Consultative forums in Functional Areas

During February-March 2015, DLDP carried out consultative forums in Shijak, Peshkopi, Burrel, Tropojë, Kukës, Durrës, Koplik, and Lezhë.

These meetings aimed at presenting and revalidating the findings of the economic analysis and services analysis, based on which the programs of the Functional Areas would be finalized. The strategic concepts of the economic development, prepared for the Functional Areas in 5 Qarks of the Northern Albania, include 76 local units and provide an analysis of priority sectors for the economic development of these territories, identify problems and issue recommendations for resolving these problems. Also, these documents analyze 3 services of LGUs (waste management, transportation, and water utility) providing recommendations and setting up possible scenarios in the best possible way of providing services in the Functional Area or the new LGU.

During these forums, chairmen and experts of Local Government Units, specialists from regional directorates, representatives and experts from Qarks, members of civil society and business associations, members of educational bodies and professional education, representatives of different institutions – as actors in the development of territories, gave their opinions and suggestions on documents prepared by experts. The participants contributed actively in the setting up of the documents, because it was them who gave information and data to make possible the best diagnostics of the Areas.

After this phase of presenting forums before different groups of interest there will be the phase of preparing projects with possible impact on resolving problems – or decreasing – in specific sectors or services. All discussed and approved documents in these forums will end in April and will be presented in a national level conference. The preparation of these strategic economic development concepts on these territories will serve as a first step for setting up strategic development plans for future Local Government Units. 

Forums were organized from national experts, respectively Studio D, ALCDF, ANTTARC, Euro Partners, CDI, ISB, URI and DEA Consulting, with the support of DLDP staff.