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Supporting Decentralisation and Local Government

Project completed
Albanian women visiting the Bushat municipal office.
Citizens of Bushat in northern Albania are provided with information and services at a new one-stop-shop. © Leonard Qylafi


Switzerland supports Albania's transition to a democratic society. The decentralisation and local development programme (dldp) strengthens local government in North Albania and disseminates best practices at national level. It has introduced new models for local government functioning in areas such as waste management, public finance management, and e-governance.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Albania
Governance
Rule of Law - Democracy - Human rights
Decentralisation
01.01.2014 - 31.12.2018
 CHF  9’620’000
Background

In the last two decades Albania has pledged to decentralise its administrative system and delegate more power and functions to local government. The decentralisation process requires support and capacity development at municipality level.
Objectives

To improve the quality of services provided by municipalities to citizens in northern Albania through capacity-building
Target groups

Local government in five regions and their 850,000 inhabitants.
Medium-term outcomes

 

 
Results

Expected results:  

  1. Municipal services are improved for both women and men.
  2. Institutions are supported in developing tools and study programmes that are nationally recognised.
  3. Support is given for political reform at the national level.


Results from previous phases:  

  • 15% of Albanian citizens benefit from improved and more inclusive services such as waste disposal and the authorities' proactive communication with the public
  • Local authorities in Northern regions communicate proactively with the public
  • Best practices and service models transmitted nationwide

 
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
  • United Nations Development Programme


Other partners

Municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Dibër, Kukës and Durrës; Minister of State for Local Affairs;  Minister of State for Innovation and Public Administration 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’620’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    9’261’427 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   10’410’000
Project phases Phase 5 01.01.2018 - 30.06.2020   (Completed)

Phase 4 01.01.2014 - 31.12.2018   (Completed)

Phase 3 01.03.2010 - 31.12.2013   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Decentralisation and support to subnational government (incl. accountability)
    Cross-cutting topics The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
    The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
    Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
    Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
    Finance type Aid grant
    Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
    Mandate with fiduciary funds
    Mandate without fiduciary fund
    Tied/untied aid Untied aid
    Project number

    7F04382

Project highlights

Several innovative practices have been introduced as part of the programme's work in North Albania:

Waste management

Public waste services have been introduced primarily in urban centers. Meanwhile, the coverage in rural areas is still very limited. Municipalities experience difficulties in coping with this function due to its complexity and costs. The project supports municipalities in waste treatment plans, cost and tariff analysis as well as the link to financial planning. A curriculum on waste management planning, monitoring and evaluation was developed by the project and is currently taught by the Albanian School of Public Administration – thus reaching all municipalities.

One-stop-shops

The dldp programme piloted two integrated one-stop-shops, linking the administrative units in rural areas with the main municipality in providing electronic administrative services to citizens. A scaling up to other municipalities is ongoing.

Empowering women in politics

The programme promotes the representation of women and their involvement in political functions at all levels.

  • To achieve greater representation in Parliament, a regional network of women in politics was established. The network helped the candidates in their election campaign and promoted peer learning.  

  • Support is given to public campaigns raising awareness of women's specific needs.

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Last update 27.04.2020