Author: Maysa Jaradat
The study aims at identifying the reality of community participation in strategic developmental plans for local bodies: a case study of Sa'ir, Shuyukh, and Halhoul towns. The study approached the literature as a multi-dimensional phenomenon, which addressed both theoretical and applied research. The significance of this recent study is the first, which dealt with this theme, to the author knowledge, which in turn encourages other researchers to work on further research on this important issue.
To achieve this end, the study adopted the quantitative research approach using the survey method. A 44-item questionnaire is appropriate for the exploratory nature of the research. The survey comprised of a (150) males and females participants in the development of the strategic plan in the sampled population during 2019/2020. The collected data was statistically analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS).
The study findings revealed that the mechanisms and strategies used by the municipalities to enhance the community participation within the strategic development plan were high (M 3.83 SD 0.65), the challenges were moderate (M 3.26 SD 0.60), and the impact of community participation on the local developmental plan was moderate (M 3.48 SD 0.70).
The study results revealed statistical differences in the impact of the community participation on the developmental strategic plans in the sampled population according to age, and the town. However, no statistical significant impact were found in the rest of the study variables.
These findings confirm the value of community participation on the developmental strategic plans among the local bodies, and recommend the necessity of enhancing the concept of community participation among the citizens by adopting a mechanism for participation in the work plans and policies of local bodies, the adoption of training and awareness programs for workers in local bodies to enable their workers to pursue the principle of participation, and the need to develop public relations units in the studies municipalities, and provide them with more efficient cadres able to deal with the local public and the external community.
Keywords: Community participation, strategic developmental plans, local bodies, Palestine.
Maysa Jaradat, MA. Sustainable Rural Development, Institute of Sustainable Development, Al-Quds University, Main Campus, Jerusalem- Abu Dies, Palestine. Independent Researcher, Director Public Relations, Sa'ir Municipality, Hebron, Palestine. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
