The role of the centre of government in driving decentralisation reform in Jordan

This chapter analyses the current architecture of the state with a focus on the interplay between the central level, governorates and municipalities examining the autonomy of subnational bodies, accountability mechanisms and the challenges faced by government institutions across all levels of government to effectively deliver on their mandates. It raises the (yet unanswered) question whether the creation of elected councils at governorate and local level will eventually go along with a more significant transfer of administrative, political and financial competencies. Stressing the critical function by the National Committee for the Decentralisation Reform as the centre of government (CoG) for driving the reform process, it discusses the need to further clarify mandates and procedures in order to define the future interaction across all levels in the day-to-day service delivery and the national planning and development process.