The Academic Deputy Opens a Workshop entitled "The Conceptual Framework of the General and Participatory Budget"

2019-11-04

Prof. Dr. Hamdan Taha, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, opened a training workshop for the members of the Planning Council in Jericho entitled (The Conceptual Framework of the General and Participatory Budget), which was implemented by the Ministry of Social Development in cooperation with “Miftah” Organization, the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, in the presence of Mr. Anwar Hamam, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry,  Mr. Yousef Al-Dujani, the Chief Executive Director of Miftah Organization, Mr. Moayed Afana, the Organization’s Consultant and Advisor, Ms. Hanady Barahama, the Director of Budget and Financial Planning, Mr. Hamdi Halabi, the Head of the Charity Section in the Directorate of Social Development and the Coordinator of the Planning Council, Dr. Khaled Al-Daher, the Assistant of the Academic Deputy, Dr. Hazem Hroub, the Dean of the Intermediate College for Security Studies, and Dr. Qusay Ibrahim, a Professor in the field of Social Development, inside the campus, on Monday 4th of November 2019.

Prof. Dr. Taha welcomed the participants and the attendees of the workshop which included the members of the “Planning Council” of Jericho governorate, explaining the importance of this workshop in strengthening the capacity of the Ministry staff and the partner of the community in the topic of participatory budget.

Furthermore, he noted that Al-Istiqlal University appreciated the new approach in budget planning, because it is based on the principle of democratic participation and consultation, which opens the gates for the local community to allocate part of the public budget, sets priorities and gives them the authority in decision-making, far away from the unilateral and bureaucratic approach, which will positively influence and promote their dedication and active participation.

Moreover, he pointed out that the University will continue to receive, conduct and participate in all the social activities which aim to promote the educational process and community development, wishing success for the workshop and its organizers.

For his part, Mr. Hamam thanked the presidency of the University and the Academic Deputy, for holding the workshop inside the campus of the University, giving a brief about the Ministry of Social Development, its directions, and its role in founding the Planning Council, for identifying the priorities and the social services of the province, promoting the culture of the citizen, building a participatory budget, and stressing that needs will not impose assistance, but the rights.

In conjunction, Mr. Al-Dujani clarified the role of his Organization toward the Palestinian society and the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development, to reach the stage of achievement, where the organization began partnership, with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Ministry of Finance, hoping to conduct different workshops in the other sectors, thanking Al-Istiqlal University, for receiving them, mentioning that this meeting is the first of the series of meetings.

It is noteworthy to mention that Al-Istiqlal University hosts many activities and meetings, as a part of its message and mission in developing the Palestinian local community, especially in the province of Jericho and the Jordan Valley.