Battir, 12 November 2025 – As part of the COOPER-IDEA initiative, implemented by WeWorld in collaboration with ESDC and Halieus under the Be the Impact project funded by the Italian Cooperation, a monitoring visit took place in Battir, Bethlehem Governorate, to visit some of the local entities supported through this intervention. COOPER-IDEA aims to increase the productivity of 30 cooperatives active in the agricultural and artisanal sectors in the West Bank, fostering synergies and collaboration between different cooperative platforms, with the goal of strengthening the domestic market.
During the visit, the AICS Jerusalem delegation, together with representatives from WeWorld and ESDC, visited two local cooperatives: the Battir Agricultural Cooperative, primarily focused on honey production, which has 27 members and over 400 beehives; and the Battir Cooperative Society, an entirely female cooperative with 18 members, specializing in transforming agricultural products into traditional Palestinian dishes, and also managing a local restaurant where mission participants had the opportunity to taste typical dishes from this part of the Middle East.
The visit allowed participants to observe firsthand the activities of the cooperatives, the work carried out by WeWorld and its partners under the Be the Impact project, and the overall impact of this initiative on the local community, strengthening collaboration between partners and beneficiaries.
