As highlighted in the OECD Policy Framework on Sound Public Governance and the SIGMA Principles of Public Administration, properly designed and implemented public administration reforms can lead to a more accountable and effective civil service, better organisation of the administration, and higher quality service delivery for citizens and businesses.
To achieve optimal results, public administration reform (PAR) should be undertaken coherently through a whole-of-government approach. An inclusive and evidence-based strategy should be used to identify a set of clear, prioritised, and widely understood reform objectives to be credible and guarantee real change. Concrete steps should also be taken to implement policy goals, together with sufficient financial resources, clear managerial and executive roles, and adequate capacities. Moreover, clear lines of accountability among intervening institutions and departments are necessary, as well as clearly established leadership of reforms and well-organised coordination and monitoring procedures, at both the political and administrative levels.
This Review analyses the institutional and strategic framework for PAR in the Palestinian Authority (PA). It points to the specific challenges and opportunities for the development and implementation of effective PAR strategies. It includes actionable recommendations to enhance the framework as well as for strengthening the coordination, systems, and processes for public administration reform.
In its annexes, it provides a complementary analysis of challenges and opportunities related to strategic PAR areas. Annex A looks at service delivery and reviews current administrative challenges, obstacles, priorities and opportunities in selected administrative areas and services with recommendations to support the reengineering and digitalisation of services. Annex B analyses the challenges and offers recommendations on how the centre of government can play a strategic and leading role in the development and implementation of PAR, with a particular focus on prioritisation. Finally, Annex C reviews the organisational and functional set-up to deliver on sectoral strategies focusing on three pilot administrations responsible for the implementation of gender equality objectives.
The Review is the result of the OECD’s contribution to “Support the Palestinian Authority Public Administration Reform” project, funded by the European Commission. The project seeks to support the Palestinian Authority to improve overall governance capacity in managing the public administration for the ultimate benefit of citizens and businesses through more effective and efficient policy and service design and delivery. The project is implemented in close cooperation with the SIGMA Programme, a joint initiative of the OECD and the EU, principally financed by the EU.
The Review is part of the Programme of Work 2023-2024 of the OECD’s Public Governance Committee in the framework of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme in support of public sector efficiency in the MENA region. In line with the strategic priorities of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme and the OECD Public Governance Committee, it helps identify key issues and lessons learnt to implement public sector reforms in view of unlocking social and economic development and of meeting citizen’s growing expectations in terms of quality services, inclusive policymaking and transparency in the Palestinian Authority. The Review draws on the evidence and good practices gathered by the OECD Public Governance Committee, the Regulatory Policy Committee, the Committee of Senior Budget Officials, and their sub-bodies; the working groups and networks of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme, and OECD Recommendations in the area of public governance. The findings and lessons learnt drawn from this report will in turn inform discussions and promote peer learning on public governance reform in the MENA region.
The final version of the report was completed in September 2023. The Review is based on a survey administered and subsequent fact-finding missions conducted in 2022 with a wide range of stakeholders including peers from OECD and MENA countries. References to major changes made after this date or planned, such as the guidelines for strategic planning for 2024-29, were also considered but do not substantially alter the original assessment. The recommendations have been extensively discussed with the beneficiary institutions, the European Union, and relevant stakeholders. The members of the Stakeholders Advisory Group, including close to 30 public institutions and non-governmental organisations, were officially consulted on the Review.
This document was approved by the Public Governance Committee via written procedure on the 23 May 2024 and prepared for publication by the OECD Secretariat.
The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Palestinian Authority.