The book is aimed at educational professionals (educators, teachers, trainers) and policy makers, especially those working in international environment and in challenging contexts.
The volume illustrates the results of research carried out between 2018 and 2022 within international cooperation projects conducted in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
After the creation of an Index for Inclusion and Empowerment with local teachers, the research team trailed its use in supporting inclusive and equitable education school policies and instructional design practices. The Index, conceived in partnership with NGO EDUCAID, aims to enrich the original tool, focused on inclusion only (Booth and Ainscow, 2011), with the value-added concept of empowerment, thus not only overcoming obstacles hindering learning in the situation experienced by Palestinians, but providing teachers and students tools to enhance self-confidence and awareness, autonomy and responsibility for the own and community benefit. Integrating inclusion and empowerment incorporates the will and capacity of the young Palestinian school system to be inclusive while providing individuals with such necessary competences.

Elena Pacetti is Associate Professor in Methodologies of Teaching and Special Education, Department of Education Studies "G.M. Bertin", University of Bologna (Italy). She participates in several national and international research projects in the field of didactic innovation, inclusive education and empowerment (El Salvador, Palestine, Albania, Philippines, Nepal, Cameroon).

Alessandro Soriani is Senior assistant professor (fixed-term) in Methodologies of Teaching and Special Education, Department of Education Studies "G.M. Bertin", University of Bologna (Italy). His research explores the influence of relationships that develop within digital environments on the social climate of learning environments and the development of inclusive school's policies in contexts of social-violence.
Daniele Castellani (PhD) is a school principal with national and international teaching and management experiences. He collaborates with the University of Bologna (Italy), in international research projects in the field of didactic innovation, inclusive education and empowerment.