• Albania needs representative and responsive institutions to consolidate its democracy and succeed in the European Union (EU) accession.
• The parliament is challenged in performing its legislative, representational and oversight role due to partisan conflict and institutional capacity deficits.
• Elections of 2021 were administered better; however, vote buying, misuse of state resources and manipulation remain widespread. A deep electoral reform is recommended by ODHIR.
• Implementation of oversight institution’s recommendations is low due to lack of institutional capacities and political will.
• Citizens are insufficiently aware on the role and work of parliament.

Direct target group: Parliament (140 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 200 administration staff), Central Elections Commissioner, Oversight Institutions (up to 3), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/ Interest Groups and citizens, including diaspora.

Indirect target group: Albanian population

• Outcome 1: The legal and institutional framework in election related processes is improved. 
• Outcome 2: Parliament conducts evidence– based deliberation and law making. 
• Outcome 3: Parliament has a strong oversight function due to stronger oversight institutions, better coordinating mechanism and increased engagement of citizens.

Expected results:  

Output 1: Election laws, bylaws and policies are reviewed and amended based on ODHIR and civil society recommendations.

Output 2: Central Elections Commission (CEC) administers elections with efficiency and accountability by improving internal systems.

Output 3: Parliamentary Institute provides timely, high quality evidence for members of parliament and informs citizens on parliamentary work.

Output 4: Parliamentary committees improve cooperation with oversight institutions and civil society to ensure implementation of policy recommendations.

Results from previous phases:  

• The Strategic Development Plan 2021 - 2025 of the Parliament paves the way to fully assume its functions.
• The Parliamentary Institute (PI) is established with support from all political actors represented in the Parliament.
• Parliament’s transparency is improved through the use of digital systems.
• Parliament has diversified instruments to citizen outreach and increased interaction.
• Citizens are capacitated and submitting to parliament legal initiatives (2)
• Promoting gender sensitive lawmaking – “towards a gender sensitive parliament” framework approved.

• Synergies among Swiss funded projects on support local government and civil society.
• There is regular exchange with development actors engaged in supporting the Parliament and the electoral reform (EU, United Kingdom, Austria) to ensure coordination and complementarity.
• The experience of Swiss Parliamentary Services will be harvested.