Overview

About the Ministry of Local Government

The Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) is a government institution that serves as the reference authority for local government units in the State of Palestine. It was established following the assumption of local government responsibilities by the Palestinian National Authority on May 25, 1994. The Ministry was entrusted with overseeing the local government sector and formulating its policies to advance local government units, develop their capacities, and enhance their resources, enabling them to better promote the well-being of their citizens within the framework of good local governance.

Consequently, local government units entered a new era in their development, both in terms of their number and the scope of their responsibilities, as well as the establishment and development of infrastructure, which had been destroyed in major cities or was entirely absent in villages and rural areas as a result of Israeli occupation practices.

The Ministry of Local Government supervises local government units in accordance with three principal laws:

• Local Authorities Law No. (1) of 1997, concerning Palestinian local authorities, and its amendments.
• Local Council Elections Law No. (10) of 2005, and its amendments.
• Cities, Villages and Buildings Planning Law No. (79) of 1966, and its amendments.

Under the Local Authorities Law, the Ministry of Local Government is responsible for the following:

• Formulating the general policies governing the activities of Palestinian local government councils and supervising their functions and responsibilities, including the organization of public projects, budget preparation, financial, administrative and legal oversight, and procedures related to the formation of these councils.
• Carrying out technical and administrative tasks related to spatial planning and regional planning in Palestine.
• Developing any regulations or bylaws necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.

The Ministry also has the authority to establish, merge, and upgrade local government units; design their organizational structures; expand their geographical boundaries; and determine their administrative boundaries, subject to the approval of the Council of Ministers.

In addition, the Ministry operates within a broader legislative framework supported by several related laws, including the Expropriation Law No. (2), Land Tax Laws No. (11) and No. (30), Crafts and Industries Law No. (16), Fund Establishment Law No. (25), Electricity Law No. (13), Local Authorities Courts Law No. (46), Public Procurement Law No. (8), and other laws in force in the State of Palestine.

Ministry Vision

"Good local governance capable of achieving sustainable development through effective community participation."

Ministry Message

"A leading Ministry committed to building the capacities of local government units and developing their resources, enabling them to better promote the well-being of their citizens within the framework of good local governance."

Ministry Responsibilities

• Developing the local government system in Palestine to advance the performance of local government units.
• Supervising and monitoring the organization and management of local government sector policies and overseeing the implementation of its plans.
• Preparing draft laws, regulations, and instructions aimed at developing and improving public services.
• Monitoring the activities of local government units and ensuring their compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and instructions.
• Carrying out technical and administrative tasks related to spatial planning and regional planning in Palestine.
• Approving the budgets of local government units and guiding them towards achieving the desired development and progress.
• Supervising the functions and responsibilities of local government councils, including the organization of public projects, budget management, financial, administrative and legal oversight, and procedures related to the formation of these councils.
• Providing technical and financial assistance for vital projects needed by local government units that their budgets cannot independently afford.

Ministry Goals

• Adopting good governance policies for the local government sector as an overarching framework for public policies and a guiding principle for sustainable sector development, while safeguarding the rights of marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
• Ensuring integrity and transparency within the democratic local government system, strengthening effective community partnerships, accountability, publication, and disclosure.
• Promoting the financial independence of local government units, creating an enabling environment for the local economy, and ensuring the sustainability of their resources.
• Achieving the institutional development necessary to strengthen the administrative, technical, and financial capacities of local government units.
• Ensuring equitable delivery of quality services to citizens in the areas of urban planning, building permit regulation, and infrastructure support, within a sustainable environmental, social, and economic framework.

Strategic Objectives

According to the Ministry's Strategic Plan for 2025-2027, three strategic objectives have been adopted, representing the key pillars of good governance, financial sustainability and local economic development, and public services. These objectives encompass thirteen anticipated outcomes, as follows:

Strategic Objective 1: Developing Financial Resources and Stimulating Economic Development for Local Government Units

Expected outcomes:

• Improved financial management within local government units and joint service councils.
• Reduced indebtedness of local government units and joint service councils.
• An enabling environment that encourages investment in the local government sector.

Strategic Objective 2: Promoting Urban Development and Improving the Quality and Inclusiveness of Infrastructure

Expected outcomes:

• Updated urban and spatial plans for all population centers at the national, regional, and local levels, ensuring environmental, social, and economic sustainability while addressing climate change.
• Improved regulation of building permits and inspection activities.
• Meeting the needs of marginalized groups and less-advantaged areas.
• Improved coverage and quality of infrastructure services, ensuring their environmental and social suitability for citizens.
• Effective and environmentally and health-safe management of solid waste services, alongside the reduction of emissions.

Strategic Objective 3: Empowering Local Government Units and the Ministry and Strengthening Their Capacities within the Framework of Good Local Governance

Expected outcomes:

• A modern legal framework that responds to the needs of the local government sector.
• Enhanced community engagement, effective participation, and transparency within the local government sector.
• A strengthened institutional framework that ensures gender mainstreaming in the work of the Ministry and local government units.
• An efficient institutional working environment that responds to operational requirements.
• Enhanced digital transformation within the Ministry of Local Government and local government units.