The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) organized a study tour to Istanbul, Turkey, to explore cutting-edge experiences in governance and transparency, promote public participation, and develop cooperation mechanisms among local government units (LGUs). The activity sought to leverage applications similar to “Baladiyah Meter” Platform and LGU Mayors Forum for more effective monitoring and evaluation of LGU performance. It also strengthens the role of LGU Mayors Forum as a hub for dialogue, experience sharing and improved cooperation between LGUs.
The tour was part of the Promotion of Accountability and Transparency within Palestinian LGUs, a project implemented by APLA in partnership with the UNDP Transparency, Evidence and Accountability (TEA3) Programme. In addition to APLA President, Mayor of Salfit Abdul Karim az-Zubeidim and APLA executive team, the visit brought together LGU mayors engaged in the pilot phase of the Baladiyah Meter platform, namely, the Mayor of Dura Muhannad Amro, Mayor of Beita Mahmoud Barham, Major of Beit Jala Issa Kassis, and Mayor of Sabastiya Mohammed Azem.
The programme included a series of meetings and field visits to several leading Turkish municipalities and institutions. The tour started from the United Cities and Local Governments – Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) in view of its close relationship with APLA and role in supporting APLA efforts in organizing the tour. During the visit, participants discussed ways to promote cooperation between Palestinian and Turkish LGUs and explored opportunities to join governance and capacity building projects.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) hosted the APLA delegation to review İBB’s pioneering experiences in strategic planning and digital transformation. The İBB Information Technology Department presented on breakthrough digital solutions, including the Digital Information Hub to enhance service efficiency and promote public interaction. The Strategic Planning Department provided an overview of the İBB vision of policies for strengthening local governance and achieving sustainable development. The visit was concluded with a session with the Istanbul Planning Agency, which made a detailed presentation on its methodology to prepare the Istanbul Strategy 2050, highlighting mechanisms for community engagement in various planning phases, ensuring integrated public visions with the city’s strategic goals and maintaining inclusive and sustainable urban development.
The delegation visited the Marmara Municipalities Union to view its organizational structure, working mechanisms, key initiatives and programmes for greater cooperation between LGUs, and e-hubs for in-house management. The visit furnished an opportunity to explore avenues for cooperation between both unions to develop and implement specific programmes for sharing experience, promoting bilateral relations, deepening collaboration, and exchanging successful experiences.
The tour also featured a visit to Transparency International (TI) in Turkey. TI representatives elaborated on the TI operations, which centre on building strong partnerships with LGUs to consolidate the values of integrity and transparency in municipal functions. TI representatives explained their role in providing advisory and mentoring support to LGUs. They reviewed the TI Transparency Charter for Candidates Running for Mayoral Positions as a practical model to foster transparency and accountability in the electoral process and ensure that candidates uphold the highest standards of integrity.
APLA met with the Union of Turkish World Municipalities to enhance future partnership between Palestinian and Turkish municipalities, focusing on experience sharing in urban development and local administration. The tour also included meetings with the Fatih and Ümraniye municipalities. Detailed presentations were given on participatory planning, socioeconomic initiatives to support local communities, achieve sustainable development, enhance public confidence in municipal performance, and maintain effective and sustainable local service management.
