Mapping Local Governance in Albania

Donor: UNDP

Period: 22.09.2016-31.07.2017

The project Mapping "Local Governance in Albania", for the municipalities: Shkoder, Vau i dejes, Malesi e Madhe, Fushe Arrez, Kukes, Tropoje, Has, Lezhe, Mirdite, Kurbin, Kruje, Diber, Bulqize, Mat, Klos, Vore, Durres, Shijak and Kamez, was part of the inception phase of the Support to Territorial and Administrative Reform 2 (STAR 2) programme, furthering democratization and strengthening of the governance in the territory of Albania.

Main beneficiaries of the project: 61 municipalities of Republic of Albania, Local Government.

Covered by GADC: 20 municipalities - Shkoder, Vau i dejes, Malesi e Madhe, Fushe Arrez, Kukes, Tropoje, Has, Lezhe, Mirdite, Kurbin, Kruje, Diber, Bulqize, Mat, Klos, Vore, Durres, Shijak and Kamez.

Local Governance Mapping is one of the first activities of UNDP’s STAR2 project. The project attempts to assess the level and practices of good local governance as seen from citizens’ and municipal officials’ points of view across Albanian municipalities. The underlying belief of this assessment is that findings at municipal and national level will benefit local decision-makers, but also central institutions, international partners and civil society organizations that assist institutionally and/ or programmatically local governance in Albania.

The mapping methodology combines desk research with qualitative and quantitative research, based on the techniques of the Local Government Barometer and the Citizen Report Card.

The assessment applied to all 61 municipalities takes into consideration the dimensions of Effectiveness and Efficiency, Transparency and Rule of Law, Accountability and Participation and Citizen Engagement, which are all important principles of good governance.

Main Responsibilities:

• Implement the assessment methodologies and tools for local governance including quantitative and qualitative research instrument (Citizen Report Card, In-Depth interviews, Guides, etc.)
• Development of 4000 questionnaires with community representatives in 20 municipalities through the Citizen Reporting Card;
• Moderation and facilitating of 20 Municipal Focus Groups and 30 Community Dialogues across 20 south municipalities of Albania.
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis

Managing the writing process for 20 individual municipal reports and Dissemination of results through 20 validation workshops.