Founded in 1990, the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ) / Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development in the occupied Palestinian territory and the self-reliance of the Palestinian people through greater control over their natural resources. ARIJ works specifically to augment the local stock of scientific and technical knowledge and to introduce and devise more efficient methods of resource utilization and conservation, improved practices, and appropriate technology.

ARIJ represents several years of combined organizational experience in the Palestinian territory in the fields of economic, social, natural resources management, water management, sustainable agriculture, and political dynamics of development in the area. ARIJ plays an active role in the local community as an advocate for greater co-operation among local institutions, as well as international and non-governmental organizations. In its capacity as a national research institute, it frequently provides current data and research necessary to the formulation of position papers and policy strategies on such issues as land and water resources.