Challenges Facing the Local Authorities in Preparing the Strategic Development Plans and Ways to Overcome Them Through Implementation at the Municipalities of the Northern Governorates in West Bank

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the challenges facing local authorities in preparing the strategic development plans at the municipalities in the northern governorates of the West Bank and ways of overcoming them. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researchers developed a tool to collect the required data (a questionnaire), and verified its validity and stability. A sample of 41 municipalities, which represents 91% of the study population, was selected for the study. Following the data collection and its analysis, it was found that the level of challenges faced by the local authorities was very high. Moreover, statistically significant differences were found at the level of α≥00.05 in the responses of the sample in the challenges faced by the local authorities due to the local government classification, town/city population, and the number of employees in the local government. However, there were no differences due to the local government title.

• There was a negative correlation between the age of the local government and the challenges it encountered. The most important means of overcoming these challenges are hiring a consulting team with experience in  municipal development planning and benefiting from  success stories in the field of municipal development planning. The study also recommended simplifying the developmental planning guide to include the main tools of planning and leave an opportunity for the local governments to adapt the tools, as well as providing material and moral incentives to the participants from the local community in the development plans, especially representatives of the local community and the private sector.