ANNU has several impactful collaborations with the local, regional, and international spheres. This comes to achieve the aim of collaborating to grow together exchange the best practices in the education sector and develop the educational system. This also aims at working together and sharing experiences to make our local societies more sustainable.

ANNU has a Memorandum of Understanding with MA’AN Development Center under the environmental and climate justice project in Palestine. This agreement was made with the cooperation of WE EFFECT, the Swedish Embassy, the Palestinian Agricultural Institutions Coalitions (PAIC) which includes the Land Research Center, The Agricultural Development Association (PARC), and the Union of Agricultural Work Committee (UAWC). This project aims to contribute to improving environmental and climate justice in Palestine by facilitating collaboration between experts from different sectors to achieve shared goals, especially in Palestinian society, and help achieve a positive change in protecting the environment and adapting to climate change. The project achieves this by spreading awareness of the issue and conducting applicable research. This project aims to achieve SDG 13 (Climate Action) by protecting climate justice and fostering climate resilience, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) is achieved through creating strong collaborations and partnerships with regional, international, NGOs, local and governmental partners, and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

ANNU has a collaboration with The Palestinian Institute for National Security Research. This MoU immensely aligns with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). It helps to facilitate applicable research on national security issues and to serve the local society by fostering peace and national security. It also strongly aligns with the goals of SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals) since ANNU is committed to contributing to the national government and regional non-governmental organizations' SDG policy development by facilitating research collaboration to contribute to identifying the security and justice challenges and influencing government policies.

ANNU has contributed to setting the Green Building guidelines for Palestine with The Ministry of Public Works, The Palestinian Water Authority, and The Palestinian Standards Institution. This plan aims to solve the problems that the Palestinian society suffers from within the framework of limited resources such as water and energy and the high costs of operating and maintaining buildings in Palestine. It also aims to contribute to mitigating harmful emissions that contribute to changing the climate. This collaboration comes to achieve SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals) in initiating collaborations with the national government to identify challenges and set SDG-related policies to make Palestine more sustainable. It is also related to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) as it aims to foster sustainable construction practices, which are essential for creating resilient and environmentally friendly urban areas. By encouraging the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient designs, ANNU’s involvement helps to improve the sustainability of cities and communities in Palestine. Moreover, the guidelines aim to reduce harmful emissions associated with building construction and operation. By promoting energy efficiency and sustainable practices, ANNU’s contributions help to mitigate climate change impacts, aligning with SDG 13’s goal to combat climate change and its effects. They also focus on integrating renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient practices in building designs.

ANNU is dedicated to achieving SDG goals, identifying challenges, and developing solutions through local, regional, and international memberships, with the aim of engaging with other institutions locally and abroad to exchange experiences and knowledge. It also has a direct involvement in:

National Government Memberships in SDGs Policy Development

An-Najah National University (ANNU) has proudly gained a membership on the board of the Arab Council for Sustainable Development, operating under the Association of Arab Universities for the term 2024-2027 through its president Prof. Abdul Naser Zaid. This membership was given to ANNU due to its continuing dedication to embedding the sustainable development goals (SDGs) within its educational and development policies and strategies and now acting as a representative for Palestine of the Arab Council for Sustainable Development Management. This membership is aligned with the aim of achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).  Source

Dr. Naeem Salameh is ANNU’s member in the Regional Network of Male Decision-Makers through the UN Women Palestine. The network will work on fostering justice and equality following SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by facilitating the engagement of men who are in key public decision-making positions for gender equality and women’s empowerment efforts in the Arab region.

Dr. Hiba Al-Fares, the former dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, ANNU’s representative in the Palestinian Good Agricultural Practices (Pal Gap), among the Palestinian’s highest agricultural quality and standards. The Pal Gap is a collaborative initiative to enhance community resilience, livelihood, and food security through sustainable agricultural practices. This membership aligns with SDG 2 (zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) & SDG 15 (Life on Land).  Source

An-Najah National University (ANNU) is a member of The National Epidemiology Committee in the Palestinian Ministry of Health through Dr. Souad Belkebir, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine. This involvement aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by enhancing public health systems, improving disease surveillance and control, promoting health research and evidence-based policies, and fostering capacity building and knowledge sharing between academic and public health sectors.

An-Najah National University (ANNU) is a member of the national team developing the Palestinian Certification System for Organic Products through Dr. Munqeth Ishtaya, head of the Scientific Centers at ANNU. This membership aligns with SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that maintain healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. The certification system encourages environmentally friendly farming techniques, reduces harmful chemical usage, and enhances market access for sustainable products, all of which support the goals of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.

An-Najah National University (ANNU) participates in The Advisory Committee for the Rule of Law and Access to Justice Project at the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics through Dr. Amjad Abdul-Fatah Hassan, an instructor in the Faculty of Law and Political Science. This membership directly contributes to achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting the rule of law, enhancing access to justice, and strengthening institutional frameworks in Palestine. Through this involvement, ANNU supports efforts to build inclusive and peaceful societies while ensuring accountability and effective governance.

An-Najah National University (ANNU) is a member of The Scientific Committee for Agricultural Pesticides through Dr. Tawfiq Qubbaj, an associate professor in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. This membership directly contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that enhance food security and ensure access to safe and nutritious food. It also supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by encouraging the responsible use of agricultural chemicals, which minimizes environmental impact and promotes sustainable practices in agriculture. Additionally, the committee's focus on pesticide safety aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as it helps to ensure the health of agricultural workers and consumers by promoting safe pesticide practices.

ANNU has direct involvement in developing SDG-related policies with the Palestinian Water Authority and the Palestinian Ministry of Health through Dr. Raed Alkoni, the dean of the Faculty of Science, who is a member of The Epidemiology and Waterborne Diseases and Sanction Committee. This immensely contributes to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

ANNU is a part of The Tourism Development Committee for Nablus City through her representative Dr. Loay Abu Al-Saud. This membership supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 9 (industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by promoting sustainable tourism by developing the city’s infrastructure and transportation system to be environmentally and culturally attractive. This will also pour into SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Developing the city’s infrastructure and attracting more tourists, will lead to creating more jobs and developing the domestic market leading to economic growth and a reduction in the employability rates.

ANNU is the lead in helping to make Palestine more sustainable not only through direct policy involvement with the government, but also through Workshops, conferences, and consultations.

An-Najah National University’s units and centers work together with the local government and municipalities to provide data, nominate experts, and provide tools and resources to achieve the SDGs. The Scientific Centers represented by its Energy, Environment and Climate Change Research Unit and The Water Research Unit as a part of The Energy, Water and Food Security Research Center work together with the Palestinian Energy & Natural Resources Authority, the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government, and the private electricity companies in Palestine. This directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by enhancing water management and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting sustainable energy solutions. Moreover, it fosters resilience to climate change impacts and promotes sustainable practices.  Source 1 | Source 2

Policy Engagements from 2023 to 2025

In 2024, ANNU’s contribution to SDG policy development was strengthened through direct engagement in several national and regional initiatives:

1. National Environmental and Energy Policy Consultation (Apr 2024)

ANNU, represented by its Energy and Water Research Centers and Sustainability Office, collaborated with the Palestinian Ministry of Environmental Affairs to review and update the national “Green and Clean Palestine 2030” roadmap. University experts developed data-driven models assessing renewable-energy adoption scenarios and water-energy nexus interventions, providing policy recommendations for effective implementation.

2. SDG Education and Innovation Framework (Jun 2024)

In cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and regional NGOs, ANNU contributed to the National SDG Education Framework, focusing on integrating sustainability literacy and digital innovation into higher-education curricula and aligning programs with national sustainable-development priorities.

3. Monitoring and Adaptive Management

Through the Najah2Twin Smart Campus Digital Twin and the University Sustainability Dashboard, ANNU supports real-time data collection and monitoring of sustainability indicators that feed into national SDG reporting systems, enabling adaptive management and policy refinement.

4. Regional Policy Engagement and Partnerships

In 2024, ANNU joined regional policy dialogues and working groups led by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and UNIMED (Mediterranean Universities Union) to exchange best practices in sustainability governance, ensuring Palestinian academic perspectives are represented in Mediterranean-wide SDG cooperation models.

5. Leadership in Regional Sustainability Governance

ANNU’s leadership was reinforced through the appointment of Prof. Abdel-Nasser Zaid, President of ANNU, as a member of the Arab Council for Sustainable Development and the Arab Universities Union for Sustainable Development (2024). He participated in strategic board meetings shaping regional sustainability agendas and coordinating SDG implementation among Arab universities. (Sources: 1 Apr 2024 | 4 Jul 2024)  Source 1 | Source 2

6. International and Inter-University Policy Cooperation (2024 – 2025)

ANNU expanded its policy partnerships through collaboration with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to advance SDG-driven research, innovation, and governance frameworks focused on sustainable-campus management and digital transformation. (Source: TU Dublin – ANNU Partnership)  Source

7. National Planning and Decision-Making Engagements (Aug 2024)

ANNU experts joined the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) national round-table on “Challenges of Strategic Planning in Palestine”, providing academic insight that supported the development of coherent national sustainability and economic policies. (Source: MAS Round-Table)  Source

8. Policy Dialogue for Urban Resilience and Future Planning (Jan 2024)

ANNU hosted policy decision-makers and municipal authorities under the Tomorrow’s Cities Initiative, conducting scenario modelling for resilient urban planning in Nablus. (Source: Tomorrow’s Cities)  Source

9. Humanitarian and Policy-Supportive Partnerships (May 2024)

ANNU launched the “Empowering Gaza Students Initiative” with UNIMED and partner universities, enabling displaced students to continue higher education remotely—illustrating policy-oriented cooperation for educational resilience. (Source: ANNU News)  Source

10. National Professional Representation and Policy Oversight

Eng. Munther Bahjat Mohammad Dweikat, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, serves as ANNU’s elected representative to the General Conference of the Palestinian Engineers Association (2021–2025), participating in policy review, budget approval, and internal-bylaw revisions—ensuring ANNU’s input into national infrastructure policy.

11. National Government Policy Dialogue (Oct 2024)

ANNU met with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate policy-support actions in agricultural education, training, and joint projects, aligning university capabilities with ministerial development priorities. (Source: Agriculture Cooperation Meeting)  Source

12. Regional and Arab Council Engagement (2023 – 2025)

ANNU actively contributes to Arab-regional higher-education policy and SDG cooperation, reinforcing dialogue and strategy development for sustainable growth across the Arab world:

Arab Board Meeting for Training and Student Creativity – Morocco (2023): (Source: 9 May 2023)  Source

Arab Universities Exchange Forum – Kurdistan (2024): (Source: 2 May 2024)  Source

Exchange of Training Opportunities Forum – Libya (2025): (Source: 23 Apr 2025)  Source

55th General Conference of the Arab Universities Union – Kuwait (2025): (Source: 30 Apr 2025)  Source

UNIMED General Assembly – Italy (2025): (Source: 15 Jul 2025)  Source

13. International Policy and Advocacy Leadership (2024 – 2025)

Mediterranean Student Summit – Palermo, Italy (2024): Dr. Khayri Rassas represented ANNU and called for bold student leadership to drive regional transformation and SDG action. (Source: Mediterranean Student Summit)  Source

TESIS Forum on Educational Resilience (2024): Dr. Rassas emphasised cross-border collaboration to strengthen educational systems in conflict zones. (Source: TESIS Forum)  Source

UNESCO High-Level Panel on Right to Science (Dec 2024): Dr. Sanaa Al-Sarghali, ANNU UNESCO Chair, advocated for new global mechanisms to protect scientists in conflict, influencing international policy dialogue. (Source: UNESCO News)  Source

17- Government–University policy dialogue (Prime Minister visit) — panel with PM Dr. Mohammad Mustafa and ministers at ANNU.  Source

18- An-Najah Hosts Seminar on Bologna System for Higher Education Reform within BASE Erasmus+ Project  Source

19- ANNU’s Faculty of Humanities and Education, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, launched Phase III of the Early Childhood Improvement Project in Palestine—advancing SDG-aligned policy implementation and system strengthening (SDG 4.2 & SDG 17).  Source

20- ANNU signs a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Ministry of Labor to strengthen career guidance, work-based learning, and graduate employability—advancing SDG-aligned policy and partnerships (SDGs 8, 4.4 & 17).  Source

21- ANNU’s Palestinian Institute of IHL & Human Rights meets the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the OPT—advancing SDG-aligned policy dialogue and accountability (SDGs 16 & 17).  Source

22- ANNU’s Faculty of Law and Political Science hosted the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission to review the “Human Rights & Gender” course, aligning learning outcomes and quality standards with national policy and SDG targets (SDGs 4.7, 5, 16 & 17).  Source

23- Participation as an expert in the NEXUS Think Tank and co-authoring a policy paper on innovation in energy, water, and agriculture for South Mediterranean countries—advancing SDG-aligned policy development and cross-sector partnerships (SDGs 7, 6, 2, 9, 13 & 17).

24- Loay M. A. Abu Al-Saud (Department of Social Sciences) serves as a permanent member of ICOMOS Palestine (01 Nov 2024–31 Oct 2025), preparing scientific and technical reports to protect and nominate Palestinian cultural heritage sites to UNESCO, and advocating against looting, illegal excavation, trafficking, and destruction—advancing SDGs 11.4, 16 & 17.

25- Mahmoud Al-Koni (Department of Biology) conducts applied agricultural research aligned with the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)/Ministry of Agriculture priorities—supporting evidence-based policy and SDG-aligned agriculture (SDG 2, with links to SDGs 12, 13 & 15).

26- Women’s empowerment policy meeting — ANNU and Ministry of Women’s Affairs, boardroom discussion.

27- City governance coordination — ANNU leadership meets Nablus Municipality on joint programs.

Verified Policy Development Cases for 2025

In addition to the policy engagements described above, An-Najah National University contributed directly to several national and regional policy-development processes during 2024–2025. These contributions included drafting strategic plans and governance frameworks, reviewing proposed legislation, identifying sectoral challenges, formulating policy objectives and indicators, developing decision-support approaches, and participating in the implementation and monitoring of regional SDG frameworks.

28. Developing the South–South University Cooperation Network Action Plan, 2026–2030

In 2025, An-Najah National University played a central role in developing the 2026–2030 Action Plan of the South–South University Cooperation Network, an initiative jointly led by UNESCO-IESALC and the United Nations Office for South–South Cooperation.

ANNU was represented by Prof. Sameer Abu Eisheh and Dr. Abdelhaleem Khader, who participated in specialised working groups that drafted the plan’s principal themes, objectives and implementation priorities. Their contributions addressed capacity-building in higher education, university governance, institutional sustainability, collaborative research, innovation and technology.

ANNU also contributed to developing a Sustainability Governance Framework for higher education and to formulating indicators that enable universities to align institutional policies and practices with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. This represents direct involvement in developing strategies, establishing monitoring indicators and supporting future implementation and adaptive management.

Related SDGs: SDGs 4, 9, 16 and 17. Evidence: ANNU contribution to the SUCN 2026–2030 Action Plan  Source

29. Review of the Draft Palestinian Sharia Court Procedures Law

On 19 May 2025, ANNU’s Faculties of Sharia and Law and Political Science, in cooperation with the Diwan of the Chief Justice, organised a specialised national workshop to review the draft Palestinian Sharia Court Procedures Law.

ANNU academics joined government officials, judges, legal practitioners and civil-society representatives in examining the proposed legal provisions and identifying areas requiring amendment. The discussions addressed access to justice, protection of family rights, shared marital property, judicial efficiency and the need to accelerate court procedures.

The workshop recommended involving academic experts, governmental institutions, civil-society organisations and other relevant stakeholders in drafting the final version of the law. This constitutes direct university input into national legislative development and supports an inclusive, evidence-based law-making process.

Related SDGs: SDGs 5, 10, 16 and 17. Evidence: ANNU workshop reviewing the draft Sharia Court Procedures Law  Source

30. Input into Palestine’s National Industrial Development Sector Plan

ANNU contributed to a consultative process organised by the Palestinian Ministry of Industry to develop the national sectoral plan for industrial development. The University was represented by Eng. Tamer Haddad, an academic in Industrial Engineering.

The consultation focused on diagnosing the challenges and opportunities facing Palestinian industrial sectors, identifying priority areas and developing policies and procedures to increase competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth. ANNU provided an academic and applied-research perspective on industrial development, workforce competencies and the alignment of national industrial priorities with technological developments and sustainable development.

This engagement demonstrates ANNU’s direct participation in identifying national development challenges and contributing to the formulation of a strategic government plan.

Related SDGs: SDGs 8, 9, 12 and 17. Evidence: ANNU participation in the national industrial-development plan consultation  Source

31. Regional Disaster-Risk Reduction Policy and Decision-Support Development

In February 2025, ANNU participated in the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in cooperation with the League of Arab States.

Prof. Jalal Dabbeek, Director of ANNU’s Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center, contributed to regional discussions on resilient infrastructure, disaster-risk financing, preparedness, emergency response, recovery and reconstruction. Dr. Jamal Dabbeek presented the “Cities of Tomorrow” programme and ANNU’s work on developing a decision-support system for risk-informed urban planning in Nablus.

ANNU representatives also contributed to discussions on progress in implementing the Sendai Framework, local governance, urban resilience and the development of a unified approach to assessing earthquake risks across Arab countries. This engagement provided scientific and technical input into regional policy implementation, future-risk modelling, monitoring and disaster-risk management.

Related SDGs: SDGs 9, 11, 13 and 17. Evidence: ANNU participation in the Sixth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction  Source

32. Input into the European Union’s Emerging Mediterranean Policy Framework

In July 2025, ANNU contributed to regional higher-education policy advocacy through Dr. Kherieh Rassas, President of the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED). During UNIMED’s meetings, she called for higher education and scientific research to be formally embedded within the European Union’s emerging Mediterranean Pact.

The intervention highlighted the role of universities in regional stability, climate action, innovation, educational resilience and sustainable development. It also advocated stronger investment in higher education and research as instruments for addressing shared Mediterranean challenges.

This engagement gave ANNU direct input into a regional non-governmental policy dialogue connected with the future priorities and cooperation framework of the Mediterranean region.

Related SDGs: SDGs 4, 9, 13, 16 and 17. Evidence: UNIMED policy engagement on the Mediterranean Pact  Source

33. National Justice-Sector Governance through the Palestinian Judicial Institute

In October 2025, Dr. Naeem Salameh of ANNU’s Faculty of Law and Political Science was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Judicial Institute. The board includes senior representatives of the Palestinian judiciary, Public Prosecution, legal profession and academic sector.

Through this formal national role, ANNU contributes directly to the governance and development of judicial education, professional training and capacity-building programmes for judges, prosecutors and court personnel. This involvement supports the continuous improvement of Palestine’s justice institutions and strengthens the connection between academic expertise, judicial practice and national institutional development.

Related SDGs: SDGs 4, 16 and 17. Evidence: Appointment of ANNU academic to the Palestinian Judicial Institute Board  Source

Collectively, these engagements demonstrate ANNU’s involvement across the policy-development cycle:

These examples demonstrate that ANNU’s contribution extends beyond consultation or institutional partnership. University representatives provide academic evidence, technical expertise, draft policy content, strategic objectives, monitoring indicators and decision-support approaches to national government institutions and regional organizations. Through these roles, ANNU contributes to identifying challenges, designing interventions, monitoring implementation and improving policies in response to emerging evidence and changing conditions.

The following news articles provide a consolidated record of An-Najah National University’s engagement with national government bodies, municipalities, regional non-governmental organisations, international organisations and other policy stakeholders. Together, they document the wider institutional context supporting ANNU’s involvement in identifying sustainable-development challenges, contributing academic and technical expertise, participating in policy and strategy discussions, supporting implementation, and strengthening monitoring, reporting and adaptive management.

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2025

2024