In Turkey, Public Administration is basically made up of two levels: Central Administration
(the Ministries and other public bodies depending on the central government, as well as their
units and services deployed on the territory); and Local Administration (public corporations
managed by officials elected by the citizens of the respective local community - Villages,
Municipalities, Metropolitan Municipalities and Special Provincial Administrations - and the
secondary public entities created by them)
In the context of a broader strategy to modernize and democratize the Turkish administrative system,
so as to align it with EU standards and to strengthen the administrative capacities for future EU
membership, the Government of Turkey has undertaken a programme aimed at the reform and modernisation
of the Local Administration in the country.
The programme was launched in 2004-2005 through the adoption of new primary legislation on
Municipalities, Metropolitan Municipalities, Special Provincial Administrations and Unions of
Local Authorities, as well as of a new Law on Public Financial Management and Control adopted
in December 2003 (which also applies to Local Administrations). These new laws encompass a wide
number of reforms, in all aspects of local administration and management, with the final purpose
of enabling Local Authorities to provide better public services, carry out a more efficient
management of their financial resources and enhance their capacity for a more active engagement
in policy making with national authorities as well as in creating partnerships with other Local
Authorities in EU member countries.
The primary responsibility for the implementation of the reforms introduced by the new legislation
has been conferred to the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate for Local Authorities).
However, other Ministries and the Prime Ministry itself are also engaged in the management of
the process of decentralisation of administrative tasks, responsibilities and services from
the Central Administration to the Local authorities. A new Law on Local Administration revenue
systems is also under preparation.
In 2003, the European Commission and the Turkish authorities signed a financing agreement for the
funding of a project titled "Local Administration Reform Programme", as part of the support provided
to Turkey under the MEDA Programme.
The MEDA-funded Local Administration Reform Programme (the project) was designed to provide technical
assistance and training to key stakeholders of the local administration reform in Turkey (Ministry of
Interior, Unions of Local Authorities, Local Authorities and their staff), so as to enhance their
capacity for the implementation of the reforms introduced by the new legislation, as well as their
knowledge and understanding of EU systems of local administration, as well as of modern management
of local public affairs in other European countries.
The project, the general objective of which is to advance local administration reform in Turkey by
improving the capacity of local authorities to effectively deliver services to citizens, to formulate
policies and to manage their administrations, focuses in three main areas of support (purposes):
- To strengthen the capacity for local administration reform of the
Ministry of Interior (strategy and legislation), local authorities and
their Unions (policy dialogue, municipal partnerships and networking),
and other stakeholders, including awareness-raising and support
mobilization for local administration reform.
- Develop instruments and enhance capacities of local authorities
to improve budgetary procedures, financial management and service performance,
through pilot projects in selected local administrations.
- Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of human resources in local
administrations through the development and implementation of training programmes
and courses for municipal staff as well as for Turkish consultants on municipal/local
finances expected duration is 29 months (until November 2007).
The project will support the implementation of the Government's local administration reform
programme by providing policy advice and technical assistance to the Ministry of Interior
and the Local Authorities in the formulation of an agreed long-term strategy for the implementation
of the reform, through a participatory process involving all pertinent stakeholders. The project
places special importance on the provision of technical assistance and training for the development
of organizational and human resources capacities involved in the reform namely those at the Ministry
of Interior (General Directorate for Local Authorities, Governorates and District Governorates),
the Unions of Local Authorities (Municipalities and Special Provincial Administrations), the Local
Authorities themselves (elected representatives and professional staff) and in the private sector
(consultants on local public finances and management).
In particular, in the field of local public services, investments and budgeting, the project
is providing technical assistance for the formulation and implementation of at least six
pilot projects in selected municipalities. These pilot projects focus on the development and
implementation of local "Service Improvement Action Plans" (SIAPs), the development of Strategic
Planning instruments (required by the new legislation on Public Financial Management and Control,
in Municipalities with more than 50.000 inhabitants) and the participatory and gender-sensitive
elaboration of multi-year investment programmes and budgets that are in line with strategic
planning and the new legal requirements. The project will help develop new manuals and software
tools for municipal financial management and accounting, based on best practices and examples
developed by multilateral and bilateral donors (particularly from EU) involved in local
administration development projects in new EU member states or other candidate countries.
The project will also assist the Ministry of Interior in the development, pilot testing and
delivery of two main training programmes: one on municipal management in general (for approximately
500 municipal staff from small and medium-sized municipalities); and a second one on municipal
financial management (for Turkish consultants, which will include a certification system).
In both cases, the project will develop training curricula, manuals and materials based also
on best practices of EU member states and/or candidate countries. Both training programmes
will be designed to enable easy conversion into on-line training programmes. As well, an
on-line resource centre for municipalities will be created during the time span of the project.
Eventually, the project will provide technical assistance in the areas of programme communication
(by means of regional, national and international events, as well as through a programme
web-site and newsletter) and the enhancement of partnerships between Turkish municipalities
and with municipalities in EU member countries.
Our partners are:
- The European Commission (through EC Delegation in Turkey), as the funding
donor and the Government's main partner for all reforms related to EU accession.
- The Ministry of Interior (General Directorate for Local Authorities),
as the governmental institution responsible for local administration, implementing
agency and main beneficiary of the LAR Programme and UNDP's counterpart for the
organization and delivery of the TA and training envisaged under the project.
- The Unions of Municipalities (national and regional) and the national Union
of Special Provincial Administrations
- The Unions of Municipalities (national and regional) and the national Union
of Special Provincial Administrations
- TODAIE (main partner for the development and pilot testing of one of the two
training programmes, as well as for the delivery of the training programme for
Turkish consultants on local finances)
- European and Turkish experts and institutions active in the fields of local
administration, management of local public services and local development.
From a broader perspective, Turkey will benefit from the project by advancing in the
reform of its Local Administration thus getting closer to European standards and
practices on local governance, as one of the requirements on administrative capacity
for EU membership. Turkish citizens will also benefit from better political representation
at local level and the effective provision of local services by more democratic, effective
and efficient local administrations. At the end of the programme, a significant number of
local authorities will be able to develop and implement strategic plans for the development
of local communities, to efficiently administer public financial resources allocated to
them and to deliver high quality local services.
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