Jordan Times
Monday, June 15, 1998
Prime minister calls for wider application, promotion of decentralisation
efforts
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Abdul Salam Majali Sunday called on
the different sectors of the Jordanian community to help promote the concept and ensure
the application of decentralisation.
Addressing the opening session of a three-day workshop on decentralisation and government
organised by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in conjunction with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the
U.S., Dr. Majali said decentralisation is rooted in the basic concepts of democracy,
dialogue and respect of the majority's views in the decision-making process.
Administration should reflect an interaction of thoughts and ideas from the grassroots to
the highest levels, he said.
Dr. Majali said the idea of decentralisation can be conveyed by a continuous series of
meetings during which matters connected with work within the public or private sectors can
be discussed.
Other speakers at the meeting included IPA Director General Zuhair Kayed Abu Baqar, UNDP
Resident Representative Jorgen Lissner and an International Monetary Fund representative.
Dr. Abu Baqar said Jordan was selected by the concerned U.N. agencies from 10 nations to
attend the meeting. He said the U.N. agencies that were involved in organising the meeting
are exerting efforts to improve public administration and promote the government's
endeavours in health, education and fighting poverty.
The government is directing its attention toward decentralising the education, health and
social development sectors as the first stage of a five-year programme.
Participating in the meeting are delegates from Jordan, India, Poland, Pakistan, the
Philippines, Uganda, Honduras, Brazil, South Africa and Senegal.