APLA DELEGATION EXAMINES TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PRACTICES IN TÜRKIYE


Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a study visit to Istanbul from January 13 to 17, 2025, as part of its “Transparency, Evidence and Accountability (TEA3)” project.

The program, facilitated by UCLG-MEWA, aimed to examine the monitoring, evaluation, and innovative practices of municipalities in Türkiye. The opening and closing meetings were held at the UCLG-MEWA General Secretariat.

The APLA delegation was led by Abdal Karim Zubaydi, President of APLA and Mayor of Salfeet, with the participation of the Mayors of Beit Jala, Sebastia, Beita, and Dura. Mehmet Arda YILDIZ, Research Assistant at UCLG-MEWA, served as the facilitator throughout the program.

As part of the program, interactive meetings and field visits were conducted to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Fatih Municipality, Ümraniye Municipality, and institutions such as the Marmara Municipalities Union, Transparency International Türkiye Office, and  Union of Turkish World Municipalities. These activities provided opportunities for experience sharing and networking among the Palestinian and Turkish municipalities.

The visit equipped Palestinian local government representatives with innovative strategies for transparency, accountability, effective partnerships, and advanced monitoring systems. During the closing meeting, Zubaydi stated, “The experiences in Türkiye will serve as a critical guide to strengthening the capacity of local governments in Palestine,” emphasizing that Palestinian municipalities should benefit from Türkiye’s expertise in this field.

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