Local Governance: More than 1661 Projects and Interventions Worth Over 1.3 Billion Shekels in Two Years

Ramallah - Afaq News - The Ministry of Local Government, in cooperation with the Government Communication Center, organized a press conference today, Monday, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, titled "Despite the Siege.. Services Have Not Stopped and the Impact is Multiplying," dedicated to reviewing the reality of the local governance sector in the State of Palestine, and what has been achieved during the tenure of the nineteenth government in terms of efforts, interventions, and accomplishments, in addition to discussing the most prominent challenges and priorities for the upcoming phase, with the participation of government institutions, partners, entities working in the local governance sector, and representatives from the media.

Local Government Minister Dr. Sami Hijjawi stated that the ministry's work and efforts focus on developing infrastructure, improving the level of services provided to citizens in various vital areas, in addition to reforming the local governance sector and developing the legislative and institutional frameworks, enhancing the capacities of local authorities, stimulating economic development and digital transformation, and giving importance to urban planning and organization issues, in addition to supporting government efforts in crisis management and urgent response in the Gaza Strip.

1,661 developmental projects and interventions in infrastructure and services with a total value exceeding 1.3 billion shekels.

Hijjawi pointed out that the ministry has implemented more than 1,661 developmental projects and interventions in the fields of infrastructure and services, with a total value exceeding 1.3 billion shekels. In this context, the government, through partners and donors, mobilized 205 million euros and more than 325 million shekels to implement 661 projects funded by the government in partnership with supporting entities. Additionally, projects worth 47 million dollars were launched to develop the solid waste management sector in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the "Green Palestine" project, dedicated to supporting joint service councils, was completed, along with several other projects worth 17.3 million dollars funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for the benefit of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the national strategy for solid waste management in Palestine for the years 2026-2030 was prepared and developed, and 50 projects worth 30 million shekels were allocated for areas designated as "C," East Jerusalem, and areas adjacent to the wall.

Hajawi added that two development projects were launched in both Sebastia and the city of Bethlehem, through the Korean International Cooperation Agency, at a value of 20 million dollars. The government also allocated 59 million shekels for emergency response to the damages caused by the occupation incursions, of which about 26.3 million shekels were disbursed through the ministerial committee for emergency affairs chaired by the ministry. These funds were directed to repair infrastructure damages, provide emergency payments to the affected governorates and municipalities, compensate economic facilities, cover the costs of water and electricity supply, and restore damaged homes.

Raising the level of services and digital transformation

Regarding raising the level of services and digital transformation, Hajawi clarified that a digitization strategy for the local governance sector for the years 2025-2030 has been prepared and approved, while the number of municipalities providing their services electronically has reached 75 municipalities, of which 45 municipalities collect dues through the (E-SADAD) system, and 165 municipalities have public service centers. Digital transformation projects have been implemented, most notably the electronic governance project (INDIGO II), and computerized systems have been developed, including an electronic building licensing system, a training system, and a system for managing the issuance of deposit bonds, among others. In addition, 53 village councils were provided with computerized financial programs, and the ministry received 2,612 complaints, of which 1,905 were addressed.

Financial sustainability and budgets – reducing debt by 26.8%

Hajawi indicated that the ministry dealt with the budgets of all local authorities with an achievement rate of 91%, and conducted 374 oversight and guidance rounds. It also worked on settling the financial obligations owed to contractors and suppliers, as the total disbursement from the public treasury during the year 2025 was approximately 25,936,607 shekels, while the total disbursement for externally funded projects was 49,830,941 shekels. Additionally, an amount of 21,799,355 shekels was disbursed to contractors for development projects funded by transport fees.

Hajawi added that the ministry, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and through the Settlement Unit, worked on financial settlements for 164 local authorities, which included scheduling debts for electricity and water, contributing to a 26.8% reduction in debt. Standards were also adopted for scheduling electricity debts for 99 local authorities, while water bills were scheduled for 138 and 143 local authorities in the years 2025 and 2026, respectively. The monthly payment rate for electricity bills reached 67%, with a financial deficit of 199.5 million shekels, while 50 municipalities obtained the authority to collect property tax out of 85 estimated municipalities.

Enhancing the capabilities of local authorities and stimulating economic development.

Hajawi pointed out that the ministry held 153 training programs targeting 1,200 employees and volunteers, focusing on governance, digital transformation, crisis management, and emergency response, in addition to empowering 130 female members of local authorities to participate in political decision-making. Furthermore, 70 local authorities received technical support through the General Administration for Development and Investment, and guidance workshops were held for newly elected heads of authorities and councils, including four central workshops targeting local authorities throughout the country.

The Local Authorities Development and Lending Fund also implemented a comprehensive capacity-building program targeting municipalities in the West Bank, covering areas such as financial management, operations and maintenance, public service centers, digital transformation, and climate adaptation, which contributed to enhancing operational efficiency and improving performance quality. In addition, three projects for renewable energy and fiber optics were implemented, and the first component of the Social Recovery and Job Creation Project (SRJCP) was executed, valued at 40 million dollars funded by the World Bank, which provided about 6,700 job opportunities benefiting 371 local authorities. Documents were also prepared for the ten local authorities benefiting from the renewable energy project "Shamsi," and contractual arrangements related to local banks were made.

Urban planning and land use regulation.

Regarding the Higher Planning Council, Hajawi confirmed the completion of 1,225 projects and files during 30 regular sessions, addressing more than 124 files to lift protection on lands for the purpose of investment in favor of the private sector and developmental projects, and making decisions to approve 133 transactions to lift protection. Additionally, 30 structural plans were prepared and worked on in areas classified as "C", and 84 approved plans were submitted to the (Geomolg) system.

Hajawi pointed out the formation of 35 committees for building regulation, both local and joint, and the downloading of the national spatial development plan maps onto the (Geomolg) systems, as well as the preparation of a joint spatial development framework plan for nine population clusters southwest of Ramallah. Furthermore, 39 aerial plans were prepared, a urban planning unit was established in the south, and the services of the (Geomolg) system began to expand by adding a new data layer that clarifies government lands available for investment by the private sector. The efforts also included projects to support and develop urban planning work and the national infrastructure for geospatial information, and the adoption of urban plans, represented in general frameworks for spatial development, for two planning areas.

Achievements of the ministry through the Local Authorities Development and Lending Fund

Hajawi clarified that the fund was approved as a member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), marking a new national achievement for the State of Palestine in the field of international climate action, as the Local Authorities Development and Lending Fund became an official partner of the fund.

In the context of the infrastructure window (MDP4), the total funding reached 78.4 million euros to implement 181 projects targeting 134 municipalities. The second round of the Municipal Development Program (MDP4C2) was also launched, with a value of 40 million euros, benefiting 138 municipalities across Palestine, in addition to the first window which amounted to 142.8 million euros.

Hajawi added that, through emergency funding and the climate resilience program, 9 million euros were allocated for emergency funding to implement 561 projects, distributed between supporting operational expenses at 93% and labor-intensive projects at 7%. Additionally, 8 million euros were allocated for climate adaptation initiatives and green projects, along with the implementation of dozens of projects for the benefit of village councils and areas classified as 'C', aimed at supporting resilience and developing infrastructure.

The government's efforts in managing the crisis and the urgent response in the Gaza Strip.

In the context of the role assigned to the Ministry of Local Government in supporting local authorities and enabling them to continue providing essential services to citizens, Hajawi stated that the ministry has worked, during the period from 1/4/2024 to date, to follow up and support a number of priority files and projects in the Gaza Strip.

He explained that these efforts included inventorying available land for shelter and providing international bodies with related data, in light of the large number of shelters, which reached about 2,098 centers serving 304,401 families. The ministry also followed up on one of the most prominent strategic files, which is solid waste management, due to its direct link to public health and the environment and the recovery of economic activity, especially in downtown Gaza, by supporting temporary landfills, following up on the allocation of Abu Jarad (Netzarim) land and preparing the site for transferring accumulated waste from the Firas market, over an area of 88 dunams, in addition to preparing transfer stations to address hazardous environmental hotspots, and providing machinery, labor, and fuel.

This intervention is being implemented in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where the ministry has worked to support the solid waste sector to ensure the continuity of waste collection and transfer operations, providing fuel and spare parts for machinery, and rehabilitating stations and temporary landfills. In this context, the ministry allocated 10 waste transfer vehicles for the benefit of the joint service councils in the Gaza Strip.

Hajawi added that the ministry also followed up on providing land for rubble collection and installing crushers in Khan Younis (Al-Amal Crusher), the Netzarim area, Deir al-Balah (Al-Barakah Crusher), and the Al-Mushtal area in Gaza City, with a total area of 306 dunams. The ministry also worked to support the continuity of municipal services by providing fuel, repairing water wells and sewage stations, supporting municipalities and joint service councils, removing rubble, and opening roads, with the amount of rubble dealt with reaching 1,500,000 tons, which contributes to facilitating the movement of citizens and the work of emergency teams.

The interventions also included rehabilitating, maintaining, and leveling roads with the outputs of crushers resulting from recycling rubble, over a length of 100 kilometers, and following up and coordinating temporary employment programs for municipalities and joint service councils, employing human resources such as engineers and workers in various emergency works, including cleaning, opening roads, and removing rubble, within temporary job opportunities. The ministry also worked on preparing plans to restore services and set priorities in preparation for the recovery phase, in coordination with municipalities, joint service councils, government agencies, and international partners.

Completion of 13 legislations and conducting elections in 183 local authorities

Regarding the reform of the local governance sector and the development of the legislative and institutional framework, Hajawi pointed out the completion of 13 legislations, including the Local Authorities Council Election Law No. (23) of 2025, and conducting local elections for 2026 in 183 local authorities, including the city of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, where the participation rate reached 56% in the West Bank and 23% in Deir al-Balah. The legislations also included amending the Law on the Organization of Cities, Villages, and Buildings No. (79) of 1966 and its amendments, and approving systems for preventing nuisances and maintaining streets in 12 local authorities, in addition to preparing a draft building and organization system for local authorities for the year 2025, and amending the building and organization system for lands outside the boundaries of structural plans.

Hajawi added that the ministry worked on developing a framework for the financial transfer system for local authorities that enhances fairness, integrity, and transparency, and prepared a preliminary draft for a partnership system between local authorities and the private sector aimed at increasing private sector participation in providing municipal services, in addition to starting the development of a local authority employee system, a classification system for local authorities, a financial system for local authorities, and reviewing and developing the internal control guide for local authorities.