Local Administration in Recovery Forum
The fourth day of the “Local Administration Forum in the Recovery Phase - Financial and Administrative pillars” discussed the local budget system and the administrative system of local councils, the outcomes of the pillars (social, economic, financial, administrative) and the necessity of linking them.
Participants in the second part of the forum, held by the National Building Movement at its headquarters in Damascus, discussed the administrative and financial problems related to activating the local administration system, the local budget system in terms of the multiplicity of budgets between current and investment, the role of the independent budget for the governorates and the link with the state’s general budget.
The allocation of the administrative unit’s share of local resources and central funding was also discussed, in addition to the spending powers and the body that legislates spending, in addition to the multiplicity of supervisory bodies over the councils, from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Administration.
The participants discussed the administrative system of local councils, focusing on the powers and mandates granted, in terms of the independence of the councils necessary to present local visions and determine a clear strategic direction for their work, including the authority of the executive councils to propose and develop, and their relationship with local authorities.
Participants pointed out the need to organize the relationship (center - localities) and define the roles and responsibilities of local councils based on the powers transferred to the localities, and the need for a standard for the transferred powers, as well as the effectiveness and role of the sub-national/local levels and their requirements, and this is related to the basic laws that must be linked to local administration.
In conclusion, the participants called for linking the outcomes of the first part of the forum (social and economic) with the outcomes of the second part (administrative and financial).
More details about the session can be found in the photo reports below.