On 16 October 2011, the World Bank in collaboration with the BZU Center for Development Studies in Gaza held a workshop to discuss the World Bank report on "Coping with Conflict: Poverty and Inclusion in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.”

World Bank Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza, Mariam Sherman, expressed her gratitude to BZU for the efforts undertaken to support and promote development in Palestine. She stressed that the report focuses on vital issues related to sustainable development in the Middle East, thus monitoring gender gaps and showing divergence in several areas. Further, the report considers the implications on poverty resulting from restrictions on movement of goods and people; it also locates the “highest poverty rates in areas with the most formidable checkpoints and barriers.” (World Bank Press Release). The workshop was moderated by the Director of the Arab Center for Agricultural Development, Mohsen Abu Ramadan.

Coordinator of the Center for Development Studies in Gaza, Ghassan Abu Hatab, called for supporting the trends that contribute to sustainable development in Palestine, particularly the philosophy of self-empowerment, and for efforts towards gender-issue awareness. Economist and Research Team Leader, Ms. Tara Vishwanath, gave a presentation of the main findings of the report, revealing that international aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip had doubled by 2009, and a staggering 71% of the Gazans relied, at that time, on at least one form of social assistance.