Strong Municipali�esa brief presenta�on

Objec�ve

The aim of the Strong Municipali�es project is to enable Albanian residents to benefit from ci�zen-oriented municipali�es and to improve the provision of waste management and pre-school educa�on services at the municipal level.

Descrip�on

Since 2014, with the adop�on of the new territorial administra�ve map, Albania has been reorganized into 61 municipali�es with larger territories and added responsibili�es. The objec�ves are the improvement of services and the empowerment of local governments, ci�zens and communi�es. For years, the Swiss Government, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Coopera�on, has supported Albanian ci�zens and their ins�tu�ons in pursuing decentraliza�on.

Support

Strong Municipali�es, a Swiss Development Coopera�on project implemented through Helvetas Swiss Intercoopera�on, provides assistance to the country's 61 municipali�es. Technical support provided to local administra�ons is combined with support for ci�zen par�cipa�on through the municipal councils. The project also supports branch agencies of the central government at the regional level to fulfill their role as part of the changes demanded by decentraliza�on. It promotes ci�zen involvement by encouraging them to ar�culate their needs and to be ac�ve par�cipants in decision-making. Strong Municipali�es has been working towards these objec�ves since October 2018.

Contact us:

BASHKI TË FORTA

Str. Ismail Qemali, Bldg. 18, Floor 4, Apt 20, Tiranë, Albania

Address:

Web: www.bashkiteforta.alE-mail: bashkiteforta@helvetas.org

Facebook: BashkiTeForta

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objec�ves of the project in Municipal Performance Monitoring

Project's objec�ve in pre-school educa�on

Project objec�ve on waste management

The project will enable municipali�es to link their public service polices with their budgets. Budget execu�on figures at the end of the year will be linked to public service improvement objec�ves. This rela�onship will be presented in easy-to-read reports (further details can be found on the Strong Municipali�es website at www.bashkiteforta.al).

In this way, municipal administra�ons, municipal councils and residents will be properly informed about the benefits derived from the use of budget resources. This entails achieving a very high level of transparency and accountability, both within the state itself and toward its ci�zens.

The objec�ve is to provide best prac�ces for the management of pre-school educa�on services.

Responsibility for preschool educa�on was recently transferred en�rely to Albanian municipali�es. The project will assist six municipali�es with different aspects of this new task. They will develop and implement management models and service provision standards. For more informa�on, visit the Strong Municipali�es website: www.bashkiteforta.al

The objec�ve is to establish a system of urban waste management at the municipal level according to na�onal standards.

Here, the interven�on will be informed by the work of the Decentraliza�on and Local Development Programme (DLDP). The DLDP project in solid waste management (funded by the Swiss government and implemented by HSI) developed tools for service improvement based on real-world prac�ce. The current project will support around 30 municipali�es in formula�ng and ini�a�ng the implementa�on of their waste management plans.

The 30 municipali�es are divided into four areas of waste collec�on according to the na�onal waste management strategy and the geographic distribu�on of external assistance from different development partners . Addi�onally, the project will support the efforts of na�onal ministries to monitor and ensure proper service delivery in every municipality. More informa�on can be found on the Strong Municipal i�es website: www.bashkiteforta.al

Representa�ve Municipal Council

Another objec�ve of the project is related to strong municipal councils

Our expected results are:

* Communica�on channels between the councils and their ci�zens are accessible and effec�ve.

The project will train councilors in a number of different topics including their roles , municipal budge�ng, and performance monitoring of public services.

* The council secretariats are empowered to support be�er council opera�on.

* Municipal councilors are able to fulfill their mandates.

With a large amount of power over municipal administra�on and as they are elected by ci�zens, municipal councils play an increasingly important role in ci�zen par�cipa�on.

Municipal councils should be be�er organized, for example, by giving more importance to the role of their commissions in decision-making.

This project will provide advice on dra�ing and implemen�ng a mechanism that ensures the proper func�oning of ci�zen's ini�a�ves, pe��ons and complaints and that councils provide adequate responses, as required by law. The Women Counselor Alliances will be supported in ensuring social inclusion .

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Councilors are able to fulfil their mandate.

Council secretariats are strengthened to support

improved council performance.

Municipal staff are trained to monitor their own

performance.

Effec�ve communica�on channels are established between councilors and

ci�zens.

PROJECT OUTPUT

A model of pre-school educa�on management at the

municipal level is defined.

Solid waste management system is established at the municipal level according to

na�onal standards.

and working with municipal councils,

Municipali�es project"

municipal administra�ons

“The Strong

by serving Albanian residents

with various ministries and the Albanian School of Public Administra�on.

aims to fulfill its objec�ves

and local leaders and by partnering