The reality, efforts, and obstacles of local development in Algeria: the case of Annaba province

Local development is a fundamental process upon which the developmental policy of the state is based, as it is considered a basic starting point for achieving comprehensive national development. Local development relies on a participatory approach that ensures the involvement of all actors in bringing about development in a specific area. Since what may be suitable in one area may not be applicable in another, this study aims to examine the reality of local development in Annaba Province (the fourth largest city in Algeria) and to analyze the various efforts and obstacles to achieving local development in the province. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the descriptive method was used, and a field internship was conducted at the Directorate of Programming and Budget Follow - up in Annaba Province, where all statistics and information relevant to the topic were collected and analyzed. The study concluded with a key finding that despite all the efforts made to develop Annaba Province through municipal development plans (PCD), decentralized sectoral programs (PSD), various programs for recovering unused industrial land, supporting private investors, and encouraging entrepreneurial projects for youth, there are still many problems that need urgent solutions. The foremost of these problems include the high percentage of incomplete projects, bureaucracy, weak human resources, poor performance standards and criteria, and the lack of incentive systems.