The Executive Director of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), Eng. Abdallah Anati received the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Budairi, and the delegation accompanying him from the ministry, represented by the Minister's Advisor, Dr. Walid Abu Halaweh and the PR Officer, Sayel Hannoun, at APLA's office in Ramallah. The aim was to discuss and identify the strategic priorities, around which work should be enhanced through complete partnership between APLA and the Ministry in order to enhance the role of local authorities in serving their citizens.
During the meeting, the strategic priorities that both sides work on were presented and discussed, identifying the key fields and issues that will be worked on during the next period, contributing to enhancing and expanding the circle of joint planning and action, in order to achieve inclusive, comprehensive local development in full and efficient partnership with the relevant parties. Moreover, the most important available interventions were presented in order to develop the services provided to citizens, and the importance of highlighting the efforts of local authorities more, showing their activities on various media outlets, locally and internationally.
The Deputy Minister, Dr. Al-Budairi said that APLA is a key strategic partner that works side by side with the Ministry to enhance the local authorities capacities and contribution to the processes of governance and the development of the local governance sector, praising APLA's efforts and the partnership it has with the Ministry, especially concerning issues related to paving the legal environment to be accommodating and responsive to the requirements of development by preparing, amending, reviewing, and renewing various laws, policies and systems related to the local governance sector.
APLA's Executive Director, Eng. Anati expressed his pride in the partnership between APLA and the Ministry, as it targets enhancing the local authorities' jurisdiction and powers, which will enhance the building and development process in the local governance sector, emphasizing that APLA will continue working in the fields of lobbying, advocacy and representation in partnership with the government and its institutions, local and international partner organizations in order to realize long-term sustainable growth for local authorities.