There is no true decentralization without a citizen who understands its dimensions and requirements and interacts positively with its components, and no real decentralization also without local popular councils qualified to play an effective monitoring role over the executive authority, and capable of positive and full participation in planning, implementing and following up local development projects, so the programs to raise citizens' awareness With decentralization, and training the members of local popular councils to exercise their role in light of their implementation, it acquires a growing importance in the stages in which societies transform from the centralized system to a more rational local government system that is inclined to empower local units and implement decentralization.
In this context, Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights recently held a training workshop for members of the local popular councils in the center and city of Qena (Qena Governorate) on decentralization, during the period from 17 to 18 December 2010, and a discussion session for citizens on decentralization was held in Qurna (Luxor Governorate) ) On December 19, 2010.
The training workshop and panel discussion come within the framework of the activities of the Citizen's Voice (2) project implemented by the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights with funding from the Foundation for the Future, which seeks to build the capacities of different community parties in dealing with decentralization, and to develop effective and innovative mechanisms to monitor citizens' needs and evaluate the quality of public services. Presented by the executive authorities, the project also seeks to spread the culture of decentralization in the Egyptian society and the effective employment of local and mass media in support of decentralization and monitoring the needs of citizens
The training workshop is the third to be held within the framework of the training program for members of local popular councils on decentralization, which aims to build the capacity of 400 members of the local popular council for good local governance and to exercise an effective monitoring and planning role in light of the implementation of decentralization through 16 training workshops, while the seminar is considered The first activity of the program to raise awareness of citizens on decentralization, which targets approximately ten thousand citizens directly in the target governorates through public discussion sessions and simplified guidebooks, which is implemented in parallel with the training program for members of local popular councils.
The training workshop for members of local popular councils included training sessions on the concept of decentralization and the appropriateness of the Egyptian legislative framework for its implementation, the role of elected councilors in light of their application through the use of monitoring tools and the powers granted to members, in addition to working sessions on the obstacles to decentralization in Egypt, and mechanisms to strengthen the relationship Between elected councils and civil society organizations under decentralization.
The training workshop came out with a set of important results, the most prominent of which is the intention of the members participating in the training workshop to submit requests to the councils to which they belong to form committees to follow up the projects included in the local development plan for the fiscal year 2010 and 2011, and the activities of the training workshop showed the intention of the participating members to play a more effective role In selecting, approving and planning projects in the budget for the next fiscal year 2011/2012.
As for the citizens' discussion session, it revolved around the concept of decentralization and the services provided by local government agencies in light of their implementation. The seminar also dealt in a simplified manner with the concept of good local governance and the need for citizens to participate in public affairs to achieve it. In addition, the seminar in the second part dealt with a general discussion about the quality of services Provided by the local authorities and the most important problems faced by the citizens of Qurna.
The problem of housing and disagreements with the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and the complexity of procedures for obtaining excavation and building permits, were among the most important concerns of the people of Gouma. The people of Gouma also complained that the interest of the governorate authorities in the tourist areas comes at the expense of their interest in the daily living conditions of the citizens in Qurnah, and they pointed to the lack of justice Distribution of services between the city of Luxor on the one hand and the rest of the centers in the governorate, including Qurna on the other hand.