APLA Discusses Means of Enhancing Joint Work with Donors' Representatives

17 May 2022
APLA Discusses Means of Enhancing Joint Work with Donors' Representatives

The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) conducted a meeting with the representatives of donors in order to organize a coordination mechanism for implementing APLA's Multi-Annual Action Plan 2021-2025(MAAP) project. MAAP 2021-2025 is developed with EU funding, in addition to the joint projects funded by the Local Governance Reform Program (LGRP-GIZ), and ENABEL, in a way that achieves APLA's goals aiming to enhance local authorities' jurisdiction, build their capacities and representation through exercising all advocacy and lobbying tools and means.

 

The meeting was attended by APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Abdallah Anati; Director of the Area (C) Programs and Local Governance – EU, Jenin Abu Azim; LGRP-GIZ Program Director, Yvonne Mueller, and Technical Advisor, Emile Ghory; Director of Local Governance Sector Reform Program-ENABEL, Sirin Abu Jamous; and Local Governance Expert, Oday Al-Ja'bari, as well as APLA's team.

 

APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Abdallah Anati expressed the significance of the role played by the donors in order to advance the local governance sector in Palestine, in general, appreciating their belief in APLA's role as a key partner in the sector. He presented the projects, activities, and current local and international institutional relations that APLA seeks based on MoUs with national organizations and partnerships with supporting international entities.

 

Meanwhile, Project Officer, Eng. Mohammad Musleh presented the key dimensions of MAAP 2021-2025 project, including its goals and some of the key interventions, in addition to the activities funded by GIZ and those funded by ENABEL.

 

 

On another note, LGRP-GIZ Program Director, Yvonne Mueller, emphasized GIZ commitment to supporting APLA, praising the role it plays as a key component of and a key partner in the local government sector in Palestine.

 

Furthermore, Director of the Local Governance Sector Reform Program-ENABEL, Sirin Abu Jamous, invited APLA to lead the joint work and the coordination role between the various APLA donors, in a way that realizes APLA's action plans and directions. She also indicated that ENABEL sees a key strategic partner in APLA working clearly on enhancing the capacities and participation of local authorities in the governance and development processes within the local governance sector.

 

The Director of Area (C) Programs and Local Governance-EU, Jenin Abu Azim, welcomed the stance of both GIZ and ENABEL, who support APLA and contribute to supporting the current project. She also praised the role of APLA as a key player alongside the Ministry of Local Government and MDLF in enhancing and developing the local government sector, clarifying that APLA has made tangible efforts during last year in the planning process for launching MAAP 2021-2025 project. She also added that it is time for APLA to lead the process of building, developing and identifying priorities, and review policies in service of Palestinian local authorities, especially those located in Area (C).

 

APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Anati concluded the meeting with an invitation to all donors interested in the local government sector to increase positive interventions supportive of local authorities and their projects, as well as coordinating among them for greater results and impacts from interventions.