In a significant meeting held in Aden, Minister of Local Administration Eng. Badr Basalma engaged with Zeina Ahmed, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen, to discuss strategies for enhancing support for decentralization and empowering local authorities. The discussions took place on Tuesday and included key figures such as Deputy Minister Moeen Mahmoud, ministry undersecretaries, and several representatives from UNDP.
The focus of the meeting was on strengthening institutional capacity-building programs and reinforcing the developmental roles of governorates. This initiative aligns with the directives of the Presidential Leadership Council and the government’s objectives to advance financial and administrative decentralization. The aim is to enable local authorities to effectively exercise their mandates through measurable executive programs.
Minister Basalma commended the UNDP for its ongoing support in local development efforts. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to reforming conditions in the governorates, with a gradual approach to transferring financial and administrative powers to local authorities. This reform is seen as essential for fostering greater autonomy and efficiency within local governance structures.
Additionally, the minister highlighted the importance of developing performance evaluation mechanisms and selecting pilot models for phased implementation. These steps are intended to ensure that the decentralization process is both effective and sustainable, ultimately contributing to improved governance and service delivery at the local level.
The collaboration between the Yemeni government and UNDP reflects a broader commitment to enhancing local governance and promoting sustainable development in the region.
