About the Municipality: Al Bireh is a Palestinian City adjacent to Ramallah in the central part of

the West Bank, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) north of Jerusalem. First named in history books as far back as

3500 B.C.E., Al Bireh historically served as a stopping point for caravans traveling from Jerusalem to

Nablus. The municipality was first established

in 1928 under the British Mandate, and is

now home to over 40,000 residents.

Governance Excellence: In line with the

strategy of the Palestinian local governance

sector, CHF’s partnership with Al Bireh will

focus on three key areas – community par-

ticipation, service delivery, and leadership

development – to support the municipality’s vision of becoming a more responsive, efficient, and ef-

fective center for governance excellence. Demonstrating their commitment, the municipality and wider

community have already contributed countless staff and volunteer hours working with CHF on the

city’s Strategic Development and Investment Plan and will contribute an additional $85,000 in the

coming years.

Community Participation & Service Delivery: Along every step of the way, CHF works with

the municipality to engage citizens to get their feedback to inform local government decision-making

and service delivery. The key community participation and service delivery interventions include:

In 2013, CHF International and the Municipality

of Al Bireh have begun a new partnership under

the Local Government and Infrastructure Pro-

gram (LGI) funded by USAID. The goal of this

partnership is to further enhance the municipali-

ty’s ability to meet the needs of its citizens in a

transparent and effective manner.

Municipal Profile: AL BIREH

Key Interventions Expected Outcomes

Participatory Planning and Stra-tegic Development & Invest-ment Plan (SDIP) (2013)

Community members are taking an effective role in decisions that affect their lives by participating in developing the city's Strategic Development & Investment plan that will be the guiding document for local economic and social development for the next 8 to 12 years.

Citizen Service Center (2014)

A Citizen Service Center is a state-of-the-art municipal facility that pro-

vides key services in an automated and transparent manner. To comple-

ment the Citizen Service Center, processes within the municipality will

be overhauled to reduce time spent by citizens and staff to process re-

quests (2013).

Expansion of the Al Bireh Youth Foundation Club (2009 & 2013)

With USAID funding, CHF helped expand the services available at the

youth club, including a new media center, computer, music performance

space and theater, and a language development unit, benefiting 1870

youth in 2009. The space was further renovated in 2013.

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“We at the Al-Bireh Youth Foundation couldn't imagine doing

all this without the support of the CHF team. With the renova-

tion, we were able to have more activities for youth...It helped

us in having a better environment to work in. Thank you to

CHF and for everyone who worked with us to have the best for

the foundation.”

- Doha Jaber, Resident of Al Bireh City and Director of Al

Bireh Youth Foundation

Leadership Development: CHF will be supporting the municipality in assuming a leadership role

in achieving sustainable development and developing, sharing, and planning for a longer-term vision

for the community and the municipality’s institutional development.

Photos: Strategic Development and Investment Planning workshops

“We’ve begun our partnership with USAID through CHF because we were convinced that this

partnership will have a real value add. It will enable us to take better decisions developing the

capacity of the municipality, strategic planning and infrastructure…”

- Ziad Assad Taweel, Director of Al Bireh Municipality

Leadership Development Key

Interventions Expected Outcomes

Municipal Strategic Corporate

Plan (2013)

Based on a new municipal capacity assessment tool, the municipality

will develop a Municipal Strategic Corporate Plan that outlines how the

municipality will address its institutional development priorities.

GIS Spatial Data Management

and Administration (2013)

This intervention will address a critical problem the municipality is facing,

scattered spatial data, enabling the municipality to have the information

required for physical and urban planning. CHF will also support the mu-

nicipality in establishing a GIS unit for the city.

Physical Planning and Metro-

politan Plan (2014)

A new physical plan for Al-Bireh and Metropolitan Plan with Ramallah

and Beitunia will ensure proper planning for local development, trans-

portation, and zoning to ensure enhanced access to public services and

recreational spaces and greater environmental protection.

Renovated Al-Bireh Youth Foundation

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Governance Excellence: In line with the strategy of the Palestinian local gov-

ernance sector, CHF’s partnership with Bethlehem will focus on three key areas,

leadership development, service delivery, and community participation – to

support the municipality’s vision of becoming a more responsive, efficient, and effec-

tive center for governance excellence.

Specifically, CHF will be supporting the municipality in continuing its leadership role

in developing Palestine’s first Metropolitan Plan for Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, Bait

Jala, and surrounding villages. In addition, CHF will support the municipality in establishing a state-of-the-art Citizen

Service Center, where citizens can access a range of municipal services in one fully automated location.

Along every step of the way, CHF will work with the municipality to engage citizens to get their feedback to inform

government decision-making and service delivery. One key community participation innovation will be the Youth

Shadow Local Council (YSLC), an elected body made up of 15 members aged 15-22 that mirrors the elected local

council in its formation and supports its functions and role.

Working in partnership with the municipality, the purpose of the YSLC is to sensitize youth to good governance prac-

tices and give them an opportunity to take a leadership role in their community’s development. The Bethlehem YSLC

was established in May 2013 following the election shown below:

In 2013, CHF International and the Municipality of Bethlehem be-

gan a new partnership under the Local Government and Infrastruc-

ture Program (LGI) funded by USAID. The goal of this partnership

is to further enhance the municipality’s ability to meet the needs of

its citizens in a transparent and effective manner.

Municipal Profile: BETHLEHEM

About the Community: Bethlehem is a historic city located in the central West Bank, neighboring south Jerusa-

lem, with a population of about 25,000 people. Bethlehem was among the first localities in existence in the West

Bank, and its first election was held in 1872. In the most recent elections of October 2012, Vera Baboun was elected

as the first female mayor of Bethlehem.

“Youth are not involved in decision-making processes. No one cares about their voices.

Therefore, I hope that through the activities of the youth council, youth will be encour-

aged to express their opinion and bring about new vision in the city.”

- Betty Bathich, elected youth council member from Bethlehem

CHF International/ West Bank & Gaza: info@chf-pal.org - www.chf-pal.org - www.globalcommunities.org

In close partnership with the municipal council, staff, and community members, CHF will support the implementation

of a wide range of complementary activities that increase the municipality’s efficiency, transparency, and responsive-

ness in serving local citizens. The full list of expected interventions is included below:

“Bethlehem has been in recession and is in need of a renaissance. CHF has lit up hope for

success and access; they’ve shared their experiences, and we thank them for that. And I be-

lieve that our strategic planning is important; to us it means the survival of the city.”

- Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem

Key Interventions Expected Outcomes

Participatory Planning

and Strategic Develop-

ment & Investment Plan

(SDIP) - (2013)

Community members have begun meeting to identify priority infrastructure

projects needed for Bethlehem residents as of February 2013 and will con-

tinue that process until a new Strategic Development and Investment Plan is

completed in 2013. This will be the guiding document for Bethlehem’s local

economic and social development.

Municipal Strategic Cor-

porate Plan (2013)

Based on a new municipal capacity assessment tool, the municipality will

develop a Municipal Strategic Corporate Plan that outlines how the munici-

pality will address its institutional development priorities.

Physical Plan & Metropol-

itan Plan (2014)

A new physical plan for Bethlehem and Metropolitan Plan with Beit Jala and Beit

Sahour will ensure proper planning for local development, transportation, and

zoning to ensure enhanced access to public services and recreational spaces

and greater environmental protection.

Citizen Service Center

(2014)

A Citizen Service Center is a state-of-the-art municipal facility that provides

key services in an automated and transparent manner. To complement the

Citizen Service Center, processes within the municipality will be overhauled

to reduce time spent by citizens and staff to process requests.

Photo: Participatory planning workshop in Bethlehem

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About the Municipality: Founded in 2450 B.C.E, Jenin is the largest

and oldest city of the Jenin Governorate located in the northern West

Bank. The first municipal council in Jenin was established in 1886 under

the leadership of Haji Abdul Majid Mansour, the city now has a popula-

tion of over 39,000.

Center for Governance Excellence: In line with the strategy of the Palestinian local governance sector, CHF’s part-

nership with Jenin will focus on three key areas – community participation, service delivery, and leadership de-

velopment – to support the municipality’s vision of being a responsive, efficient, and effective center for governance

excellence. Under these areas, LGI’s main interventions will include:

In 2013, CHF and Jenin Municipality began a long-

term partnership under the Local Government & Infra-

structure (LGI) program funded by USAID. The goal of

this partnership is to further enhance the municipality’s

ability to meet the needs of its citizens in a transparent

and effective manner.

Key Interventions Expected Outcomes

Citizen Service Center & Additional

Community Infrastructure Project

(2015)

A Citizen Service Center is a state-of-the-art municipal facility that provides

services in an automated and transparent manner. Processes within the

municipality will also be overhauled to reduce time spent to process re-

quests. In addition, LGI will support an additional infrastructure project

based on priorities in Jenin’s Strategic Development & Investment Plan.

Human Resources Management In-

formation System (2014)

Providing the municipality with a well-developed and automated human

resource and payroll management information solution in order to improve

their HR operations and reduce total operating costs.

Municipal Strategic Corporate Plan

(2013)

Based on a new municipal capacity assessment tool, the municipality will

develop a Municipal Strategic Corporate Plan that outlines how the munici-

pality will address its institutional development priorities.

Enhanced internal audit approaches

(2013)

An internal audit unit will ensure that the municipality adheres to required

procurement, financial, and administrative regulations, while also enhanc-

ing transparency and accountability of the municipality to citizens.

Streamlined procurement proce-

dures and database (2013)

This intervention will focus on updating procurement procedures to be more

efficient and transparent, and also develop a procurement database to in-

stitutionalize new procurement procedures and templates.

“Our role is to leave behind a footprint by meeting citizen needs on the long run within the framework of

our Strategic Development & Investment Plan... Our goal is to sustain our development resources in-

stead of relying on others …” - Mayor of Jenin, Walid Abu Mwes

Jenin Municipality building

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Municipal Profile: JENIN

About the Municipality: Nablus is a Palestinian cultural and commercial

center about 50 km north of Jerusalem in the West Bank with a population of

over 125,000. It is one of the oldest cities in the world; its historic city center

boasts archaeological sites from the 1st century. In addition, it is known for pro-

ducing the most delicious Palestinian sweets, including kunafeh, the nabulsi

soap industry, and famous poets from the Tuqan family.

In 2013, CHF and Nablus Municipality began a long-term partnership

under the Local Government & Infrastructure program (LGI) funded by

USAID. This partnership will support the municipality’s ability to fur-

ther meet the needs of its citizens in a transparent and effective manner.

Key Interventions Expected Outcomes

Community Infrastructure:

Indoor Sports Complex (2015)

With a contribution of around 40% of all costs from the Nablus municipality, this state-of-the-art

Indoor Sports Complex will provide four floors of courts for volleyball, basketball, handball and

indoor soccer, billiards, table tennis, fitness areas, and a theatre with over 2,000 seats.

Urban & Physical Planning

(2014)

Development of GIS systems paired with street naming and numbering plans will enhance the

municipality’s ability to plan urban development and geospatially map projects.

Online service delivery

through e-municipality (2014)

The introduction of e-municipality will enable citizens to access municipal services online, eas-

ing congestion at the municipality and reducing time spent accessing services.

Municipal Strategic Corporate

Plan (2013)

Based on a new municipal capacity assessment tool, the municipality will develop a plan that

outlines how the municipality will address its institutional development priorities.

Enhanced internal audit ap-

proaches (2013)

An enhanced internal audit unit will ensure that the municipality adheres to required procure-

ment, financial, and administrative regulations, while also enhancing transparency and account-

ability of the municipality to citizens.

Streamlined procurement

procedures and database

(2013)

This intervention will focus on updating procurement procedures to be more efficient and trans-

parent, and also develop a procurement database to institutionalize new procurement proce-

dures and templates.

Municipal Profile: NABLUS

Mayor Ghassan Shakka: “Our mandate [as a municipality] is to serve our citizens and achieve economic and social

security in line with our national policies... Currently we are trying to provide the city with new services such as hotels,

sport complexes, and we will continue to focus on children and youth because they are the future…”

Photo: Citizens at entrance of

Nablus Municipality

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Center for Governance Excellence: In line with the strategy of the Palestinian local governance sector,

CHF’s partnership with Nablus will focus on three key areas – community participation, service delivery,

and leadership development – to support the municipality’s vision of being a responsive, efficient, and effec-

tive center for governance excellence. Under these areas, LGI’s main interventions will include:

About the Municipality: Ramallah is a key political, cultural, commercial, and economic center in the West

Bank. Originally founded by the Haddadin clan in the 1500s, Ramallah grew dramatically in the 17th and 18th

century as an agricultural village and later in the early 20th century as an upscale destination in the region.

Home today to over 27,000, including famous Palestinian activists, poets, artists, and musicians, it is renown

for hosting the gravesite of the most celebrated Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, and has produced several

traditional Palestinian dance (dabkeh) groups that have performed all over the world.

Center for Governance Excellence: In line with the strategy of the Palestinian local governance sector, CHF’s

partnership with Ramallah will focus on three key areas – community participation, service delivery, and

leadership development – to support the municipality’s vision of being a responsive, efficient, and effective

center for governance excellence. Under these areas, LGI’s main interventions will include:

In 2013, CHF and Ramallah Municipality

began a long-term partnership under the

Local Government & Infrastructure pro-

gram (LGI) funded by USAID. This partner-

ship will support the municipality’s ability

to further meet the needs of its citizens in a

CHF International/ West Bank & Gaza: info@chf-pal.org - www.chf-pal.org - www.globalcommunities.org

Photo: Planned upgrades to Ramallah Municipality building

and establishment of Citizen Service Center

Key Interventions Expected Outcomes

Participatory Planning and

Strategic Development &

Investment Plan (2014)

Community members will take an effective role in decisions that affect their lives by partici-

pating in developing the city's Strategic Development & Investment plan that will be the

guiding document for local economic and social development for the next 8 to 12 years.

Upgrade Ramallah Munici-

pality and establish Citizen

Service Center (2014)

Provide the municipality with state of the art municipal facility that will provide key services

in an automated and transparent manner.

E-municipality (2014) The introduction of e-municipality will enable citizens to access municipal services online,

easing congestion at the municipality and reducing time spent accessing services.

Municipal Strategic Corpo-

rate Plan (2014)

Based on a new municipal capacity assessment tool, the municipality will develop a Munic-

ipal Strategic Corporate Plan that outlines how the municipality will address its institutional

development priorities.

Enhanced internal audit ap-

proaches (2014)

An enhanced internal audit unit will ensure that the municipality adheres to required pro-

curement, financial, and administrative regulations, while also enhancing transparency and

accountability of the municipality to citizens.

Metropolitan Plan (2014)

A new Metropolitan Plan for Ramallah, Al Bireh, and Beitunia will ensure proper planning

for local development, transportation, and zoning to ensure enhanced access to public ser-

vices and recreational spaces and greater environmental protection.

Municipal Profile: RAMALLAH