Dldp achievements during 2017 in Grant Fund access and General Local Plans

60% of the Administrative Units in the 12 Municipalities included in the scheme have benefited from the dldp grant fund amounting to 1.56 million CHF, in three areas of intervention: (i) infrastructure, (ii) waste management, and (iii) administrative services.

The management model of the grant fund has enabled support for 15 projects. During 2017 dldp managed to conclude support for all projects, including finalization of administrative matters. In all the 12 beneficiary Municipalities, 69 AUs (or 80%) benefited from dldp supported projects.

 

dldp grant fund distribution

No Municipality Project Typology of project
1 Malësi e Madhe Improving the local waste management system Waste Management
2 Shkodër Expanding the implementation of OSSH in 5 AU and 5 centers in the city One-Stop-Shop
3 Shkodër Service improvement & good practices Waste Management
4 Vau Dejës implementation of OSSH in the center and in one AU One-Stop-Shop
5 Pukë Improving waste management system Waste Management
6 Lezhë Expanding the implementation of OSSH in 2 AU One-Stop-Shop
7 Lezhë Support on waste optimization Waste Management
8 Tropojë Urban revitalization & handicraft market Infrastructure
9 Kukës Social Center building’s reconstruction Infrastructure
10 Dibër Improving the local waste management system Waste Management
11 Mat implementation of OSSH in the center and in 7 AU One-Stop-Shop
12 Klos implementation of OSSH in the center and in 3 AU One-Stop-Shop
13 Durrës Jubë Bridge reconstruction & road improvement Infrastructure
14 Durrës Improving the local waste collection service Waste Management
15 Shijak Development of local waste management policies Waste Management
16 Tropojë Improving waste management infrastructure Waste management

 

In 2017, dldp supported General Local Plans have been well aligned with the Regional Plan of Alps. 5 GLPs were completed and 2 of them were approved with still an excellent speed and introducing innovative participation instruments like diaspora involvement.

During process of development of GLPs in five supported Municipalities dldp put particular attention in introducing new consultation platforms with specific groups of interest. Dldp managed to involve Albanian diaspora (of Malësi e Madhe and Tropojë) in contributing to the GLP processes, responding as well to the GoA objectives towards Albanian diaspora.

To respond to the challenges presented by the imminent implementation of the GLPs, which involves the problem of local finances, dldp organized a study tour to municipalities of Lushnje and Kuçovë, which have similar characteristics and development context as dldp partners and have their GLPs approved, aiming to exchange and learn from each other.

The International Conference on “Migration, Diaspora and Development in Albania and in the Western Balkans” served as a comprehensive mixed platform (academia, politicians, researchers, local experts, businessmen, religious, etc.) to discuss diaspora related issues in various contexts, including local level, and where dldp had the opportunity to share its models of Diaspora engagement into the local processes (ex. GLP frame) with a wide range of stakeholders at national and international level.

Concluding its engagement in local strategic planning, dldp supported Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy and NTPA to organize the Local Territorial Planning Forum, mainstreaming its know-how and innovative elements (ex. diaspora engagement & linking GLP with MTBP) in the proceedings.

Achievements during 2014 on Functional Area

“The study of Functional Area in Albania” has presented and defined the methodology of 8 Functional Areas in 5 Qarks (Shkodër, Lezhë, Dibër, Kukës and Durrës) that dldp program operates.

In relation to the ongoing Administrative and Territorial Reform (TAR) process: dldp has contributed through its study on Functional Areas, as well as planning the further practical implications of this approach conceptualized as a “Functional Area Program” (FAP). The FAP is intended as a development instrument for new (amalgamated) local government units (LGUs) resulting after the implementation of the reform.

With regards to other development partners, STAR/UNDP project took over dldp’s Functional Area Study for countryside replication.

Achievements of dldp phase II

• The program co-financed around 1 Million Euros in two rounds of the competitive grant scheme in Shkodra and Lezha Qarks. The number of co-financed projects in both rounds was 23 out of 33 fully developed applications.
• 21 out of 54 LGUs of the two beneficiary regions participated with at least one financed project (this accounts for around 40 % of the total number of LGUs in the region). The type of projects co-financed respond well to the concrete needs and priorities at local level. The projects included improvement of public services, promoting especially two important services such as interventions in waste management and improvement of information and communication services through one stop shop projects in 5 LGUs and urban planning.

• An estimated 189.637 persons (94237 women / 95400 men, 2603 disabled) have benefited and almost 200 LGU staff (68 women / 132 men) was trained in project cycle management, public procurement, etc.

• The use of existing national procurement and financial guidelines as well as treasury systems for the projects implementation has been of great importance to the Local and Central Government representatives. Hence, dldp applied on-budget support and e-procedures to improve procurement and service delivery (including interLGU procurement).

• dldp co-financed projects have been cost-effective. A cost-benefit analysis report was prepared for the dldp interventions. Selected indicators such as cost/m2 and cost/beneficiary in a sizeable sample of infrastructure projects compare quite well with other well performing projects in the country.

• Citizen participation in the grant fund was assured. Individual meetings, community groups’ meetings, public announcements, usage of Internet, traditional and social media web site, participation of community representatives in project monitoring were all methods for community information and mobilization used by the LGUs to enhance the citizen participation during the projects implementation. This included a full cycle of participation during the selection of the priorities, transparency and accountability during implementation, open discussions on the problems arising during the implementation and beneficiary satisfaction measurement at the end of the project. An average of 80 % of respondents on the beneficiaries’ assessment state that the quality of the project implemented is good or very good and more than 75 % of the asked respondents state that they were informed on the details of the project.