The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) have always represented one of the most complex contexts in which to work. Recent developments in the Middle East have further worsened an already fragile situation, marked by years of conflict, restrictions on freedom of movement, and limited access to essential services.

COOPI began its operations in 2002 in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, focusing on the sectors of Water and Sanitation (WASH), waste management, economic support for vulnerable groups, education, and protection. Between 2009 and 2012, COOPI particularly focused on vocational training and the labour inclusion of youth and women in East Jerusalem.

Thanks to its long-standing collaboration with Education for Employment (EFE) in the Middle East and North Africa, in October 2025, COOPI resumed its activities by supporting the initiative “HELP GAZA: Emergency Support through Medical and Psychosocial Assistance for the People of Gaza”, implemented in collaboration with EFE-Palestine.

The project aims to strengthen the local humanitarian response in a territory devastated by conflict by training young first responders — both women and men — capable of providing first aid and psychosocial support in areas where hospitals are no longer operational.