Challenges of Implementing Institutional Change Strategies in the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development during Crises: A Case Study in the Aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Events

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the challenges facing the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development in implementing institutional change strategies during crises, in light of the post–October 7, 2023 experience. This was achieved by analyzing the responses of social workers employed in the Ministry regarding administrative and organizational challenges, human and professional challenges, financial and logistical challenges, and challenges related to crises and emergency conditions.

The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and utilized a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 83 social workers.

The findings showed institutional challenges were rated as high, with a mean of 3.59 out of 5. Financial and logistical challenges were the most significant (M = 3.86), followed by emergency-related challenges (M = 3.79), human-professional challenges (M = 3.48), and administrative-organizational challenges (M = 3.22). The results showed no statistically significant differences at (α ≤ 0.05) for gender, education, or experience. This suggests these challenges are institutional, not individual.

The study recommends adopting flexible institutional change strategies that focus on reducing centralization, enhancing interdepartmental coordination, developing proactive emergency response plans, ensuring stable financial and technical support, and providing specialized training programs aligned with the requirements of emergency fieldwork.