Center for Development Studies 

The Birzeit University The Center for Development Studies (CDS) is the leading source of Palestinian development knowledge, reputed locally and internationally for the quality and relevance of it's work, valued as a resource by professionals, policy-makers, academics, and students.

The CDS was established in 1997 as a research programme specializing in development studies. CDS seeks to deepen and engage development concepts by offering theoretical and conceptual frameworks that place CDS at the center of development debates. CDS reinforces theory with practice through its various academic research, and community-oriented activities, that include seminars, workshops, survey research, evaluation studies, and needs assessments. Living under occupation for the past 40 years, Palestinian society's right to development remains severely restricted. However, the Center for Development Studies seeks to provide an institutional framework within which all development-related issues can be considered, researched and discussed with a view of providing practical guidance and assistance to the relevant decision makers.

The Centre coordinates a number of academic research projects in the area of development with local and international institutions. It is also involved in community based projects that seek to empower marginalized groups and integrate them in the development process. The Center's activities are supervised by a committee of academic and administrative staff members from Birzeit University who provide it with both technical and academic support.