The Rural Women’s Development Society (RWDS) is a Palestinian non-governmental organization working in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its origins date back to 1987, when it began as a women’s group within the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC). Today RWDS is a separate entity, independently registered with the Palestinian Authority under registration number: RA-287-C.
RWDS has a strong and respected presence among grassroots rural communities, with over 3,000 female members that form a network of 58 women’s clubs. It is this unique structure, geographic breadth and large core of dedicated volunteers that distinguish RWDS from other Palestinian women’s organizations.
RWDS advances the rights of rural women by fostering empowering and supportive spaces within their local communities. This is achieved through clubs, which highlight women’s invaluable contribution to Palestinian society, and through designing innovative projects on the topics of economic empowerment, political and social participation, and the prevention of violence. We use education and community participation, as well as mobilization, skill-building, and advocacy as tools to develop women into strong, committed and able leaders.
Website: https://rwds.ps/en