"A small proportion of these works will undergo a spot check by
UN contracted engineers. This process will enable the rehabilitation of an
estimated 80,000 damaged homes and properties. "

UNITED NATIONS
Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism
Fact Sheet
http://www.unsco.org/Gaza%20Reconstruction%20Mechanism%20Fact%20Sheet%209%20October%202014.pdf

1.The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) is a temporary agreement between
the Government of Palestine (GoP) and the Government of Israel (GoI)
brokered by the United Nations in September 2014. If implemented in good
faith this mechanism represents an important step towards the objective of
lifting all remaining closures, and a signal of hope to the people of Gaza.
Its overall objective is to enable construction and reconstruction work the
large scale now required in the Gaza Strip, in keeping with the requirement
to:
a. Enable the GoP to lead the reconstruction effort;
b. Enable the Gazan private sector;
c. Assure donors that their investments in construction work in Gaza will be
implemented without delay;
d. Address Israeli security concerns related to the use of construction and
other ‘dual use’ material.

2. The GRM foresees two main streams of work: GoP and UN led. Both rely on
the establishment of a central database within the GoP’s Ministry of Civil
Affairs (MoCA) to track the material required and delivered to the Gaza
Strip.

a. Government of Palestine led works
i. Repair of damaged homes/properties. After a basic assessment of damages
sustained and quantities required for repairs (either by the GoP or the UN)
owners/dwellers will be able to purchase aggregate, bar, cement and other
‘dual use’ materials from GoP approved vendors in Gaza. A small proportion
of these works will undergo a spot check by UN contracted engineers. This
process will enable the rehabilitation of an estimated 80,000 damaged homes
and properties. A large number of the detailed assessments are now ready
for inclusion in this database. A more detailed public fact sheet for
intended beneficiaries in Gaza will soon be made available.

ii. Large scale public and private sector works. Projects will largely be
identified based on the GoP National Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
for Gaza. Following the preparation of basic engineering materials
(schematic drawings and bills of quantity), information will be registered
in the central database for subsequent approval by GoI. GoP licensed
contractors undertaking these works will then be able to procure the needed
quantities of building materials, for public infrastructure (e.g. hospitals
and schools) and for the private sector (e.g. factories) directly from
GoP approved vendors in Gaza. A more detailed public fact sheet for the
private sector in Gaza will soon be made available.

b. United Nations led works
i. The mechanism will ease the approval procedures, make them predictable
and lighten the administrative/coordination process for UN agencies engaged
in construction work including inter alia schools, clinics and supporting
the provision of basic utilities. Approvals will be issued at the
‘Programme of Works’ level rather than on a project by project basis. It is
expected that this new approval mechanism will facilitate smooth
implementation of the “UN Programme of Work” to be submitted to the
International Cairo Conference on Palestine for Gaza Reconstruction.

Approval has already been received for the outstanding (pre July 2014)
projects totalling US$100 million from the Government of Israel. As
vendor/contractor building capacity in the Gaza Strip grows, the UN will
also be able to procure materials directly from Palestinian vendors.

3. A High Level Steering Team, consisting of representatives of the GoP
(Ministry of Civil Affairs), GoI (CoGAT) and the UN (UNSCO) has been
established and is actively engaging to ensure all processes move forward
smoothly. UNOPS has been commissioned to establish a unit to ensure and
coordinate end use monitoring.

4. Progress to date:
a. The UNOPS support project to the GRM is now being established, and a
first version of the mechanism database referred to above has been created
using seed funding. An initial startup structure will be in place in Gaza
shortly after the conclusion of the Cairo conference. Further funding is
now required in order to enable a scaling up of this support to the GRM.
b. In addition to the US$ 500 million that the UN has or was in the process
of implementing in advance of the conflict this summer, a further approval
of US$ 100m was received in September 2014.
c. In keeping with the agreement, construction material is expected to enter
the Gaza Strip shortly to support repairs of damaged homes and private
property – a priority area.

October 2014