Ministry of Finance and Economy endorsed the Guideline on Roma Responsive Budgeting at Local Level in Albania, which was prepared under the joint European Union/Council of Europe ROMACTED programme, and included it in the official Guideline no.10, dated 28/02/2020, on the "Preparation of the Medium-Term Budgeting 2021-2023" for local self-government units.

As a follow up, the ROMACTED Programme, in partnership with the Albanian School of Public Administration (ASPA), has planned a series of webinars on Roma Responsive Budgeting at Local Level to contribute to the integration of Roma and Egyptian priority projects into the annual budgeting process for 2021 and the medium-term budgeting for the 2021-2023 period.

The webinars are scheduled as follows:

• Municipality of Fier – 13 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Roskovec – 14 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Elbasan – 19 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Korca – 20 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Permet – 21 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Vlora – 25 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30
• Municipality of Pogradec – 26 May 2020, 10:00 - 12:30

The programme of the webinars is built on the content of the Guideline on Roma Responsive Budgeting at Local Level. Webinars will focus on the following: addressing Roma needs and priorities in the local action plans; integration of Roma priorities in the medium-term budgeting; compliance of limited resources with the analysis of budgetary ceilings; performance-based budgeting as an opportunity for Roma responsive budgeting; and sharing of best practices in designing Roma responsive budgeting. Local civil servants, ROMACTED facilitators and members of Community Action Groups will discuss the selected programmes of social housing; social care for families and children; pre-university education; local public services; running water supply; and public transport and rural and urban infrastructure. The webinars will continue throughout the budgetary cycle and the full training cycle will be recognised and certified by the Albanian School of Public Administration.