Annual Update 2019 VNG International

 

‘With the support of ARD project, we have developed the first-ever APLA’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2022. The new strategic plan will empower APLA to better represent and support all LGUs in Palestine and advocates for their interests and rights, locally and internationally, in line with the National Policy Agenda and in accordance with good governance principles.’

Mr. Musa Hadid,

President of APLA

 

‘The EU-project is currently helping us to create a more responsive, accountable and transparent local government institutions that put citizens’ interests and needs first each and every day.’

Mr. Abdallah Anati,

Executive Director-APLA

 

‘The ARD Initiative project is one of the most important projects that the region has been getting since the establishment of the council as a qualitative project that focuses on the sustainability of the institution and its establishment in accordance with sound administrative and financial rules as well as improving the relationship with the citizens. A year has passed since the project started and we felt improvement in accounting and archiving, as well as in the relationship with the citizen.’

Mr. Minwer Al Ghafian,

Head of Khalet Al Mayya Cluster

 

‘For me, as a citizen who receives services from the village council, I feel a great improvement in the provision of services, especially seen the use of more cash receipts, as well as the reception and handling by the staff.’

Mr. Mohammad Mousa Jobour, Citizen in Khalet Al Maya Cluster

building more effective public administration by strengthening

local government

Featured Project

Palestinian Territories,

Area (C) Resilience Development Initiative

 

ARD aims to enhance Palestinian Local Authorities' contribution to governance and development processes in Area C, as a precondition for more equitable, open and democratic society via three 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 the Khalet Al Mayya Local Authorities Cluster in providing services, in promoting local development and in contributing to the territorial integration.

 

The project assists APLA and seven marginalized communities of the Khalet Al Mayya Cluster in Yatta Area/Hebron Governorate to improve their services.

 

Results include:

  • Reviewed APLA Reactivation Plan to get APLA back to life. The plan was developed with the full involvement of members of APLA and in consultation with all local and international partners of APLA;
  • The first APLA Strategic Plan for 2019-2022. The process of developing APLA’s strategic plan was perhaps more important than the plan itself because it gave APLA’s Executive Committee, the Administrative Committee, the General Assembly and its partners a unique opportunity to engage in assessing past successes and failures and decide on key priorities with a clear plan of action for the next 4 years;
  • Reviewed and updated Internal bylaws of APLA in English to offer the international partners the chance to understand the importance of APLA as a key player in the local government sector;
  • Development of APLAs website that plays a key role in promoting APLA services to local authorities and to act as platform for knowledge exchange and dissemination;
  • Development of the ToR of APLAs Area C Technical Support Unit and the contracting of a local consultant to establish the unit. The unit will play vital role in: identifying the key advocacy and legal aid areas, facilitating legal aid and capacity building support to LAs in Area C and designing and carrying out advocacy and awareness campaigns;
  • The improvement of technical, financial and administrative capacity of both the administrative and executive staff of the Khalet Al Mayya Cluster;
  • The increase of revenue from services provided by the Khalet Al Mayya Cluster, as a result of service delivery improvement (please find it illustrated in the table to the left);
  • The increase in trust between citizens and the Khalet Al Mayya Cluster via organized various awareness activities;
  • As a result of improved networking and outreach skills, the Khalet Al Mayya Cluster was involved in the following activities:
  1. The Cluster successfully organized a free medical day and distributed cloths to the needy children in areas located under the council administration in collaboration with Gathering for Humanity Organization;
  2. The Cluster built a 2km water network in Al Ibweb area in collaboration with Action against Hunger;
  3. The Cluster conducted a training workshop on social accountability and development planning in collaboration with KADR Foundation for Community Development.
  • The organization of three environmental days where council members, staff and local citizens joined voluntarily the waste management team in cleaning and collecting rubbish from the seven cluster areas.