Association of Palestinian Local Authorities Visited Marmara Municipalities Union
APLA President Abdal Karim Zubaydi and the accompanying delegation visited Istanbul to gain insight into innovative practices of Turkish municipalities and to review monitoring and evaluation experiences of local governments. During their visit to MMU on January 14, 2025, the delegation engaged in discussions and exchanges of information on transparency, social accountability, effective partnerships with local institutions, and advanced monitoring and evaluation systems.
The delegation, composed of mayors from the West Bank region of Palestine and senior APLA executives, shared insights on the limitations and challenges faced by local governments under wartime conditions. Following the presentation of monitoring mechanisms developed as part of the Transparency and Accountability Program supported by UNDP, the need for experience sharing in this area among local governments was underscored.
President Zubaydi highlighted that developing policies for local governments in Palestine and promoting their work on a global scale are among APLA's key responsibilities. The meeting emphasized the importance of cooperation between local governments in Türkiye and Palestine. Potential areas for collaboration, particularly in training programs and peer-learning initiatives between municipal associations, were also discussed.
MMU Secretary General M. Cemil Arslan, who provided information on the organizational structure and activities of MMU, expressed appreciation with regard to APLA’s visit and affirmed MMU’s openness to cooperation in all possible fields.
