| dc.description.abstract | In recent decades, global mega trends –notably urbanization, globalization,
democratization and decentralization - shifted global focus, mainly towards urban issues.
Those mega trends affect rural areas as well. Development of rural areas faces complex
challenges, including: higher costs of service delivery and infrastructure management due
to size of area and population density. This is intensified by the lack of resources as local
governments are under-financed and lack local sources of revenue. Rural-urban
migration, the decrease in local jobs and the income generated by small-scale farming and
the impact of climate change, further strengthens the challenge of making rural areas
attractive and inclusive. Local authorities are in the frontline in terms of promoting
sustainable inclusive rural development. They are the first institution to face these
socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Within this framework of globalization and
decentralization, there is a growing understanding that local authorities need to be
proactive in identifying and leveraging their uniqueness and competitiveness to promote
tangible development and ensure that local economy, communities and institutions will
benefit from its fruits; and reduce its dependency on external stakeholders. Furthermore,
decentralization processes are expected to create new responsibilities for local
governments. In Israel, rural municipalities are faced with challenges such as managing
open spaces, introducing innovation and non-agricultural economic activities, without
sufficient financial support, tools and regulations by central government. In this context,
rural local authorities have a key role in promoting sustainable, inclusive local
development; in which planning is a key tool. Yet, plans often remain unimplemented and
rarely generate sustainable local benefits. The presentation reviews some of these planning
– implementation – local impact issues; highlighting lack of local ownership, capacities
and integration of legal, institutional and financial considerations into planning. | en_US |
