Giving Israel’s local authorities the digital help they need
With the world increasingly connected online and through social media, municipalities and local authorities face a growing challenge to effectively communicate with residents. Traditional mail and official announcements have long been replaced by Facebook and Instagram.
The time has come for local authorities to adapt. So, the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation has just launched a new program to help achieve this, in partnership with Facebook Israel, the Interior Ministry and the Headquarters for the National Digital Initiative at the Ministry of Social Equality.
The digital training program is the first of its kind in Israel. It is specially designed to give digital managers and administrators in local authorities the tools they need to better reach and impact local residents. Topics covered during the course will include marketing, strategic planning, content creation, creativity and paid-for digital channels.
35 digital staff at local authorities serving a wide range of communities have signed up to participate in the first course, including Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Ashdod, Yehud-Monosson, Acre, Eilat, Netivot, Ofakim, Harish, Mitzpe Ramon, Umm al-Fahm, Qalansawe, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Shmona, Safed, Bat Yam, Shomron Regional Council, Beit Jann and others.
The training program was recently launched at an event attended by Efrat Duvdevani (Director General, Peres Center for Peace & Innovation), Adi Soffer-Teeni (CEO, Facebook Israel), Edit Bar (Director of Development Administration, Ministry of Interior) and Shai-Li Spiegelman (Headquarters for the National Digital Initiative at the Ministry of Social Equality).
Speaking at the launch event, Efrat Duvdevani commented, “Former-President Shimon Peres believed that the leaders and workers of the local authorities are the true heads of state, who believe in the welfare of citizens and have the greatest impact on their lives. At the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation, every day we see the miracle of using innovation as a tool to bridge gaps and as a means to give citizens the very best that the state has to offer. Innovation allows us at the Peres Center, to create opportunities for citizens wherever they are – Whether they are in the geographical periphery or the center, regardless of ethnic background or gender.”
