APLA Holds a Specialized Training on “Municipal Finance Related to the Sustainable Development Goals”

The Palestinian Association of Local Authorities Holds a Specialized Training on “Municipal Finance Related to the Sustainable Development Goals”

The Palestinian Association of Local Authorities (APLA) organized a training titled “Municipal Finance Related to the Sustainable Development Goals”, with the participation of 42 representatives from the SDG Hub members across the governorates of Nablus, Ramallah and Al-Bireh, and Hebron. The training aimed to empower local authorities to adopt more transparent and sustainable financial policies that contribute to achieving comprehensive and inclusive development.

Led by financial expert Dr. Ghassan Daas, the training focused on municipal finance as a strategic driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The sessions emphasized the importance of transparency and community participation in strengthening citizens’ trust and enabling municipalities to make evidence-based financial decisions aligned with local priorities. The program also addressed key challenges such as limited revenues, weak fiscal autonomy, and economic fluctuations, while introducing innovative tools to enhance financial sustainability — including public-private partnerships (PPPs), digital transformation, and fiscal decentralization.

Through a combination of international experiences and interactive exercises, participants gained a deeper understanding of innovative approaches to municipal finance and their direct linkages to the SDGs, contributing to good governance and strengthened community confidence in local institutions.

This workshop was held under the framework of the Knowledge Exchange Platforms Program, implemented in partnership with the Local Governance Reform Program (LGRP) of GIZ. The program comprises seven thematic platforms, namely: the Engineering and Planning Platform, Social Inclusion Platform, Financial Management Platform, Public Relations Platform, Innovation and Creativity Platform, Sustainable Development Goals Platform, and the Village Councils Platform.

#Palestinian_Association_of_Local_Authorities #APLA #Knowledge_Exchange_Platforms #Sustainable_Development_Goals #Municipal_Finance #Good_Governance #Fiscal_Decentralization #Transparency #Community_Participation #GIZ