The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) in cooperation with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), conducted two days training on "Ethics in Local Government" led by the head of members and ethics department at ICMA Ms. Martha Perego. The training that was held on Wednesday and Thursday of 12-13/6/2019, targeted 27 members of the Palestinian City Managers Network (PCMN) in the presence of Mr. Abdallah Anati, Executive Director of APLA, Ms. Harleen Kovela, Business Development Manager at ICMA, and Mr. Saleh Khalailah representing the International Co-operation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG International). Noting that this training comes as a part of the working plan between APLA and ICMA, and it’s the first time that ICMA conducts such training outside the USA.
The training was inaugurated by APLA's CEO Mr. Abdallah Anati, addressing the attendees on the importance of such trainings to prepare members of the PCMN to become members at the ICMA, adding: "the ICMA membership will open new opportunities for the PCMN members in all areas of developing the competencies and abilities of local authorities, as well as better chances for exchanging knowledge and expertise".
Anati highlighted that this training aims to form a base of potential candidates to join the ICMA and that APLA is considering to translate key publications by ICMA Library that is considered to be one of the largest international libraries specialized in local governance.
Ms. Perego presented the ICMA Code of Ethics and explained the relationship between the Code of Ethics and the leader in providing effective and sufficient services for the citizens. She also worked with the Participants on building the framework of the Code of Ethics for the PCMN.
Meanwhile, participants discussed several topics with Perego, on ethical issues that are mutual among local authorities and strategies needed to build institutions on ethical bases.
Worth noting that this training was conducted within the APLA’s efforts to develop the performance of local authorities a part of "Area C Resilience development initiative "ARD" project", funded by the EU and in partnership with VNG international.
