A multitude of meanings is attached to the idea of development; the term is complex. It is a bout building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect. It is about changing power structures to reduce barriers that prevent people from participating in the issues that affect their lives. Sometime the implementation of the development programs does not consider the real needs of the grassroots. This paper presents the relationship between development theories and the exact needs of the grassroots. It also devoted particular attention to gender and development as the women have little power at all the levels. They need to be more involved in non-domestic or public sector. For development to be effective there is a need of equity consideration between empowerment and growth.

The paper examined the Palestinian

This paper argues that gender, poverty and the environment are three major challenges that have often been misunderstood or overlooked when planning for sustainable rural development. However, there is recently a growing awareness by international development planners, economists and policy makers that a focus on these three key challenges takes development, specifically rural development to a new level of or path to sustainability. The analysis of these three key challenges will help give appropriate consideration to the important role that should be played by "determined and committed" rural people, both men and women, in promoting and developing their own livelihoods and environment to reach sustainable development in collaboration with other agents in the society.

Often, planners are forced to operate under unpredictable conditions or use imprecise information. This paper examines the strategies adopted by Palestinian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)