Minister Basalama and French Ambassador Collaborate on Decentralization and Local Authority Empowerment

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Minister of Local Administration Engineer Badr Basalama engaged in a video conference on Sunday with French Ambassador to Yemen Catherine Corm-Kammoun to discuss strategies for enhancing cooperation in the areas of decentralization and local governance. The meeting also included Deputy Minister of Local Administration Moeen Mahmoud and several undersecretaries from the ministry.

During the discussions, the officials focused on the government’s and the Presidential Leadership Council’s initiatives aimed at bolstering administrative and financial decentralization. The goal is to empower local authorities to effectively exercise their powers through a structured and gradual approach. Minister Basalama outlined the ministry’s strategic plans for the upcoming years, which include a comprehensive program designed to strengthen decentralization and prepare governorates for the transfer of powers.

The minister emphasized that these efforts are part of a broader reform vision intended to address existing imbalances within the governorates. He highlighted the importance of preparing local authorities for the eventual transfer of financial and administrative powers, ensuring that this transition adheres to clear standards that promote institutional readiness and efficiency.

Additionally, Basalama mentioned the development of an integrated system to evaluate the performance of local authorities. This system aims to identify strengths and weaknesses through precise indicators that foster transparency and accountability, ultimately encouraging improved performance within administrative units.

Ambassador Corm-Kammoun commended the Ministry of Local Administration’s initiatives to enhance the local governance framework and advance the decentralization process. She expressed France’s commitment to supporting the ministry’s plans, both in the short and long term, and to contributing to capacity-building programs that promote local development, thereby fostering stability and growth in Yemen.