The creation of the prize came about through a presidential decree, which also gives the 'green light' to its regulation, says a government statement, which VerAngola had access to.
"The 'Best Municipality of Angola Award' is officially created through presidential decree 166/23, of 4 August, which also approves its regulations", reads the note.
According to the regulation, the note adds, the award is born "from the need to continuously improve the public management of municipalities through the promotion and enhancement of initiatives that guarantee the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of local government action, as well as the integrity, good governance and adoption of the best practices in the administration of the territory".
The purpose is to encourage "healthy competition" between municipalities "in boosting actions" that contribute to meeting the needs of citizens and "promote local development, by awarding distinctions, stimuli and incentives that recognize innovative initiatives in municipal public management".
"The regulation also states that the award is of a social and symbolic nature, and constitutes a way of stimulating and encouraging the best management practices to transform the local reality and develop municipalities", reads the government's communiqué.
According to the note, the prize will cover two modalities: 'Best Municipality by Category' (where "the three municipalities with the best performance in a given category" will be distinguished) and 'Best Municipality in all Categories' (it will distinguish "the municipalities with best performance in all categories, according to the typology of each municipality").
"The award categories include fundamental areas such as Urban Planning, Infrastructure and Spatial Planning, Transport, Mobility and Accessibility, Connectivity, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Health and Well-Being, Education and Professional Qualification, Good Governance, Transparency and Quality of Execution budget, among others", says the note.
With regard to the prize jury, adds the statement, it will be made up of seven members, whose appointment will be based "on criteria such as suitability, competence and experience in the subjects in the competition". The candidacies will be "presented by municipal administrators to provincial governments".
The prizes will include "trophies, plaques or commemorative medal, certificates, delivery of financial support title and goods to support municipal development".
The award gala is expected to take place annually on August 10 (African Day of Decentralization and Local Development), with the results to be "disseminated through the media and the official website of the Ministry of Territorial Administration" .
