Democratic Governance
UNDP/PAPP works extensively in this field primarily to develop institutions and processes that are not only reflective of the will of the people, but responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens, particularly the poor. UNDP/PAPP's governance portfolio has managed to establish the right balance between support to the three branches of government - executive, judicial and legislative - while also supporting the private sector, and has worked to encourage the increased participation and inclusion of women in all branches of government.
UNDP/PAPP’s governance portfolio focuses on five main areas:
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Rule of Law and Access to Justice – UNDP/PAPP recently launched a three year USD 18 million plus programme focused on: i) strengthening the capacity of Rule of Law Institutions in the West Bank; the MOJ in specific; ii) enhancing Access to Justice at Local and Community Level; complementing bilateral investments at national level; iii) improving Gender & Juvenile Justice; with a particular focus on domestic violence, civil/family law; iv) initiating Rule of Law within an Early Recovery approach in the Gaza Strip; linking to humanitarian protection and civil society; and v) confidence Building among stakeholders within and dependent on the Justice System. Financing comes from BCPR Global Programme (USD 3million), SIDA (USD6million), CIDA (USD6million), and the Netherlands (USD3million). This is UNDP/PAPP’s first foray into the technical arena of the justice sector and now viewed as leader in the field with a team of 11 people.
- Public Administration Reform – Through the core-financed (TRAC resources of roughly USD 2million over two years), UNDP/PAPP’s Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) seeks to: i) enhance the individual, organizational and institutional capability of different line ministries to formulate and monitor the implementation of the national development plans (i.e. PRDP); ii) strengthen the individual, organizational and institutional capacity of the General Personnel Council to formulate and implement transparent and effective HRM and HRD policies and system, including reviews of civil service legislation; and iii) enable government institutions to implement institutional reform and development and better carry out their functions particularly in delivering improved and better services to the citizens. There is also a specialized programme focused on civil service training and leadership within the General Personnel Council funded by the Italians. This programme is concluding in December of 2010 but assessed as highly successful.
- Local Governance – UNDP/PAPP has a special memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Local Governance (MoLG) to focus on the following six areas: i) reforming the system of local governance through the preparation of comprehensive diagnostics and strategies for the sector; ii) strengthening the capacity of MoLG; iii) increasing the fiscal resources available to local government, mainly through property tax collection; iv) urban physical/spatial planning (pillar prepared jointly with UN-Habitat); v) openness and accountability of local governance systems mainly through the preparation of integrity toolkit for assessing municipal transparency; and vi) support in local economic development and public-private partnerships. This has subsequently evolved into the development of a comprehensive Local Government Support Programme (LGSP). The total budget for the LGSP is USD 15,220,425.00 (for all six areas of intervention) of which the current budget is modest with only USD 750,000 available (USD 500,000 from TRAC, USD 250,000 from the DGTTF).
- Civil Society Development – Although less present in this field, currently focused on small-grants, UNDP/PAPP is in the process of initiating discussions with different bi-laterals to focus on strengthening State/Citizen interaction.
- Civic Education/Electoral Support – Through a recent grant of USD 900,000 from the Global Programme on Electoral Cycle Support (GPECS), UNDP/PAPP will be working closely with the Central Election Committee to ensure that electoral processes (not specifically elections themselves) are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
UNDP/PAPP’s main aim is contribute to the PA’s aspiration (as articulated in the PRDP) of “establishing a system of democratic governance characterized by respect for the rule of law and separation of powers, capable of protecting and managing natural resources and delivering public services efficiently, effectively and responsively, and supported by a modern and stable legal framework, a robust legislative process and accountable, honest and transparent institutions which protect the rights of all citizens.”
Press Releases
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13.12.2011 - Italy and UNDP hand over to the General Personnel Council the Civil Service Leadership Programme: Marking its successful completion,the General Personnel Council (GPC), in cooperation with the Government of Italy and the United Nations Development Programme held a handover ceremony for the Civil Service Leadership Development programme and assets. The Government of Italy funded the USD 1.3 million programme through UNDP to train senior civil servants in managing and leading change. More |
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01.12.2011 - UNDP Signs Partnership Agreements in Support of Democratic Governance and Rule of Law:UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People signed two separate agreements today worth approximately USD 6 million with the Governments of Denmark, Sweden and EUPOL COPPS in an effort to reinforce transparency and democratic governance. More
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19.11.2011 - The Governments of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA), through UNDP Inaugurate the First Project in the Middle East - a Sports Centre in Ramallah:Foreign Ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa inaugurated a one million Dollar multipurpose new sports centre implemented through UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. This is the first IBSA project in the Middle East. More
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02.11.2011 - New Community service Centre in Bethlehem Funded by the Government of Germany and Implemented by UNDP:The German Development Bank and UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People marked today the inauguration of Dar Salah Community Centre in Bethlehem. The project, with a budget of 100,000 Euro, includes the construction and finishing of two additional floors, with a total area of 450m2. The new building will also facilitate the work of the three associations in developing the society, helping the poor, and increasing the social and cultural awareness between the population. More
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25.10.2011 - New Classrooms Opened for Students in Beit Jala Funded by the Government of Germany and Implemented by UNDP: Today marked an important step forward for secondary students in Talitha Kumi co-educational school as they celebrated the inauguration of seven new classrooms. The project is part of the Poverty Oriented Employment Generation Programme funded by the Government of Germany via its Development Bank KfW and implemented by UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. The project, with a budget of 120,000 Euro, includes the construction of an additional floor with a total area of 420m2 and a staircase. The floor consists of seven classrooms that will serve 195 students (110 female and 85 male). More |
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10.10.2011 - UNDP and the Ministry of Culture Sign a cooperation agreement in support of the Culture sector: The purpose of the programme is to safeguard and develop Palestinian culture and heritage and utilize its potential as a means of socio-economic development to support Palestinian Statehood. The agreement was signed by H.E Siham Bargouthi, Minister of Culture, and Mr. Frode Mauring, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator.
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13.10.2011 - PA Minister of Local Government, Dr. Khaled Qawasmi and UNDP’s Deputy Special Representative, Yasmine Sherif, jointly traveled to Hebron to meet with local stakeholders to discuss their needs for development assistance and the formulation of a strategic plan of UNDP assistance to Hebron. Visits were paid to Hebron Town, Yatta and Al-Hassan hospital. Dialogues were held with the Governor of Hebron, the Mayor of Yatta, the Rehabilitation Committee, and local communities in Hebron’s Old Town. As a result of the visit, UNDP and the Ministry of Local Government will expand its cooperation on a strategic plan and multi-sectoral development assistance to Hebron.
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20.09.2011 - UNDP/PAPP publishes a comprehensive Review of Palestinian Legislation from a Women’s Rights Perspective: As part of its Rule of Law and Access to Justice Programme in the oPt, UNDP/PAPP published a comprehensive Review of Palestinian Legislation from a Women’s Rights Perspective.The study, which was conducted by a researcher from Birzeit University, assesses Palestinian national legislation for conformity with international standards and analyzes the trajectory of law reform in the oPt as it relates to the rights of women. By drawing on a number of socio-legal studies, the review hopes to offer fresh insights into the interplay between legal reform and socio-economic conditions, and to spark debate on how law reform can most effectively promote women’s rights in the oPt. Read the report |
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04.06.2011 - UNDP and the Ministry of Social Affairs sign an agreement worth US$73,328 to support "Dar Al-Amal" Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre: The agreement aims at enhancing the rights of Palestinian children and juveniles through interventions and social protection policies implemented by the Ministry through the UNDP Rule of Law and Access to justice programme. The intervention includes two main components, one is the recruitment of a focal point that is acting as the Secretariat of the National Committee on Juvenile Justice that is chaired by the Ministry. The second is to support Dar Al Amal - Institution for the Rehabilitation and the Protection of Juveniles in renovations, a music room and a music teacher, a computer lab and a trainer, and some recreational activities and equipment.
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18.05.2011 - The Government of Germany and UNDP Sign a 3.5 million Euro agreement to create employment opportunities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip: As part of its continuing effort to tackle unemployment in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Government of Germany, through its Development Bank (KFW), and the United Nations Development Programme signed an agreement in the amount of 3.5 million Euros on Wednesday May 18, 2011 in Ramallah. With unemployment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip at 23.7%, and poverty reaching 25.7%, facilitating job creation is seen as imperative in the effort to reverse these trends. The agreement will complement the seventh phase of the Poverty Oriented Infrastructure through Employment Generation Programme already being implemented for the amount of 8 million Euros. More
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03.02.2011 - UNDP, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, signed a memorandum of understanding with three leading universities for the implementation of “The Justice for the Future” Project. This joint initiative will provide academic scholarships, professional training and justice sector internships for high achieving law students throughout the occupied Palestinian territory with a special emphasis on supporting students from vulnerable groups within the Palestinian society. The objective is to prepare exceptional students for professional legal work within the Palestinian justice sector. The project, funded by CIDA, SIDA, Netherlands and BCPR for the amount of US$200,000, is initially for a period of two years from 2011 to 2013.
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05.04.2011 - UNDP Hosts Rule of Law Programme Board Meeting: The Programme Board for the Rule of Law and Access to Justice Programme gathered for their biannual meeting in Ramallah on the 5th of April 2011. Chaired by UNDP/PAPP, the Board reviewed, with implementing partners and donors, their achievements thus far in the different activities of this US$20 million Programme which included capacity development to the Ministry of Justice with focus on legislative drafting, administration of justice and legal aid, among others. In her opening speech, UNDP Deputy Special Representative, Ms. Yasmine Sherif, highlighted that the Rule of Law will be the foundation for a viable Palestinian state and said that enormous progress had taken place both institutionally within the Ministry and also in reaching out to the people and communities”. This was confirmed by the MOJ and international partners, who welcomed the results of the Programme, which is among UNDP’s largest Rule of Law programmes globally. |
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