During July 7th and 8th, 2016, in Durrës it was held the joint meeting of the 5 Centres of Competences, the successful platform which is supported by dldp and is active in the thematic lines of the Urban Waste Management, Public Finances Management in local level, and Strategic Planning, Funds Access and recently also with the Women in Politics Network, and which aimed at exchanging best practices and experiences of experts from partner municipalities in projects developed in cooperation and with the support of dldp.
Each of the work groups according to the Centre of Competence had the possibility to discuss tangible issues and to get to know first-hand with different practices and experiences, as well as to increase the level of knowledge through joint informative sessions. For partner municipalities which have benefited from the dldp grant fund this meeting also served for the training of coordinators of the project that are being implemented on the monitoring scheme of project indicators that are being financed by dldp. Also, local units that have the possibility to benefit from IPA/CBC funds had a chance to get directly assisted by representatives of the Ministry of Integration on possibilities, fields and procedures of application to be followed in order to benefit from this application scheme. As a result, all members of the Centres of Competences had the possibility that during a joint session to get to know the draft-law “On the Prefect” and the implications this law would have in their work and in the decision-making process. This session also served as a platform for changing ideas and recommendations, which will be part of dldp recommendations.
Consultation table on the draft-law “On the Prefect”
The draft-law “On the Prefect” is being prepared by the Ministry of Interior, which has expressed interests for dldp comments and recommendations in relation with it, being an act impacting local level. For this reasondldp put forth for discussion this draft. In this discussion there were local experts of municipalities and city councillors.Dldp presented the draft-law dispositions, analysing possible implications for local governance. Later there were discussions by the participants, who pondered on changes and shortcomings of this draft-law.
Discussions in working groups of the Centres ofCompetences
The groups of Management of Public Finances & Strategic Planning
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetencefor Strategic Planning and Financial Management was held in the context of territorial draft-analyses and the draft-law on Local Finances. The draft-law on Local Finances is an initiative of the Ministry of Finances, which is supported by PLGP/USAID program and dldp. The prepared document (in two parts: incomes and expenditures) is up for discussion in the Ministry of Finances and soon will pass on for public discussion before it is approved by the Council of Ministers and then by the Parliament. In the session of presenting the draft of the law on Public Finances from experts of the Ministry of Finances participated also the group of womencouncillors’ members of the Women in Politics Network.
The participants in this group were representatives of municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shijak, Dibër, Klos, Tropojë, Mat, Kukës, Vau i Dejës. Also, there were representatives of partner organizations in each of the dldp support packages.
During the presentation of the draft-law on Local Finances, the main discussions of participants focused on spaces the law must create in order to increase the municipalities’ income, as well as on how to avoid the problem of recent debt accumulated by municipalities, by establishing control mechanisms that prevent this from happening.
The Group of Urban Waste Management
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetenceof urban wastemanagement took place immediately after the dldp-organized national conference on June 15. This was the reason why the profile of this meeting was established mostly in comparing experiences of municipal staffs and dldp partner organizations that are supporting these municipalities in the process of identification of priority investments, realization of these investments, and progress of preparation of such documents such as the organizational scheme of the service, for the organization of the service or technical specifications for investments in improving the service’s infrastructure. The participants in this activity were representatives of municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shijak, Dibër (that are direct beneficiaries of dldp assistance) and those of Vau iDejës and Durrës, members of the Centre ofCompetence. Also, there were representatives of partner organizations in each of dldp support packages for each municipality.
Discussions were concentrated in two groups, according to main issues discussed:Procurement of service and goods and landfill rehabilitation.
Group of E-Governance
The activity of the Centre of Competencefor electronic governance is focused in this period in the implementation of the Integrated OSSH model in dldp partner municipalities, as well as in the exchange of this practice with other municipalities and partners. The main objective of this meeting was the presentation for the first time of the training curriculum for offering administrative services from local units, taking in to consideration the instrument of the One Stop Shop, but not necessarily dependent on the application of the informatics system.
Participants in the group highlighted as highly important the continuous exchange of experiences between municipalities that are part of the implementation of this project, but also for other municipalities that are interested to implement it, so that we learn from practices or mistakes of each-other.
Group of Women in Politics Network
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetenceof the Women in Politics Network focused in exchanging experiences related with initiatives taken and implemented from women councillors of dldp partner municipalities. In the focus of this meeting was the exchange of experiences of women councillors of Shkodër municipality with women councillors of other municipalities.
The participants in this activity were women councillors of municipalities of Shkodër, Mirditë, Shijak, Dibër, Klos and Durrës.
The main discussions in the group had to do with procedures and ways followed by women councillors of Shkodra to implement two initiatives undertaken: gender budgeting and establishment of the women councillors’ alliance.
Group of Fund Access
Albania is developing the regulatory framework referring to EU-supported programs that is IPA 2 programs. In this context, dldp will review possibilities to support raising municipal capacities to establish partnerships, to prepare and manage project in the framework of IPA CBC programs.
As for the management of the dldp grant fund, the meeting of the Centre ofCompetencefor funds access was organized in a moment when partner municipalities have undertaken several steps in the process of projects’ implementation.
The discussions of the participants in this group focused in a presentation of municipal representatives in relation with the smooth functioning of the process of implementation of the agreement/project since the moment of putting signatures on paper.
Evaluation of the meeting from members of the Centre ofCompetence
In general, the group meetings and the joint one were deemed useful and the aim for which it was requested the meeting of the Centre ofCompetencewas considered fulfilled. Local experts appreciate the fact that dldpcontinuously assists them in updating information and initiatives for legal changes that have an impact in local governance, because no institution or other actor does not develop platforms based in informing local administrations.
Being that the Centre ofCompetenceis deemed a very necessary structure to increase the professionalism of local experts, their interest as members of this centre was that this platform has to be as sustainable as possible, and for this reason recommendations were given for the improvement of the functioning of the Centre ofCompetence.
Centre of Competence as an active platform in issuing recommendations on well-functioning of local laws
Each of the work groups according to the Centre of Competence had the possibility to discuss tangible issues and to get to know first-hand with different practices and experiences, as well as to increase the level of knowledge through joint informative sessions. For partner municipalities which have benefited from the dldp grant fund this meeting also served for the training of coordinators of the project that are being implemented on the monitoring scheme of project indicators that are being financed by dldp. Also, local units that have the possibility to benefit from IPA/CBC funds had a chance to get directly assisted by representatives of the Ministry of Integration on possibilities, fields and procedures of application to be followed in order to benefit from this application scheme. As a result, all members of the Centres of Competences had the possibility that during a joint session to get to know the draft-law “On the Prefect” and the implications this law would have in their work and in the decision-making process. This session also served as a platform for changing ideas and recommendations, which will be part of dldp recommendations.
Consultation table on the draft-law “On the Prefect”
The draft-law “On the Prefect” is being prepared by the Ministry of Interior, which has expressed interests for dldp comments and recommendations in relation with it, being an act impacting local level. For this reasondldp put forth for discussion this draft. In this discussion there were local experts of municipalities and city councillors.Dldp presented the draft-law dispositions, analysing possible implications for local governance. Later there were discussions by the participants, who pondered on changes and shortcomings of this draft-law.
Discussions in working groups of the Centres ofCompetences
The groups of Management of Public Finances & Strategic Planning
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetencefor Strategic Planning and Financial Management was held in the context of territorial draft-analyses and the draft-law on Local Finances. The draft-law on Local Finances is an initiative of the Ministry of Finances, which is supported by PLGP/USAID program and dldp. The prepared document (in two parts: incomes and expenditures) is up for discussion in the Ministry of Finances and soon will pass on for public discussion before it is approved by the Council of Ministers and then by the Parliament. In the session of presenting the draft of the law on Public Finances from experts of the Ministry of Finances participated also the group of womencouncillors’ members of the Women in Politics Network.
The participants in this group were representatives of municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shijak, Dibër, Klos, Tropojë, Mat, Kukës, Vau i Dejës. Also, there were representatives of partner organizations in each of the dldp support packages.
During the presentation of the draft-law on Local Finances, the main discussions of participants focused on spaces the law must create in order to increase the municipalities’ income, as well as on how to avoid the problem of recent debt accumulated by municipalities, by establishing control mechanisms that prevent this from happening.
The Group of Urban Waste Management
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetenceof urban wastemanagement took place immediately after the dldp-organized national conference on June 15. This was the reason why the profile of this meeting was established mostly in comparing experiences of municipal staffs and dldp partner organizations that are supporting these municipalities in the process of identification of priority investments, realization of these investments, and progress of preparation of such documents such as the organizational scheme of the service, for the organization of the service or technical specifications for investments in improving the service’s infrastructure. The participants in this activity were representatives of municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shijak, Dibër (that are direct beneficiaries of dldp assistance) and those of Vau iDejës and Durrës, members of the Centre ofCompetence. Also, there were representatives of partner organizations in each of dldp support packages for each municipality.
Discussions were concentrated in two groups, according to main issues discussed:Procurement of service and goods and landfill rehabilitation.
Group of E-Governance
The activity of the Centre of Competencefor electronic governance is focused in this period in the implementation of the Integrated OSSH model in dldp partner municipalities, as well as in the exchange of this practice with other municipalities and partners. The main objective of this meeting was the presentation for the first time of the training curriculum for offering administrative services from local units, taking in to consideration the instrument of the One Stop Shop, but not necessarily dependent on the application of the informatics system.
Participants in the group highlighted as highly important the continuous exchange of experiences between municipalities that are part of the implementation of this project, but also for other municipalities that are interested to implement it, so that we learn from practices or mistakes of each-other.
Group of Women in Politics Network
The meeting of the Centre ofCompetenceof the Women in Politics Network focused in exchanging experiences related with initiatives taken and implemented from women councillors of dldp partner municipalities. In the focus of this meeting was the exchange of experiences of women councillors of Shkodër municipality with women councillors of other municipalities.
The participants in this activity were women councillors of municipalities of Shkodër, Mirditë, Shijak, Dibër, Klos and Durrës.
The main discussions in the group had to do with procedures and ways followed by women councillors of Shkodra to implement two initiatives undertaken: gender budgeting and establishment of the women councillors’ alliance.
Group of Fund Access
Albania is developing the regulatory framework referring to EU-supported programs that is IPA 2 programs. In this context, dldp will review possibilities to support raising municipal capacities to establish partnerships, to prepare and manage project in the framework of IPA CBC programs.
As for the management of the dldp grant fund, the meeting of the Centre ofCompetencefor funds access was organized in a moment when partner municipalities have undertaken several steps in the process of projects’ implementation.
The discussions of the participants in this group focused in a presentation of municipal representatives in relation with the smooth functioning of the process of implementation of the agreement/project since the moment of putting signatures on paper.
Evaluation of the meeting from members of the Centre ofCompetence
In general, the group meetings and the joint one were deemed useful and the aim for which it was requested the meeting of the Centre ofCompetencewas considered fulfilled. Local experts appreciate the fact that dldpcontinuously assists them in updating information and initiatives for legal changes that have an impact in local governance, because no institution or other actor does not develop platforms based in informing local administrations.
Being that the Centre ofCompetenceis deemed a very necessary structure to increase the professionalism of local experts, their interest as members of this centre was that this platform has to be as sustainable as possible, and for this reason recommendations were given for the improvement of the functioning of the Centre ofCompetence.
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