The inaugural Commissioners’ Forum began Thursday in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, aimed at improving governance and service delivery at the local level.
The three-day event brings together the commissioners of Jur River, Wau and Raja counties, along with senior state government officials. Discussions are centered on key public services, including health care, education, security and the rule of law.
William Kamilio, chairperson of the forum’s organizing committee, said the gathering is designed to strengthen coordination between state and county authorities.
“This will help the state government to identify challenges facing the counties,” Kamilio said. He added that the forum builds on a strategy for service delivery that was developed during a governor’s forum last year.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the event.
Leopold Kouassi, the acting head of the UNMISS field office in the state, said the forum provides a critical platform for collaboration.
“This forum will provide viable opportunities for county commissioners, state legal policy actors and all key line ministries to join hands in championing challenges related to humanitarian and development issues,” Kouassi said.
The forum is being held under the theme: “Building trust, unity and coordination for effective service delivery in the local government.”
NOTICE of CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the supporting organization for the Commissioner’s Forum. It is supported by UNDP, not UNMISS.