Promoting more efficient local governance for inclusive and peaceful development

Project description

Title: Local Governance Reform Programme II
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Co-funded by: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (September 2019 to April 2022)​​​​​​​
Country: Palestinian Territories​​​​​​​
Lead executing agency: Palestinian Ministry of Local Government​​​​​​​
Overall term: 2019 to 2023

Context

Local government services in the Palestinian Territories have largely been shaped by the Israeli occupation, which has been ongoing since 1967 and by the limited sovereignty and crisis-ridden financial situation of the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem and the intra-Palestinian division between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since 2007 also have an impact.

Improving social cohesion is one of the key conditions for long-term peaceful development. It is just as important to prevent further divergence in economic, political and institutional development across the Palestinian Territories.

Bearing this in mind, local governments are particularly important in securing the livelihood of the population. However, the vast majority of local authorities are not able to provide municipal services effectively or to ensure the systematic and structural participation of citizens. This particularly applies to women, youth and people with disabilities.

Objective

Local government services have improved, especially in the areas of local development and spatial planning, financial management and social accountability.

Approach

The project’s political partner is the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government, alongside various governance partners, civil society and academia. With a focus on the need for peace and security in the Palestinian territories, the project supports the partner municipalities in the following ways:

• by modernising their administrations, and improving the quality of their services.
• by increasing public accountability and anti-corruption efforts, as well as institutionalising effective citizen participation – especially for youth, women and people with disabilities.
• by training local elected officials and staff at civil society organisations to cooperate in local political planning and decision-making

With all these activities, the project supports local reform processes and increases confidence in needs-oriented, transparent and inclusive local government action.

Last update: October 2022