The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) held a webinar entitled “Digital Transformation and Digital Governance in Palestinian Local Government Units”, delivered by Consultant Loay Qabajah, with the participation of members of the Innovation and Digital Transformation Platform and representatives from a number of Palestinian Local Government Units (LGUs). The webinar was organized within the framework of the "Next Generation of Local Government E-Services" project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by (GIZ).

The webinar serves as a preparatory step for a series of upcoming in-person and online training workshops designed for members of the Innovation and Digital Transformation Platform. It aims to strengthen institutional knowledge of digital transformation and digital governance concepts while enabling LGUs to begin drafting their own digital transformation plans, ultimately contributing to the development of smarter, more efficient, and sustainable municipal services.

The session addressed several key topics, including aligning LGUs expectations with the objectives of the training programme, enhancing participants' understanding of compliance mechanisms related to the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Government Cloud Computing Policy, and Information Security Policies. It also introduced a practical digital transformation plan template to support participants in developing tailored digital transformation plans that reflect the specific needs and priorities of each LGU.

The webinar forms part of APLA's ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional capacities of Palestinian LGUs and enhance their readiness for digital transformation, in line with the National Digital Transformation Strategy and the Digitalization Strategy for the Local Government Sector (2025–2030). These efforts contribute to improving the quality and efficiency of electronic municipal services while promoting the principles of digital governance and innovation in local administration.

The "Next Generation of Local Government E-Services" project aims to empower Palestinian LGUs to lead comprehensive and innovative digital transformation by strengthening their institutional and operational capacities, supporting the development and delivery of smart municipal services, fostering a culture of innovation in local government, and building strategic partnerships that ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of digital transformation initiatives across Palestinian LGUs.