COUNTRY SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING
 

ALBANIA

Activity in 2010

Project: Reinforcing local and regional government structures in Albania

The Swiss Co-operation Office in Albania (SCO-A) agreed to the project on “Reinforcing local and regional government structures in Albania”.

Action carried out
A local Programme Manager was appointed.
A programme Steering Committee was established to regularly review implementation of the programme activities, provide comments and guidance for its effective and efficient implementation.
The official inauguration of the programme was organised in April. It was extensively covered by the national media (TV, newspapers).

Funding
Swiss Government.

Participants:
A trilateral co-operation agreement was developed to be signed between the Council of Europe, the Swiss Government and the Albanian Government.


Intermunicipal co-operation and Human Resources
Consultative Working Groups on Inter-municipal Co-operation (IMC) and Human Resources Management (HRM) were set up

Aims
to work on the outline for and to carry out comprehensive technical analysis in the fields of IMC and HRM in Albania. All Working Groups’ meetings were organised with support and participation of the Council of Europe’s experts.

Action carried out

A local Programme Manager was appointed.
A programme Steering Committee was established to regularly review the implementation of the programme activities, provide comments and guidance for its effective and efficient implementation.
The official inauguration of the programme was organised in April. It was extensively covered by the national media (TV, newspapers).
Consultative working groups set up: Consultative Working Groups on Inter-municipal Co-operation (IMC) and Human Resources Management (HRM) were established to work on the outline for and carry out comprehensive technical analysis in the fields of IMC and HRM in Albania. All Working Groups’ meetings were organised with support and participation of the Council of Europe’s experts.
Work with other organisations: The Council of Europe carried out a series of meetings with the National Territorial Planning Agency (NTPA) and international organisations to plan an approach to multi-agency support to the NTPA. The USAID, the World Bank and the Council of Europe agreed to continue to provide joint support to NTPA towards building its capacities and drafting secondary legislation necessary for the implementation of the new law on Territorial Planning.
Continuous communication and support was established with other international organisations such as the OSCE mission to Albania, UNDP country office, UNOPS, GTZ, VNG International, LGDP – Decentralisation and Local Development Programme in Albania, a substantial ongoing Swiss-funded initiative, etc. They should launch complementary activities in the fields of IMC and HRM to reinforce the CoE action.
Performance management: A separate project on Performance Management for local government was developed with UNOPS Albania (Art Gold 2 Albania). It should be discussed and agreed with UNOPS management centre at FAO in Rome for possible implementation in Albania in 2011.
Donors' Working Group on Decentralisation in Albania: The Council of Europe attended the Donors’ Working Group on Decentralisation in Albania, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Interior and facilitated by the Deputy Director of SCO-A. The CoE was invited to develop and support the establishment of thematic sub-Working Groups on Inter-municipal Co-operation and Human Resources Management.
Questionnaire on intermunicipal co-operation: A questionnaire on IMC aimed at the assessment of the level of IMC in the country has been drafted and distributed, through a series of 5 round tables organised in close cooperation with the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Albanian Associations of Municipalities (AAM) and Communes (AAC) among Albanian LGUs. The round tables took place between 2-6 November in the cities of Berat, Elbasan, Durres, Lezhe and Sarande with the participation of 12 representatives of Albanian LGUs. Facing a delay in the process of collection of IMC questionnaires a new strategy of action was defined which foresees a more relevant role and the direct involvement of the CoE Information Office in Tirana in the activities.
An international expert, Ms.Suja Chacko, has been hired for drafting of the questionnaire and other partners have been consulted for the definition of the sample of LGUS. The questionnaire has been submitted to the Consultative Working Group on HRM which includes MoI, SCO-A, dldp, OSCE, revised on the basis of their comments.
Legislative appraisal: An assessment of the current legislation on HR has been made by the Associations (AAM/AAC) which provided also some initial suggestions on the institutional changes which needs to be undertaken. These suggestions will be integrated in the HRM assessment report, conclusions and recommendations.

Project on Inter-Municipal Co-operation (IMC)

Project expectations
During 2011 the assessment of the situation on IMC in the country should be finalised.
The adaption of the Toolkit developed jointly by CoE/UNDP/LGI-OSI and of the training materials on IMC to the Albanian context should also be done and will be followed by a training programme on IMC for Albanian LGUs.
A joint AAM/AAC IMC Policy Forum and a Final Evaluation Conference on IMC are also foreseen with the aim to monitor the development of Inter-Municipal Co-operation in the country on the long term.


Project on Human Resources Management (HRM)

Project expectations
The assessment of the situation of HRM in the country should be completed,
The HRM tools developed and tested in the pilot LGUS and adapted to the Albanian context.
A training programme on HRM for Albanian LGUs will be launched and
The development of Human Resources Management in the long term in the country will be monitored through a joint AAM/AAC HRM Policy Forum and a Final Evaluation Conference.

Project on Assistance to the National Territorial Planning Agency

Project postponement
The entry into force of by-laws on territorial planning, prepared with the help of CoE, has been postponed to September 2011. It is currently envisaged that this programme will be discontinued and replaced in 2011 by a Leadership Academy module.
 

Link to activities for 2004-2007

Activity in 2009

Legislative support
Policy guidance and legal/technical support in 2009 to the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MPWTT) in the drafting of the new law on territorial planning (Law No. 10119 adopted on 23 April 2009).
 

National Territorial Planning Agency
Preparation of the establishment of the National Territorial Planning Agency (NTPA) in partnership with the World Bank national and international experts.


Project: Reinforcing local and regional government structures in Albania

Project description
A follow-up project on “Reinforcing local and regional government structures in Albania” developed in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, the MPWTT and the Associations of Communes and of Municipalities.

Project Aims:
improving the framework for Inter-Municipal Co-operation (IMC),
ensuring effective implementation of the new legislation on Territorial Planning,
raising awareness on Human Resources Management (HRM), developing and implementing a set of modern tools on HRM for local administrations.