and comparison of evidence concerning neurodevelopmental needs, inclusive educational practice and related health and participation outcomes under SDGs 3, 4, 10 and 17. Read the project-launch participation.

BASE: International quality indicators and programme benchmarking

ANNU leads BASE—Bologna for Science Education in Palestine and Jordan, an Erasmus+ project involving Palestinian, Jordanian and European institutions. BASE develops comparable programme information, quality-assurance indicators, learning outcomes, graduate evidence and benchmarking against Bologna Process standards. These shared measures support reform of science education and institutional monitoring under SDGs 4, 8, 9 and 17. The project received the Union for the Mediterranean label in 2025. Read about ANNU’s launch of BASE and the UfM recognition.

Al-Maqdisi–University of Bordeaux climate-adaptation research

Through the French–Palestinian Al-Maqdisi research project, ANNU and the University of Bordeaux conduct joint work on human adaptation to climate change and the built environment, with the longer-term objective of establishing an international laboratory. The partnership creates a framework for studying built-environment conditions and adaptation responses and exchanging research evidence between Palestine and France under SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Supporting Source Records

Overview

Our university hosts and participates in international conferences focused on the SDGs, presenting findings and data collection methodologies that benefit the global academic and scientific communities.

Conferences and Events Hosted by ANNU

• Joint Scientific Conference on Innovation, Business Intelligence, and Sustainability: Recently, An-Najah National University (ANNU) co-hosted the Joint Scientific Conference on Innovation, Business Intelligence, and Sustainability with The University of Jordan. This conference provided a platform for sharing insights and data on sustainable business practices, economic resilience, and innovation-driven sustainability, directly contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Researchers from ANNU presented studies on sustainable economic models and innovative data tools that support the measurement and tracking of SDG indicators, demonstrating ANNU’s commitment to advancing sustainability goals on a global scale.

• SDG frameworks webinar (14 June 2024): Additionally, on June 14, 2024, ANNU delivered the university webinar “An-Najah University Advances Sustainable Development Through Webinar,” focused on SDG frameworks, indicators, and reporting practices. Najah University news item

• Sixth Scientific Conference of the Faculty of Business & Communication (17–18 April 2024): Furthermore, the Faculty of Business & Communication hosted the Sixth Scientific Conference (April 17–18, 2024), with tracks on business intelligence, analytics, and sustainability that strengthened methodological exchange on SDG indicator measurement. Conference event page

Continuing Collaborations

Continuing Collaborations

Tomorrow’s Cities: Risk-informed urban planning

ANNU participates in the global Tomorrow’s Cities initiative, which integrates hazard, exposure, vulnerability and community information to support people-centred, risk-informed urban planning. ANNU contributes evidence concerning urban resilience, disaster preparedness and inclusive development in Nablus and works with international partners to develop decision-support approaches relevant to SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Visit the Tomorrow’s Cities project.

Contributions to international organizations, networks and reporting systems

ANNU contributes institutional and research evidence to international organizations, networks and reporting systems. Examples include:

• Contribution of institutional evidence for a regional quality-management report for Arab countries, supporting SDG 4.

• Contribution to the World Bank’s comparative reporting on the business environment, supporting SDGs 8, 9 and 16.

• Contribution of Palestinian evidence to multicountry and global research, including public-health meta-analyses, health-system studies, gender-equality research and climate and environmental studies.

• Participation in UNIMED and the Global University Network for Innovation, enabling joint surveys, shared indicators, multicountry projects and exchange of evidence concerning higher education and sustainable development. Visit UNIMED.

• Institutional reporting to international sustainability and benchmarking systems, including THE Impact Rankings, UI GreenMetric and QS Sustainability.

These submissions provide supporting evidence of systematic SDG measurement, while the international projects and monitoring systems described above constitute the primary evidence of collaborative data gathering.

University College Cork: Children’s Right to Health Network

ANNU and University College Cork, Ireland, launched the joint project Promoting Children’s Health Rights in Palestine and established the Children’s Right to Health Network. The initiative brings together researchers in medicine, law and media with community organizations to define research priorities and develop interdisciplinary evidence on children’s mental health, nutrition and access to healthcare, with particular attention to children with disabilities and children deprived of family care. The partnership supports SDGs 3, 4, 10, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Webinar on SDG frameworks, indicators and reporting practices

On 14 June 2024, ANNU delivered the webinar An-Najah University Advances Sustainable Development Through Webinar, focusing on SDG frameworks, indicators and reporting practices. The activity strengthened institutional understanding of internationally comparable SDG evidence and reporting. Read the official ANNU news item.

Sixth Scientific Conference: Business intelligence, analytics and sustainability

ANNU’s Faculty of Business and Communication hosted its Sixth Scientific Conference on 17–18 April 2024, including tracks on business intelligence, analytics and sustainability. The conference supported methodological exchange concerning data analysis and sustainability indicators under SDGs 8, 9, 12 and 17. Read the event page.

International meta-analysis on cataract-related blindness and visual impairment

One example of ANNU’s contribution to global evidence is the international meta-analysis, Global estimates on the number of people blind or visually impaired by cataract: a meta-analysis from 2000 to 2024, co-authored by an ANNU researcher. The work aggregated international visual-health evidence and contributed to global understanding of preventable blindness under SDG 3. Read the study.

FORWARD: Cross-country survey on open science and urban resilience

Through the European Union-funded FORWARD project, ANNU collaborated with partners and stakeholders from Palestine and Ukraine to gather and analyse comparative evidence on urban resilience and research capacity in conflict-affected regions. During the international workshop, Open Science and Urban Resilience in War-Affected Regions: Challenges and Paths for Sustainable Recovery, the project presented preliminary results from a survey of more than 200 participants from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Ukraine.

The survey measured challenges and needs concerning water, food, energy, housing, gender equality, digital research infrastructure and the use of open-science practices. The evidence supports comparative assessment, research-capacity development and sustainable-recovery planning under SDGs 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

AirAware: Continuous air-quality monitoring supported by UNDP and GEF

ANNU joined the AirAware environmental monitoring network, implemented with the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, Seeds Association for Development and Culture, the Arab Innovation Network and other partners, with support from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and UNDP/PAPP.

Seven monitoring stations continuously collect information on major air-quality indicators and pollutants across Nablus Governorate, including a station located at ANNU. The network integrates environmental sensors, digital data processing and artificial-intelligence analysis to provide reliable evidence for research, education, community awareness and environmental decision-making. Its planned expansion to 25 stations across Nablus, Tulkarm and Jenin will create an interconnected environmental database for northern Palestine. This work supports SDGs 3, 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read the project launch coverage.

Palestine–Italy cooperation on tsunami-hazard assessment

ANNU launched technical cooperation with an Italian institute specializing in tsunami-risk assessment following meetings held during the international conference of the Global Earthquake Model Foundation. The collaboration strengthens the exchange and application of geospatial, seismic and hazard evidence needed to assess tsunami exposure and risk in Palestine using internationally recognized methodologies. It supports comparable disaster-risk information and contributes to SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read the cooperation announcement.

OpenQuake and Global Earthquake Model risk assessment

ANNU’s Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center continued its collaboration with the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation and national partners through specialized application of the open-source OpenQuake Engine. The work builds institutional capacity to gather exposure information, model earthquake scenarios, quantify potential losses and prepare comparable risk evidence for disaster-risk planning and resilient infrastructure. It supports the Sendai Framework and SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read the 2026 activity.

International study on family sustainability and social resilience

ANNU participated in an international study examining the role of new media in strengthening family sustainability and social resilience. By contributing research evidence to an international comparative study, the University supported measurement of social conditions related to family resilience, inclusion and sustainable communities. The work contributes to SDGs 5, 10, 11, 16 and 17. Read the official ANNU news item.

Supporting Source Records

Overview

ANNU’s researchers contribute to the evidence used to understand and address sustainable development challenges in Palestine and internationally. Working with academic and clinical partners, they publish studies that collect, analyse or synthesize data on health and nutrition, gender equality, clean energy, water management and sustainable infrastructure. Their contributions range from patient-level research conducted with An-Najah National University Hospital to cross-country evidence syntheses, including the global meta-analysis of cataract-related visual impairment. The examples below show how ANNU’s research adds Palestinian data and expertise to the wider evidence base for measuring SDG-related needs and informing policy and practice.

Peer-Reviewed Outputs and Institutional Research Evidence (Selected)

• SDG 5 – Gender Equality: Prof. Waleed Sweileh’s bibliometric review, “Gender equality and women’s empowerment in Arab countries: a bibliometric review of the literature on SDG 5” (2024), maps the regional evidence base and informs policy/practice across the Arab world. (Journal: Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication; ANNU news coverage.) Emerald

• SDG 3 – Public Health/NCDs: Scientific Reports (2024): “Prevalence and factors associated with the correlation between malnutrition and pain in hemodialysis patients.” Multicenter work involving ANNU researchers contributes patient-level evidence to improve renal care pathways. (Also listed on ANNU’s Global Health Institute site.) Nature

• SDG 3 – Lifestyle & Health: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (2024): “Acne Vulgaris and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among university students: a case-control study.” Provides Middle-East data on diet–disease links for youth health promotion. BioMed Central

• SDG 3 – Hospital-based Outcomes: BMC Nephrology (2024): “Quality of life and nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study from Palestine.” Conducted at An-Najah National University Hospital, directly informing care guidelines for PD patients. BioMed Central

• SDGs 9, 11 & 12 – Sustainable Infrastructure: ANNU researchers’ paper on sustainable/permeable pavements (2024) highlights environmental and economic benefits for urban drainage and climate resilience—evidence for green infrastructure adoption. Najah University

• SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy: ANNU’s renewable-energy scholarship recognized by the Palestinian MoHE (Feb 2024) underscores active research leadership in clean-energy transitions and knowledge transfer. Najah University

• SDG 6 – Clean Water & Sanitation (institutional datasets feeding external benchmarking): ANNU publishes annual Water Measurement and related quality-control documentation (2024), providing structured, auditable datasets that align with SDG 6 monitoring and campus-as-living-lab practices.

Continuing Collaborations

Med-EcoSuRe: Energy-performance measurement in Mediterranean buildings

Through Med-EcoSuRe—Mediterranean University as Catalyst for Eco-Sustainable Renovation, ANNU collaborated with Mediterranean partners to measure and improve the energy performance of public and university buildings. Energy audits, building-performance information and renewable-energy assessments contributed to a shared regional framework for eco-sustainable renovation under SDGs 7, 11, 12, 13 and 17. Read about Med-EcoSuRe.

Climate Futures Exchange and Design Futures Exchange

In collaboration with Arizona State University, ANNU’s Climate Futures Exchange and related Design Futures Exchange activities examine climate vulnerability, resilience, sustainable architecture and public understanding through virtual reality and immersive design. The collaboration generates comparative learning and user evidence from Palestine and the United States to inform climate-sensitive building and design solutions under SDGs 4, 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read about the Climate Futures Exchange.

Climate Futures Exchange with Arizona State University

Through the Climate Futures Exchange, ANNU and Arizona State University used virtual exchange, immersive experience design and interdisciplinary teamwork to examine climate vulnerability, resilience and sustainable building solutions in Palestine and the United States. Project participation and outputs created comparative educational and design evidence under SDGs 4, 9, 11, 13 and 17. Read about the 2024 Climate Futures Exchange.

Global cataract estimates: Contributing Palestinian expertise to international health data

ANNU contributed to the international study Global estimates on the number of people blind or visually impaired by cataract: a meta-analysis from 2000 to 2024. The study pooled evidence across countries to estimate the global burden of cataract-related blindness and visual impairment. This contribution supports international health measurement, prevention planning and SDG 3.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment in Arab countries (SDG 5)

ANNU’s research on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Arab countries systematically mapped the regional evidence base relating to SDG 5. The work provides comparative information on research trends, gaps and policy priorities and supports international and regional monitoring of gender-related scholarship and action under SDGs 5, 10 and 17. Read the publisher’s record.

Supporting Source Records

Overview

ANNU participates in international and regional networks, research projects and institutional partnerships that connect Palestinian expertise with wider efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its roles range from coordinating joint projects and contributing research evidence to exchanging methods, developing shared indicators and supporting access to education during crises. The examples below document the University’s international engagement; activities involving joint data collection, comparative analysis or SDG monitoring.

Networks, Governance Roles and Strategic Partnerships

• SAGE Climate Change Centre (DAAD Global Centre): Establishment of the SAGE Climate Change Centre at ANNU (DAAD Global Centre), in cooperation with the University of Tübingen (Germany) and regional partners. This initiative supports joint research, graduate training, and open-source climate datasets, contributing to data collection on climate adaptation and community resilience, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source: SAGE Centre site; DAAD overview.

• Arab Council for Sustainable Development: Appointment of ANNU President Prof. Abdel-Nasser Zaid to the Board of the Arab Council for Sustainable Development (Association of Arab Universities) for the 2024–2027 term. This strengthens regional policy coordination, indicator alignment, and knowledge-sharing for SDG monitoring, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• TESI – Technical Education Support for Higher Education Students Initiative: This international initiative—led by ANNU with UNIMED—empowers Gaza students to continue their studies remotely and contributes practical SDG monitoring/evidence on access to education and crisis response, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships). Source

• Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) – strategic partnership: Strategic partnership with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin). The MoU (16 April 2024) advances joint lectures on AI and sustainability, collaborative research, and knowledge exchange, strengthening SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships). Source

• BASE Project – Bologna for Science Education (Erasmus+ CBHE): ANNU as coordinator. Modernizes science programs in Palestine & Jordan per Bologna standards; extensive regional/international partnership for measurable educational reform (SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 17). Source

• TU Dublin – Memorandum of Understanding: Signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Technological University Dublin. This advances joint teaching, research, and evidence-based collaboration on sustainability, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• University College Cork (Ireland): A cooperation agreement with University College Cork (Ireland) to promote children’s health rights in Palestine. This supports community-based evidence gathering and advocacy data, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• IEEE SYP R8 Computer Society Congress (Egypt): Participation by ANNU Computer Engineering students in the IEEE SYP R8 Computer Society international congress in Egypt. This contributes to shared challenge datasets, benchmarking, and international skills exchange in computing and sustainability, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• UNIMED and 29 Swiss universities – Gaza Student Empowerment Initiative: Hosting an international support meeting with UNIMED and representatives of 29 Swiss universities at ANNU to mobilize support for the Gaza Student Empowerment Initiative. This contributes to tracking access-to-education and inclusion indicators, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Regional Network of Decision Makers for Gender Equality: Appointment of Dr. Naeem Salameh to the Regional Network of Decision Makers for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. This supports shared indicators and best-practice exchange on inclusion, aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Publication on gender equality in the Arab world (Emerald): Publication by Prof. Walid Sweileh on gender equality in the Arab world in Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication (Emerald). This bibliometric study contributes evidence and policy-relevant datasets for SDG monitoring, aligning with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

International Conferences, Forums and Meetings

• Plant hybridization and biotechnology capacity-building project: Participation in the first annual meeting of an international capacity-building project in plant hybridization and biotechnology (via Zoom). This supports shared agronomic and biotechnology knowledge and contributes to data on sustainable agriculture and innovation, aligning with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Mediterranean Countries Conference (Rome): Participation in the Mediterranean Countries Conference in Rome, highlighting climate change as a real stress test for regional cooperation. This contributes to shared evidence and policy dialogue on resilience, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• ALECSO Arab Universities Twinning Forum (University of Sharjah): Participation in ALECSO’s Arab Universities Twinning Forum at the University of Sharjah. This promotes cross-border cooperation and comparable academic metrics, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• International Virtual Exchange Conference (IVEC 2024): Participation in the International Virtual Exchange Conference (IVEC 2024). This supports scalable, low-carbon global classrooms and shared learning outcomes, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• World Health Summit 2024 (Berlin): Participation in the World Health Summit 2024 (Berlin). This fosters global dialogue and evidence sharing in public health, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Doctoral programme governance workshop (Germany): Participation in a workshop on the governance of doctoral programs in Palestine, held in Germany. This strengthens comparable doctoral quality indicators and shared supervision frameworks, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Cooperation with Mexican medical institutions: Exploring cooperation with Mexican medical institutions for training and expertise exchange. This contributes to capacity-building and shared training indicators in health sciences, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Climate-exchange visit to Arizona State University (USA): Conclusion of a climate-exchange project visit to Arizona State University (USA). This advances joint environmental research and climate-action learning, aligning with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• DAAD annual conference (Berlin): Participation by ANNU’s UNESCO Water Chair and the Energy, Water and Food Security Center in DAAD’s annual conference (Berlin). This strengthens international collaboration and data sharing on water-energy-food systems, aligning with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID): Signing a cooperation agreement with the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID). This promotes dialogue, peacebuilding, and shared social-cohesion indicators, aligning with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• International digital university partner: Signing a memorandum of understanding with an international digital university partner to expand joint programs and capacity building. This supports shared educational innovation and skills metrics, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• INQAAHE membership: Joining the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). This facilitates benchmarking and data sharing on academic quality, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Sources: Arabic news item; English news item

• Arab Council for Sustainable Development – Board meeting: Participation of the University President in a meeting of the Board of the Arab Council for Sustainable Development. This strengthens regional policy coordination and indicator alignment, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Scholars at Risk (SAR) Global Conference: Participation in the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Global Conference to advocate for the Gaza Student Empowerment Initiative. This contributes to access-to-education tracking and inclusion indicators, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Barcelona Forum on Higher Education Policy and Management: Participation in the Barcelona Forum on Higher Education Policy and Management. This advances international academic partnerships and leadership-skills integration across disciplines, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• International surgery conference (Tunisia) and MoU with Tunis El Manar University: Representation of Palestine at an international surgery conference in Tunisia and signing an MoU with Tunis El Manar University and affiliated hospitals. This enhances medical education, research cooperation, and shared training indicators, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• UNIMED Week: Advocacy during UNIMED Week for stronger government support of academic exchange programs and for the Gaza Student Empowerment Initiative. This informs cross-border monitoring of student continuity and inclusion, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• Spring school in agricultural and environmental economics: Organization of a specialized spring school in agricultural and environmental economics. This fosters cross-border academic cooperation and contributes to evidence on sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation, aligning with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• International Environmental Sustainability Student Societies: Establishment of International Environmental Sustainability Student Societies. This enables student-led joint activities, knowledge exchange, and community projects with global peers, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Source

• International conference on earthquake engineering (Italy): Participation in an international scientific conference on earthquake engineering in Italy. This reflects ANNU’s involvement in gathering data related to natural disaster resilience, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Source

• WHO regional workshop – poison centres network: Participation in a regional workshop organized by the World Health Organization to launch a network for poisons centers in the Mediterranean region. This contributes to gathering data on public health and safety, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Source

• Water diplomacy conference (UNESCO Chair): An initiative led by the UNESCO Chair at ANNU, in collaboration with the Arab Water Network and the Palestinian National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science. This conference focused on water diplomacy in the Arab region, contributing to data collection and knowledge sharing on water resources, which aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Source

• FAO workshop (Geography and Geomatics Department): ANNU’s Geography and Geomatics Department’s participation in a workshop organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This involvement contributes to data collection on agricultural practices and environmental sustainability, supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Source

• International conference on biological models (Fez, Morocco): Participation in an international conference on biological models and their medical and industrial applications, held in Fez, Morocco. This collaboration allows for data collection and research development in biological sciences, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Source

• Al-Maqdisi project – visit to Lille University (France): A visit by the team working on the Al-Maqdisi project from ANNU to Lille University in France to enhance international partnerships in scientific research and technological development. This partnership involves data sharing and measurement practices, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Source

• An-Najah Institute for Global Health – University of Texas: An-Najah National University – An-Najah Institute for Global Health Partners with University of Texas Researchers on Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Studies

• South-South University Cooperation Network: ANNU is part of South University Cooperation Network: The project defines common indicators, aligns with global standards, and runs pre/post implementation surveys with a final assessment report on methods and findings. Sources: UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework guidance; ANNU news: 2026–2030 Action Plan for the South-South University Cooperation Network (30 Nov 2025); Consortium for Sustainability

Supporting Source Records