On Tuesday the 27th of January 2009, the CHF Country Director, Ms. Lana Abu Hijleh and His Excellency Ziad Bandak, the Minister of Local Government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the USAID-funded Local Democratic Reform Program and the Ministry of Local Government.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlines the support CHF International will provide to the Ministry in meeting the goals of the Ministry in developing an enabling environment and operational framework for an effective, empowered, and democratic local governance system in the WBG through enhancing the capacity of the MOLG and strengthening Local Government institutions.
The Local Democratic Reform Program (LDR), locally known as TAWASOL, is a 4- year, $21 million, USAID -funded program implemented by CHF international.
At the national Level LDR assists the Ministry of Local Government in effectively assuming a leading role towards the development of a vision and institutional framework for a democratic local governance system in the WB/G by helping to streamline policies and regulations and build internal institutional capacity. At the local level, LDR works with 43 municipalities to strengthen Local Government Units to effectively and transparently assess and prioritize needs, implement integrated strategic planning and performance monitoring processes, and deliver and manage basic services.
Since 2005, CHF's LDR program has increased the capacity of Palestinian Local Governments Units to better serve their citizenry and to adopt democratic participatory approaches, on both local and national levels. LDR has four main areas of activities:
- Building an Enabling Environment at the National Level
- Strengthen the Capacity of Local Government Units to Provide Basic Services
- Construct essential community-prioritized infrastructure
- Promote Good Governance through citizen engagement
