LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN: A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC OPINION POLL OF CITIZENS IN IRBID,MADABA & KARAK Dr. Musa Shteiwi Jordan Center for Social Research

2 Contents Poll Objectives Poll Description Poll Outcomes

3 Poll Objectives This Poll aims to examine citizens’ opinions on the following issues concerning their municipalities: Public opinion on the general direction of each municipality. The most important challenges facing municipalities. Attitudes toward local governance. Degree of satisfaction with the services provided by municipalities, including public services and utilities. Evaluation of the performance of the current council as compared with previous councils. The reasons behind complaints about local services. Attitudes toward women’s participation in municipal councils. The criteria that should apply to municipal council candidates.

4 Poll Description Sample Size: 1500 individuals; 500 from each municipality; Madaba, Irbid and Karak; who are 18 years or older, randomly selected from each municipality (50% male and 50% female). A random cluster sample included 25 sites in Madaba and Karak and 50 sites in Irbid. The frame of 2004 census was used. The poll was conducted on January 3-7, The field work for this poll was conducted by Middle East Marketing and Research Consultants. This poll was supported by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

5 Presentation of the Poll’s Most Important Findings

6 Municipality MADABA%IRBID%KARAK% Things are going in the right direction Things are going in the wrong direction Not Sure/Do not know (NS/DK) Refused to answer 100 Total Are things going in the right or wrong direction in your municipality?

7 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Road paving and maintenance Street cleaning Incompetent, inefficient employees Public health supervision Municipality ’ s financial deficit Favoritism, Wasta Poor street lighting Weak public transportation Water shortages Shortage in number of employees Bureaucracy Electricity cut off High taxes, high fees for construction licenses Garbage collection No problems Don ’ t know/ others The most important problem facing your municipality? (open ended question)

8 Which of the following methods do you support for selecting a mayor and municipal councilors?

9 Which council was more successful in performing its tasks: the previous (elected) council or the current (appointed) council?

10 In 2001, small municipalities were incorporated into larger ones. Were you with the incorporation or against it at the time?

11 Are you with the incorporation now?

Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Provide better services Increase financial resources for the municipality Efficiency in solving problems Decrease tribal conflict Other reasons No reason Don’t know Total100 Why did you support the incorporation at the time?

Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Worsening of services Unequal services between municipalities Lack of division of labor Inefficiency in completing transactions Others Increased taxes and violations Unbalanced budgets Don't know The mayor comes from outside area Long distance between municipalities No reason Total100 Why were you against the incorporation at the time?

14 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality? Municipality % KARAK %IRBID%MADABA % Construction licensingSatisfied Not Satisfied Business licensingSatisfied Not Satisfied Road paving and maintenance Satisfied Not Satisfied Street cleaningSatisfied Not Satisfied Street lightingSatisfied Not Satisfied Health supervision of shops and factories Satisfied Not Satisfied

15 To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality? Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Garbage collection Satisfied Not Satisfied Public health supervision/ Disease control Satisfied Not Satisfied Building and regulating public markets Satisfied Not Satisfied Building and maintaining public parks Satisfied Not Satisfied

16 Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council? Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Construction licensingCurrent Council Previous Council Business licensingCurrent Council Previous Council Road paving and maintenance Current Council Previous Council Street cleaningCurrent Council Previous Council

17 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Street lightingCurrent Council Previous Council Health supervision of shops and factories Current Council Previous Council Garbage collectionCurrent Council Previous Council Public health supervision/ Disease control Current Council Previous Council Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council?

18 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Constructing and regulating public markets Current Council Previous Council Building and maintaining public parks Current Council Previous Council Which council performed its tasks better: the current (appointed) council or the previous (elected) council?

19 Municipality (% yes) KARAKIRBIDMADABA Construction licensing Business licensing Road paving and maintenance Street cleaning Street lighting Health supervision of shops and factories Garbage collection Do you have complaints about the following services in your city?

20 Municipality (% yes) KARAKIRBIDMADABA Public health supervision/ Disease control Constructing and regulating public markets Building and maintaining public parks Do you have complaints about the following services in your city?

21 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Home Construction licensing Higher cost Longer time for completion Favoritism, Wasta Other What is your specific complaint about the following services?

22 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Business licensing Longer time for completion Higher cost Increased difficulty in granting license Wasta Other reasons No answer What is your specific complaint about the following services?

23 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Road paving and maintenance Poor road paving and maintenance Slow in completion Poor road planning Narrow roads Wasta Others What is your specific complaint about the following services?

24 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA STREET CLEANING Lack of cleanliness Poor follow up Shortage in garbage collecting staff No garbage bins Others What is your specific complaint about the following services?

25 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Street lighting Inadequate Poor maintenance Electricity cut off No answer Garbage collection Irregular garbage collection Inadequate number of garbage collectors Inadequate garbage pins, vehicles No supervision and monitoring Others What is your specific complaint about the following services?

26 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Public health supervision Inadequate use of pesticides General lack of concern for public health Chicken, animal farms near residential areas No awareness campaigns Others No answer What is your specific complaint about the following services?

27 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Health supervision of shops and factories Poor supervision and monitoring of establishments Unqualified health care staff Others No answer-3.2 What is your specific complaint about the following services?

28 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Constructing and regulating public markets Poorly organized markets There are no markets Public Markets are far away Others No answer What is your specific complaint about the following services?

29 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Building/maintaining public parks Public parks not available Poor maintenance for existing ones Others What is your specific complaint about the following services?

30 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Telephone Services Satisfied Not Satisfied Water Services Satisfied Not Satisfied Electricity Services Satisfied Not Satisfied Public Transportation Satisfied Not Satisfied To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality?

31 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Sewage System Satisfied Not Satisfied Postal Services Satisfied Not Satisfied Education Services Satisfied Not Satisfied Health Services Satisfied Not Satisfied To what degree are you satisfied with the following services in your municipality?

32 Have you ever contacted a municipal council member (in person or by phone) about issues that are important to you or to your community? Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Yes No Do not remember Total 100 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Yes No Do not remember Total 100 Has a municipal council member ever contacted you (in person or by phone) about issues that are important to you or to your community?

33 Did you vote in the last municipal elections in 2003? Municipality% KARAKIRBIDMADABA Yes No Do not remember Total 100

34 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Not interested Age Lack of confidence in candidates Outside country Military personnel No time Personal reasons Others Was not aware of the election date No reason Refused to answer Total100 Why did you not vote in the last municipal elections?

35 Do you intend to vote in the upcoming municipal elections? Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Yes No Do not sure Refused to answer Unknown answer Total 100

36 Do you agree with the following forms of women’s political participation in your municipality?

37 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA Residing within the locality Important Not important ReligiosityImportant Not important Good record in public service Important Not important Holder of a university degree Important Not important There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?

38 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA puts public over personal interest Important Not important Political affiliationImportant Not important To be a maleImportant Not important There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?

39 Municipality % KARAKIRBIDMADABA To be youngImportant Not important Good reputationImportant Not important A member of your family or tribe Important Not important There are a number of criteria that people think are important for a candidate who wants to run for election in your municipality. How important do you think each of these criteria is?