This project “Sustaining Public Administration Reform at Local Level in Albania” (SPAR), completed by the Congress on 30 June 2025, has helped Albanian authorities to improve the recruitment and training of local civil servants. It also accompanied the Albanian School of Public Administration in increasing its digital capacities, and developed a digital training needs assessment tool, piloted in 13 municipalities.

Implemented by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance (CEMG) at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe since December 2022, the project was praised by Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni and other project beneficiaries.

Following a transition period, the SPAR project will be succeeded by a new project focusing on advancing civic participation at local level, after a national survey involving 78% of Albanian municipalities confirmed the demand for support in this area.