Active Palestinian Participation by the Palestinian Association of Local Authorities in the Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF’25)
Active Palestinian Participation by the Palestinian Association of Local Authorities in the Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF’25)
As a key partner in the international Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF’25), the Palestinian Association of Local Authorities (APLA) presented a strong and visible Palestinian presence through its dedicated Palestine Pavilion at the Urban Expo, active participation in multiple forum discussions, and the organization of a special session highlighting the Palestinian experience in local governance and SDG localization. This engagement sought to reinforce Palestine’s position as a central contributor to the forum’s global dialogue on the future of cities.
The Urban Expo served as a major platform to showcase Palestinian municipal initiatives and projects, where APLA presented a range of development experiences led by municipalities across various sectors. The exhibition emphasized the resilience and innovation of Palestinian local governments, which continue to operate and deliver essential services despite restrictive and complex conditions. The pavilion also became a hub for networking and exchange with international delegations and municipal associations.
During the main plenary session “Cities in Times of War,” Dr. Riad Awwad, Mayor of Tulkarem, delivered a compelling intervention on the realities of Palestinian cities under occupation and conflict, shedding light on the dual challenge of protecting residents while maintaining public services — a direct testimony of urban resilience from one of the world’s most challenging contexts.
APLA also led a special session titled “Cities that Listen and Cities that Lead: Stories from the Palestinian Frontlines,” moderated by Oday Al-Jaabari, Local Governance Expert at Enabel. The panel featured Mr. Abdul Karim Zubeidi (APLA President), Dr. Riad Awwad (Mayor of Tulkarem), Mr. Salah Haniyeh (Deputy Mayor of Ramallah), and Eng. Abdallah Anati (APLA Executive Director). The discussion focused on Palestinian experiences in participatory planning and SDG localization, offering an authentic narrative on the role of municipalities in preserving social cohesion and strengthening community participation.
On the international stage, APLA played an active role in the Global Municipal Associations Meeting, which brought together representatives of local government networks from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. During this meeting, Eng. Abdallah Anati presented the Palestinian perspective on local democracy and municipal diplomacy, stressing that Palestine is not a peripheral participant, but an active contributor shaping global policy dialogues and urban governance agendas.
The Palestinian experience was also highlighted in the “Livable Cities” session, where Eng. Abdul Moumen Afaneh, Head of APLA’s Technical and Legal Support Unit, presented APLA’s project on enhancing transparency and accountability in Palestinian local authorities — a practical step toward embedding integrity and good governance within local systems.
This participation reflects APLA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the international presence of Palestinian local governments and aligning their experiences with the global urban governance and sustainable development agenda. The participation was supported by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the project “Enhancing Local Governance through Policy Frameworks and Community Participation”, funded under the Transparency, Evidence, and Accountability (TEA) program.
