Head of the Institutional Partnerships in SDC visits HELVETAS programmes in Albania

 Konrad Specker– Head of the Institutional Partnerships in SDC, Directorate member – paid one day visit to the programmes of HELVETAS in Albania during his tour in Western Balkan (Kosovo and Albania). During his short staying in Albania, he visited two HELVETAS programmes in Albania, dldp and RISI. Mr. Specker was accompanied by Jens Engeli, Co-Team Leader Eastern Europe Unit of HELVETAS and Elda Bagaviki, National Programme Officer at Swiss Cooperation Office Albania.
In dldp programme Mr. Konrad Specker had a discussion with dldp staff and partners on decentralization issues like public finance management, economic development as well as on project impacts.

Dldp programme manager, Valbona Karakaçi presented LGU partners and working environment, dldp approach and linkages between governance and economic development, innovative part of dldp and how it contributes in Knowledge Management and Policy. Other participants in the meeting, Mayors of Lezha, Dajç, Kallmet and Deputy Mayor of Shkodra, presented contribution of dldp instruments in increasing the revenues and how dldp has improved overall the funding of LGU-s.
A visit in recycling center in Lezha illustrated, how small actions can contribute to the improvement of quality of life for marginalized groups as well as drawing valuable lessons for policy influence.  
Early in the morning Mr. Specker visited RISI Albania, having a presentation and discussion round in Tirana on the innovative use an M4P approach for youth employment creation and thus linking economic and market development with skill development.