APN | Amman

13 January 2024

 

As a segment of the "Sessions for Palestine" series, Amrouz Café welcomed Mariam Al Jaajaa, APN General Manager, to discuss Green Resistance and the safeguarding of natural resources amidst mounting challenges and threats, particularly those posed by the Zionist occupation.

Al Jaajaa highlighted APN's work across its four programmes, guided by a vision centered on promoting peoples sovereignty over food and natural resources in the Arab world, particularly in Jordan and Palestine, as a pathway to attaining political sovereignty. She underscored that one key factor contributing to the success of these programmes is APN’s independence from foreign funding, which often dictates the agendas and priorities of civil society organizations, thus veering them away from grassroots engagement. Al Jaajaa noted that such dependency tends to result in work agendas that fail to bolster the national economy and negatively impact vital sectors like agriculture. Furthermore, she highlighted the tendency to support certain agricultural practices, such as hydroponics, which demand specific techniques and resources not readily accessible in local markets, thereby hindering efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and food security. Furthermore, Al Jaajaa addressed the influence of donors in promoting genetically modified materials, prioritizing the interests of food and seed companies over local needs and priorities.

The session saw positive engagement, with attendees expressing their interest in volunteering with APN.