EfshariBari in the City
The National Project for an Active and Healthy Lifestyle

In December 2018, the Ministry of Health, as part EfshariBari in the City – the national project for active and healthy living, launched a blueprint of a program that will transform local authorities in Israel into health promoters. For the first time, about 30 municipalities that met the professional thresholds of the “EfshariBari in the City” program will receive support from the ministry, which will serve more frameworks with healthy nutrition for children, more exercise, covered playgrounds and resident workshops.

Not just garbage disposal and road construction – local authorities also have the biggest impact on our ability to live in a healthier environment – one that promotes health in general and especially physical activity and healthy nutrition. Now, the National Project for an Active and Healthy Lifestyle  – EfshariBari, which is led by the Ministry of Health, is launching a joint initiative with local authorities: the EfshariBari in the City” initiative. The new plan will enable them to define the challenges, needs and characteristics that are right for their residents, and receive funding and implementation assistance for policies, activities, and environmental and social change to transform the residents' living environment in order to encourage physical activity and healthy nutrition.

Some of the activities that will be carried out by the authorities that have joined the initiative:

1. Improving dietary policies, improving nutrition and active lifestyles in children’s institutions under the responsibility of the authority
2. Installing playground covers, water facilities, lighting, marking and signage of walk trails and activities in parks and playgrounds etc.
3. Sports and movement activities and conducting experiential workshops on healthy nutrition adapted to age and population.
4. Releasing and sharing messages on healthy nutrition and physical activity in digital media and organizing events in the urban space: World Walking Day (late October) and another day on healthy nutrition.

29 settlements, Arab and Jewish, larger and smaller cities, from a variety of socio-economic levels met the threshold conditions for the plan (listed alphabetically):

1. Acre
2. Ashdod
3. Baqa al-Gharbiyye
4. Be’er Sheva
5. Beit Jan
6. Bnei Shimon Regional Council
7. Central Arava Regional Council
8. Eilat
9. Eshkol Regional Council
10. Golan Regional Council
11. Haifa
12. Herzliya
13. Kfar Saba
14. Kiryat Ata
15. Ma'ale Adumim
16. Mevaseret Zion
17. Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
18. Netanya
19. Netivot
20. Ramat Gan
21. Ramla
22. Rishon LeZion
23. Sderot
24. Tel Aviv Jaffa
25. Tor’an
26. Umm al-Fahm
27. Upper Galilee Regional Council
28. Yeruham

• These 29 authorities joined Jerusalem who has been running a pilot of “EfshariBari Jerusalem” initiative since 2016, which is now included in the national project.
• Approximately 3.5 million people live in the cities and towns included in the program, around 41% of all Israeli residents.
• Overall scope of support: approximately 6 million ILS.

Based on models and pilot programs carried out in the past, there are a number of prerequisites required for a local authority to be effective over time (threshold conditions): an obligation from the mayor to lead the program, an active steering committee, hiring a dedicated health coordinator, annual work plan for active and healthy lifestyles and monitoring parameters.

Alongside the support of authorities that meet the threshold conditions, it should be emphasized that the Ministry of Health and the nationally EfshariBari project help low socioeconomic groups meet required threshold conditions and 7 authorities have recently received support from the Ministry by funding a health coordinator. Local authorities and professional support will be accompanied by Healthy Cities Network and Local Government Center, partners to promoting health through local authorities.

The program is being carried out in combination with other moves from the “EfshariBari” national project and with partners including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture and Sports: in schools and preschools, and appropriate national advocacy measures to encourage healthy nutrition and exercise. We are confident that this spirit of activity will ensure real and lasting change that will make healthier choices easier and more accessible in all walks of life. Keep track of publications for the next call out.

Further reading

Call for support on the basis of which cities were selected to participate in the program (Hebrew)