LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN ALGERIA: REALITY AND PROSPECTS

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SEKFALI RIM

Abstract

Governance is considered one of the most essential prerequisites for local development, as it aims to enhance the performance of local communities by providing an approach that enables effective participation in the management of public affairs. Algeria is among the countries striving to achieve this goal, despite the challenges it faces.


This research explores the current state of local governance in Algeria, the obstacles it encounters, and the potential solutions and future prospects for implementing effective local governance. The study particularly emphasizes the role of governance in advancing local development and keeping pace with ongoing transformations, especially the shift toward digitalization and the adoption of electronic local governance, which contributes to greater transparency and improved developmental performance.

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References

UNESCO has defined local development as:

"A process of developing, organizing, and directing the efforts of community members in a way that ensures the provision of food needs for the population—both quantitatively and qualitatively—for the present and the future. This also includes improving the general standard of living and working conditions for all those employed in the agricultural sector, as well as strengthening self-reliance mechanisms in productive work by making optimal use of the material and human resources available in rural communities."

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Through the adoption of various economic support programs—the Economic Recovery Support Program (2001–2004), the Growth Support Program (2005–2009), the Five-Year Development Plan (2010–2014), and the National Economy Consolidation Program (2014–2019)—Algeria has demonstrated intentions to strengthen governance mechanisms.

(See: Farhat Abbas & Saoud Wassila, General Overview of the Economic Development Program in Algeria (2001–2014), Journal of Communication and Law, Issue 1, June 2018, p. 72; also see: Cherchari Farouk, Requirements of Good Governance: Factors for Achieving Sustainable Local Development, Doctoral Dissertation, Abderrahmane Mira University, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Béjaïa, 2019, p. 82.)

Aflou in the Wilaya of Laghouat, Barika in the Wilaya of Batna, Ksar Chellala in the Wilaya of Tiaret, Ain Oussera and Messaad in the Wilaya of Djelfa, El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh in the Wilaya of El Bayadh, and Bou Saada in the Wilaya of M’sila have been promoted to delegated provinces

Through the implementation of the Economic Recovery Support Program (2001–2004), the Growth Support Program (2005–2009), the Five-Year Development Plan (2010–2014), and the National Economy Consolidation Program (2014–2019), Algeria has pursued a series of strategic economic initiatives.

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