Palestine

Local Economic Development Units on the West Bank

secretariaatvngi — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 13:05:20 +0000

Local Economic Development Units on the West Bank secretariaatvngi Fri, 02/22/2019 - 15:05

Units of Cooperation and Inclusivity

In collaboration with the Municipal Development & Lending Fund (MDLF), VNG International has organized a two-day working event on Institutionalization & Operationalization of Local Economic Development (LED) Units for five pilot municipalities on the West Bank (Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Qalqilya and Dura).

This event is part of the IDEAL programme and is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. It aimed to define the process of LED and create a common understanding of the approach and policy that is used within the LED Unit and the way in which it is implemented.

Each of the five municipal LED-units is becoming increasingly active. The LED units of Ramallah and Dura “have profoundly improved the internal coordination between the LED unit, LED council and the municipal council, which contributes to the level of support from other municipal departments”[1]. Interestingly, Dura Municipality has achieved progress in regards to the inclusivity of the LED Council meetings. There is now a majority of female members within the LED council “which is an important step in making their voices heard by the decision makers”.[2]

The LED unit of Qalqilya signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Al Quds Open University to support the LED unit in researching projects in the LED field. Al-Bireh Municipality signed a Coordination Protocol with the Palestinian Investment Promotion Agency to fund community driven initiatives.

[1] Representative of the LED Units of Ramallah and Dura Municipality
[2] LED Unit Manager of Dura Municipality

Image

Country

Palestine

Program

IDEAL: Inclusive Decisions at Local Level

News date

Fri, 02/22/2019 - 12:00

10 Palestinian Municipalities joined the Local Economic Development club- LED training Workshop in Palestine

secretariaatvngi — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 09:08:31 +0000

10 Palestinian Municipalities joined the Local Economic Development club- LED training Workshop in Palestine secretariaatvngi Fri, 02/15/2019 - 11:08

Earlier this month, 2nd -4th December 2018, VNG International- Palestine Branch together with the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF) organized a three-days’ workshop training on Local Economic Development “LED” in Ramallah, Palestine.

The training is part of the IDEAL- Palestine programme that establishes mechanisms to enhance, organize and institutionalize Local Economic Development services within 15 municipalities.
This programme is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands, and aims to promote Local Economic Development (LED). The workshop targeted the municipalities of Nablus, Tulkarem, Al-Yamoun, Beit Sahour, Beit Ummar, Qabatya, Salfit, Surif, Ya’bad, and Jenin. These municipalities were represented by the heads of LED, Strategic planning and engineering units.
The main objectives of the training were to review the characteristics and define the process of LED, explaining the basic concepts and evolution of the implementation of LED actions over time, decentralization, urban and rural development policies as catalyzers for LED, Economic, social, environmental and political elements to be considered for the LED strategy, and understanding the LED process and the stages involved in the definition of the LED strategy.
Therefore, VNG International asked the LED international expert Alfonso Garcia to deliver the training in collaboration with the local LED experts Firas Zaghal and Ahmad Abu Laban, city Manager of Ramallah. The training placed a strong emphasis on LED since promoting LED means increasing chances to stimulating the economic growth, the creation of more and better jobs and rises in the income of households.
The training started by discussing the main programs of Strategic Development and Investment Plans (SDIPs), the purpose of local economic development (LED), characteristics of LED, the potential role of local government, national policy for rural development, and the active support of the national government. The participants shared their municipal SDIPs and worked collectively on sharing and discussing some models from their municipalities and international models. Afterwards, the participants received the training certificate signed by the VNG International.
A graduation ceremony for the training was held in presence of the Minister of Local Government, Dr. Hussein Araj, the Chairman of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities, Mr. Musa Hadid, the Deputy head of mission for the Netherlands Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority, Ms. Floor A.R. Nuiten-Elzinga and the Director of VNG International, Mr. Peter Knip. They gave their speeches to the participants, showing the importance of the Local Economic Development for the municipalities and the Palestinian National Economy.

Image

Country

Palestine

Program

IDEAL: Inclusive Decisions at Local Level

News date

Fri, 12/21/2018 - 12:00

Palestine, Technical Assistance for further Institutional Capacity at the Palestinian Authority

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:30:27 +0000

Palestine, Technical Assistance for further Institutional Capacity at the Palestinian Authority admin Tue, 02/12/2019 - 14:30

The wider objective of the project is to further enhance the PA's policy and institutional capacities as well as to assist the relevant ministries in planning, monitoring, and managing EU funded projects in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and in the Gaza Strip; and, as part of the EU-PA cooperation, to support policy dialogue in the context of the EU-PA Joint action Plan. 
 
The specific objectives are: 1. To improve the speed, the quality, the accountability and aid effectiveness of EU aid to the PA; 2. To improve PA's capacities in policy and project cycle management and in institutional development through the provision of technical assistance to line ministries/authorities, involved in the long term planning as well as in the day to day management of EU aid in West Bank/East Jerusalem and in the Gaza Strip. 
 
The expected results of the project are: 1. The capacity of the PA in institution building and development is increased ; 2. The capacity of the PA in designing, planning, implementing, supervising, monitoring and evaluating programmes, in accordance with the EU specific implementation modalities and principles of sound financial management as per the EU legal framework, is increased; 3. The capacity of the PA to effectively absorb EU aid is enhanced, the implementation of the Financing Agreements and other instruments is improved; 4. The capacity of the PA to effectively coordinate with its line ministries/authorities is increased; 5. The coordination between the Ministry of Finance/PA, the EU and other donors is improved; 6. The PA accountability is improved; 7. The capacity in the PA to run (administer) policy dialogue in the context of the ENP process is increased.

Start date

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 12:00

End date

Wed, 08/31/2016 - 12:00

Policy field(s)

Public policy and planning
Human resource management
Institutional development
Post-conflict reconstruction
Project management

Partners

Human Dynamics
ACE International Consultants

Funding

European Commission (DG EuropeAid)

Regions

Middle East

Country

Palestine

Peoples

Chris van der Valk

Project id

7582053

Project code

11333

Contact

Chris van der Valk

Project AOE

Involving Citizens in Decision Making

Palestine, Area (C) Resilience Development Initiative

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:30:26 +0000

Palestine, Area (C) Resilience Development Initiative admin Tue, 02/12/2019 - 14:30

The wider objective of the project is to enhance Palestinian Local Authorities' contribution to governance and development processes in Area C, as a precondition for more equitable, open and democratic society. 
 
The specific objectives: 
1. Strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of the Palestinian Local Authority Association (APLA); 
2. Enable APLA advocate for and lobby on issues related to Area C on behalf of its members (Local Authorities -LAs); 
3. Improve the capacity of Khalet Al Mayya Cluster LAs' capacities in providing services, in promoting local development and in contributing to the territorial integration are enhanced. 
 
The expected results of the project are: 
R1: A stronger and effective APLA; the institutional setup and organizational capacity of APLA are improved to carry its mandate and promote the interest and needs of LAs; Improved image of APLA and more efficient communication with its stakeholders; 
R2: APLA has a functioning Area C Technical Support Unit to support LAs; The mandate of Area C Unit is identified and agreed upon with stakeholders; A sustainable Area C Unit is established and equipped under the umbrella of APLA; Work plan to support LAs in Area C is developed and activated; Legal, advocacy, and lobbying activities relevant to Area C are piloted. 
R3: LAs in Khalet Al Mayya Cluster have the administrative, planning, and financial capacity to provide efficient and effective services to citizens; needs assessment completed and communities priorities are identified in in a participatory and inclusive manner; capacity building and institutional development support are provided to the 7 LAs; Integrated physical (outline) and strategic plans are developed for the cluster based on a Territorial approach to Local Development (TALD); Realistic and hanging fruits economic development opportunities are identified 
and utilized based on a Local Economic Development (LED) Plan. 
 
This program will be implemented in cooperation with APLA.

Start date

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 12:00

End date

Wed, 01/01/2020 - 12:00

Policy field(s)

Institutional development
Institutional development
Community development

Funding

European Commission

Regions

Middle East

Country

Palestine

Peoples

Jarik Stollenga

Project id

8008281

Project code

11380

Contact

Jarik Stollenga

Project AOE

Building More Effective Public Administration

Palestinian Territories, Decentralisation of Property Tax

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:30:25 +0000

Palestinian Territories, Decentralisation of Property Tax admin Tue, 02/12/2019 - 14:30

The overall objective is to investigate how decentralisation of property tax can contribute to enhance (property) tax revenues to enable municipalities in the Palestinian Territories to deliver improved basic services to citizens. 
 
Specific objectives are: 
1. Enhanced property tax revenues and services to citizens when they are given a full mandate to collect property tax themselves (component 1); 
2. Improved performance of the Ministry of Finance in terms of increased transparency and budget transfers to municipalities (component 2); 
3. Roadmap developed on the best kind of decentralisation of property tax in the context of the Palestinian Territories (component 3). 
 
Results of component 1, Pilot projects in 5 different municipalities are: 
- A performance analysis of the local taxes in place and an analyse of the municipality's readiness to implement property tax. The analyses will include organization, staff, IT support and taxpayer communication. 
- An best practice reference model will be implemented for property tax in each municipality based on a collection led approach; 
- IT will be implemented in each municipality to support the new reference model to collect property tax; 
- Each municipality will be able to educate its citizens on the importance of paying taxes; 
- There will be political commitment and leadership in each municipality to guarantee sustainability. 
- A yearly evaluation of the performance (improvements) of the pilot municipalities will take place 
- A report with lessons learned and best practices for future implementations of property tax in municipalities will be written 
 
Results of component 2, assist Ministry of Finance are: 
- A performance analysis will be executed of the property tax operations of the ministry of Finance. The analyses will include organization, staff, IT support and taxpayer communication. 
- Procedures will be improved to collect property tax and IT support and thus budget transfers to municipalities in terms of quality, transparency and increased revenues; 
- A report with lessons learned and best practices for future implementations of property tax in municipalities will be written. 
 
Result of component 3 Roadmap is: 
-A roadmap will be developed on the best kind of decentralisation of property tax in the context of the Palestinian Territories

Start date

Wed, 08/01/2018 - 12:00

End date

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:00

Policy field(s)

Taxation
Taxation

Funding

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands

Regions

World wide

Country

Palestine

Project id

8052062

Project code

11391

Contact

Siebe Stellingwerf

Project AOE

Building More Effective Public Administration

Palestinian Territory, Local Government Capacity Programme (LGCP) 2012-2016

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:30:24 +0000

Palestinian Territory, Local Government Capacity Programme (LGCP) 2012-2016 admin Tue, 02/12/2019 - 14:30

Objective: Employment, food security and improved legitimacy of local government 
Target group: 12 local governments on the West Bank 
Intended result: Enhanced capacity of local governments to support Local Economic Development (LED) 
Activities: Financing of municipal projects, workshops, on-the-job coaching and training 
 
It is not always easy to work in the Palestinian Territory. This is not because people are not open to cooperation and the exchange of knowledge, on the contrary. But the political sensitivity is substantial, in numerous areas. Nevertheless the authorities in the Palestinian Territory and VNG International want to continue their earlier cooperation. This resulted in the LGCP Palestinian Territory programme, which focuses on Local Economic Development. 
The Palestinian Authority sees the local approach as crucial for sustainable development, lower unemployment and greater food security. The Dutch government supports this approach, because it promotes the selfsufficiency 
of the people. The LGCP confirms this. 
 
umbrella 
At present Palestinian local governments often lack capacity and funds for stimulating local economic activity. 12 local governments on the West Bank will therefore be supported by the LGCP. The programme is implemented under the umbrella of the Municipal Development and Lending Fund (MDLF), in which the most important donors work together with the Palestinian Authority. Local governments can submit applications for financial and technical support of projects and services which enhance their local capacity. 
 
Aim 
Particularly smaller and more remote local governments are not sufficiently succeeding in creating a conducive economic environment. They are lacking capacity and resources. Citizens, civil society and local businesses are 
often insufficiently involved in policy development. A number of bigger local governments show how things can be done differently. The municipality of Bethlehem was the first to establish a Council for Local Economic Development, together with the private sector and the civil society. The LGCP also applies this participatory approach in the selected municipalities. This will take place under the auspices of the MDLF. Cooperation with this fund 
guarantees that the LGCP aligns with the policy of the central government, and of the donors who also opt for promoting local economic development. 
 
What do we want to achieve? 
- Commitment and enhanced capacity of the selected local governments to improve their services in the area of Local Economic Development. 
- More effective municipal policy and the establishment of strategic business alliances.

Start date

Sun, 01/01/2012 - 12:00

End date

Sat, 12/31/2016 - 12:00

Policy field(s)

Local economic development
Inter-municipal co-operation
Institutional development
Employment
Public policy and planning

Funding

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands

Regions

Middle East

Country

Palestine

Peoples

Irene Oostveen

Project id

7422717

Project code

LG.01.PS

Contact

Irene Oostveen

Project AOE

Improving Access to Basic Services