Poland is divided into 16 provinces (województwa), which constitute the first and highest tier of the country's two-level administrative system. These provinces serve as the primary units for regional self-government and state administration, responsible for major infrastructure projects, regional economic development, spatial planning, and environmental protection. Each province is governed by an elected regional assembly (sejmik) and an executive board, while a centrally-appointed voivode represents the national government's interests within the region. Provincial governments coordinate healthcare facilities, public transportation networks, regional roads, vocational education, and cultural institutions. This administrative structure, established in its current form in 1999, replaced the previous system of 49 smaller provinces to create more economically viable regions capable of effective governance and EU integration.