The purpose of this workshop was to discuss current challenges and opportunities related to urban resilience in war-affected areas, as well as to exchange views on open science practices, digital infrastructure for research collaboration, and capacity-building needs.

The university was represented at this event by members of the project team: Dr. Zahraa Zawawi, Prof. Allam Mousa, and Dr. Abdelhaleem Khader, along with a group of stakeholders from within the university, including Prof. Munqiz Shtaya, Director of Scientific Centers; Dr. Belal Rahal, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture; and Prof. Tamer Khatib, representing the energy sector.

The workshop brought together participants from Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Ukraine, representing academia, public institutions, civil society organizations, and practitioners working in the fields of urban development, open science, and resilience in conflict-affected contexts. It featured fruitful discussions on the challenges facing cities in conflict zones, particularly in water, food, energy, housing, and gender equality, as well as on open science practices and digital infrastructure for scientific research.

The workshop also included a presentation of the preliminary results of a survey of over 200 participants from Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Ukraine. The survey focused on identifying challenges and needs related to urban resilience and developing research capacities.

The results showed that the most prominent challenges facing urban systems in conflict zones include infrastructure destruction, limited access to basic services, and weak implementation of open science practices. Approximately 42.7% of participants reported not using these practices regularly.

An-Najah National University has actively contributed to the scientific discussions and the provision of academic insights, affirming its leading role in supporting applied scientific research and promoting international cooperation in sustainability and urban resilience, in line with the priorities of sustainable development in Palestine.