Foreword

Municipalities play an important role in improving the quality of life and supporting sustainable development efforts at the local level through their responsibilities and activities.

We live in a world where the need for a culture of good governance grows increasingly apparent. Good governance culture holds critical importance in building trust in the efficient utilization of resources and effective risk management. Such a culture facilitates improvements in the quality of life, sustainable development. and social harmony while dealing with climate change, pandemics, economic uncertainties, and increasing social inequality. Municipalities play an important role in improving the quality of life and supporting sustainable development efforts at the local level through their responsibilities and activities.

Since its establishment in 2014, the Argüden Governance Academy has been undertaking initiatives in developing models and tools to promote a culture of good governance in Türkiye and across its borders. In 2018, we developed the Municipality Governance Scorecard as a global innovation model for measuring and improving the quality of governance in municipalities. Both UN and the OECD have recognized the scorecard model and methodology as an innovative tool in the public sector. This tool primarily aims to improve the level of trust between municipalities and citizens through measurement, evaluation, and information sharing regarding the prevailing quality of good governance practices in municipal processes. Similarly, the Academy has encouraged and triggered the preparation of the first municipal Integrated Report by a Turkish Municipality. Furthermore, we have developed the Metropolitan Municipality Governance Scorecard (MMGS) model in 2022, the first of its kind in the world. This model analyzes the practices and culture of good governance at metropolitan municipalities from a citizen-centric perspective and relies on publicly available data and documents. The MMGS model has been implemented in Türkiye in an analysis of its 27 metropolitan municipalities. Also, in 2022, the Academy developed an Integrated Municipality Governance Model (IMGM), again as a global innovation. The model promotes an integrated, measurable, and continuous development approach for the adoption and implementation of good governance practices by municipalities. Since municipalities directly interact with citizens as state institutions, they are considered as key institutions for fostering participatory democracy through a bottom-up manner.

IMGM is a model that guides municipalities in evaluating their quality and performance of governance in terms of practicing good governance culture throughout their entire governing processes. The model also helps municipalities to continuously improve the implementation quality of good governance culture and practices. One of the most important aims of this guidance is to enable municipalities to attain a level at which they can be awarded with the European Label of Good Governance (ELoGE) offered by the Council of Europe. Another benefit of IMGM is its ability to provide a practical roadmap with specific tools and steps for municipalities to acquire ELoGE. The primary aim of the model is to improve the level of trust between municipalities and citizens while contributing to the quality of life and sustainable development efforts at the local level.

The model and its anticipated benefits are in line with the vision and strategy laid out by the Council of Europe in 2008 in its Valencia Declaration. Hence, the model was also developed to support and strengthen the deployment of the Strategy in the provision of an integrated implementation model. Through this model, the Argüden Governance Academy functions as a global center of excellence for good governance by providing an international approach. We believe that good governance is the foundation for improving trust in institutions all around the world. Improved trust forms a base for an effective decision-making climate during increasingly uncertain and volatile times.

The model aims to ensure:

• adoption of an integrated thinking approach in decision making and implementation processes through considering the potential impact of decisions and activities on various social groups from economic, social, environmental, and cultural aspects,
• planning and implementation of municipal services, investment, and overall activities in an inclusive, fair, and responsive manner through improving the quality of participation,
• transparency, accountability, consistency, and supporting participatory democracy through improving the quality of information,
• effective utilization of resources and governing processes though improving the operational quality of municipal processes,
• institutional learning and supporting the sustainable development efforts at the local level through the perspective of continuous development.

The model enables municipalities to adopt good governance principles and practices to their structures, governing processes, and activities. The model is useful for municipal decision makers and their administrations. In our previous research and projects, we have observed that municipalities require a holistic perspective in dealing with multiple challenges while satisfying the needs, demands, and expectations of various social groups. As mentioned previously, the Academy, by relying on a holistic perspective on local governance and development, has developed the Municipality Governance Scorecard, the Inclusive Municipality Governance Scorecard, the Metropolitan Municipality Governance Scorecard, A Guide for Local Development for Business, Stakeholder Engagement: Participation in Decision Making Processes and Integrated Thinking reports.

We advocate the adoption and deployment of good governance principles by municipalities in their governing structures and processes with a holistic, measurable, and continuous development perspective beyond the sole concern of regulatory compliance. Integrated thinking matters in implementing a holistic governance approach for the adoption of good governance culture and improving the quality of life for all. This sort of approach considers all relevant dynamics and factors in municipal governance.

In the period of 2021–2022, we carried out a project entitled the Integrated Municipality Governance Model in partnership with the Council of Europe, Marmara Municipalities Union, Sultanbeyli District Municipality, and Şişli District Municipality. During the project, we piloted the model and observed the expected benefits of the model in improving governance quality at the two municipalities. This project helped us further improve the model’s design and components. Therefore, we would like to thank our project partners for their valuable support and contributions. We also would like to express our gratitude to The Netherlands Consulate of Istanbul for supporting the project.

We hope that all member states of the Council of Europe deploy this model as it seeks to improve trust in democracy and the quality of life of its citizens. We will continue to undertake more activities in the promotion and improvement of good governance culture at the local, national, and global levels for a sustainable future. It is our belief that building a better future can be achieved by creating a vigorous climate of trust during uncertain times. Hence, we hope that the improvement of good governance culture and practices emerge as a common purpose around the world.

Best regards,

Dr. Yılmaz Argüden
Argüden Governance Academy,
Chair of the Board of Trustees