Evaluation Of The Decentralization Experience In Jordan By Local Stakeholders

Prof Dr Aljaloudi Jameel,Prof Dr Abu Zaid Mohammad,Mr Alfauri Moath

doi:10.21272/sec.5(4).55-73.2021

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate Jordan’s experience in decentralization at the regional and local levels by heads and members of provincial councils, municipal councils and opinion leaders. This evaluation includes the three dimensions of decentralization (political, financial and administrative). For evaluation purposes, two questionnaires were designed. The first one for the governorates and the second one for the municipalities. The questionnaires were judged by academic experts and verified for credibility. The sample size was (578) and distributed as follows (141) at the governorate level, (370) at the municipality level, and the rest belong to opinion leaders in the communities. The statistical program SPSS was used to enter and analyze the data. The descriptive statistical method was used, represented by the arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The t-test was used to test the validity of the null hypotheses at a level of significance (0.05). The finding indicates that there is a moderate extent of the implementation of political, fiscal, and decentralization in Jordan at regional with a mean variable (3.13), (2.70), and (3.10), and with the estimated standard division was (1.10), (1.08), and (0.98) respectively. It indicates also a moderate extent of decentralization in all dimensions (political, fiscal, and administrative) at Municipality level with a mean variable (2.62), (2.98), and (2.84), and with the estimated standard division was (1.20), (1.026), and (1.037 ) respectively . The statistical tests for all the main and sub-hypotheses confirmed the acceptance of the null hypothesis, which means that the degree of decentralization in all its three dimensions (political, financial and administrative) is low in Jordan. The study recommended that decision-makers should review the experience and amend the laws governing decentralization in order to ensure more decentralization in its political, financial and administrative dimension.

Highlights

Jordan is a unified state based on a high degree of political, administrative and financial centralization with a two-tiered system of subnational government
This study aims to evaluate the decentralization model in Jordan by the heads and members of the elected councils, and the opinion leaders in the governorates, by conducting a sample survey
With the possibility of presenting some comparative models of this idea with other legal systems, but within a specific scope. He concluded that these councils do not enjoy financial and administrative independence, as they remain under the influence of central government intervention through its authority to appoint (15%) of its members

Summary

Introduction

Jordan is a unified state based on a high degree of political, administrative and financial centralization with a two-tiered system of subnational government (the 12 governorates, and the 100 municipalities). Each governorate is headed by a governor appointed by the king through the Ministry of Interior, who works alongside the decentralized directorates of the executive ministries as an extension of the central government. They are administrative units directly linked to the Ministry of Interior. As for the municipalities, they enjoy some financial and administrative independence (Municipality Law, 2015). A number of the municipal functions stipulated in the Municipal Law 2015 are performed by central government units rather than by municipalities

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion