Evaluation Of The Decentralization Experience In Jordan By Local Stakeholders

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.