Workshop discusses programmes in local administration, electoral policies

AMMAN — The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Interior and the Independent Election Commission held a workshop at the Dead Sea area to discuss potential networking opportunities between the Administration and Local Development Master’s Programme and the Electoral Policies High Diploma Programme.

Muhammad Al Qatatsheh, Dean of Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II College of International Studies and Abdul Hakim Akhu Rsheida, Head of the Department of Public Administration at University of Jordan’s Business  College, presented a summary of the objectives and teaching modules included in each of the two programmes, according to a UNDP statement sent to The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Qatasheh coordinates the Electoral Policies Programme and Rsheida coordinates the Administration and Local Development Programme.

Representatives of the Ministry of Local Administration and the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission also participated  in the workshop to discuss support areas and networking pathways, as well as ensure integrity and transparency in the decision-making processes. 

The workshop opened the way for discussions on partnerships between the Ministry of Local Administration Training Institute, the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission Training and Innovation Centre and the Independent Election Commission Election Electoral Training Institute.

The workshop also identified cooperation opportunities with the Norwegian embassy’s project, “Network of Local Governments,” specifically its recently launched Community of Practice (CoP).

The CoP is a network of professional experts who provide high level technical support to inform policy and decision making. It was agreed that the Ministry of Interior would manage the Network of Local Governments’ 10 post-graduate research grants and the 12 scholarships, in cooperation with the University of Jordan, the statement said.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Majida Alassaf highlighted UNDP’s support of good governance and decentralisation through its EU-funded programme the “Tanmiah Tool”, an evidence-based development tool that  supports policy and decision-making.

Asem Tarawneh, secretary general of the Jordan Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC), stressed the importance of coordination at the local level. Tarawneh also stressed linking opportunities with academic institutions as channels to exchange best practices pertaining to anti-corruption, integrity, and accountability.

Tarawneh asserted JIACC’s full support in areas related to enhancing integrity, accountability and anti-corruption on the national and local levels.

Faisal Al Shboul, deputy chairman of the Independent Election Commission, said that the workshop provided an opportunity to share updates on the new Higher Diploma in Electoral Policies Programme with partners. He added that the programme is in its final stages and the Ministry of Higher Education is expected to grant the accreditation in the coming weeks.

Mohammad Sarhan, director of the Local Development Department at the Ministry of Interior welcomed all national efforts to support networking among the UNDP programmes “to serve the public interest and support Jordan’s development efforts”.

The Ministry of  Interior hosts the Decentralisation, Accountability and Integrity at  Local Level Programme.

Tawfiq Kawatra, head of Local Development at the Ministry of Local Administration, stressed the importance of this event to help support local administration and municipalities. 

Participants agreed on a set of recommendations to pave the way forward. These recommendations included coordination opportunities between the master’s and higher diploma programmes, networking opportunities among entities in areas related to capacity building, exchange of experiences and best practices and the identification of technical expertise to support the Network of Local Governments Community of Practice, concluded the statement.