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RESULTSCALL NO 1

ENGAGEMENT • INVOLVEMENT • ACHIEVEMENT

FUNDED BY IMPLEMENTED BY

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DIANA MALAJ (GRUPI ATA)ProJect tItLe: Project “24601”IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Kamza Municipality

GoAL: Build capacity through youth involvement in civil society to find a common voice in identifying the real problems of the city and address them to the local government representatives, until a concrete action for the opening of the Palace of Culture is taken.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:ATA Group set up a youth centre with over 40 young people, who are part of “Kino-Act” and “FemArt” clubs.

ATA Group and “FemArt” club managed to stage in Kamza theatre a play “Headless Rising”. This theatrical piece both raised the issue of women’s right protection employed in the apparel industry and served as a tool to lobby with Kamza Municipality, in improving the performance of local institutions responsible for culture.

The young people, through various instruments lobbied with Kamza Municipality to convert the Palace of Culture in an open centre for young people. ● “Kino-Act” screened the Albanian short documentary

“Digging life” four times consecutively in front of the closed Palace of Culture. 1,200 citizens signed the petition for the opening of the youth centre in the premises of the Palace.

● The draft decision on the establishment of the youth centre in the city was submitted. ATA Group lobbied with members of the Municipal Council and ensured the required votes for the initiative to be examined by the Municipal Council. This request is still under review by the relevant Committees of the Council.

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sHPresA BLAcerIProJect tItLe: Governance with and for the Community

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Pogradeci city

GoAL: Enhance community role and involvement in addressing the identified problems of the city. The project sought to ensure the active engagement of the community in the local developments, through constructive cooperation and persistent positive pressure on the public administration, raising the awareness of Pogradeci citizens on their powerful role in society.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:After a long community consultation process and involvement in identifying the problems in the neighbourhoods no. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (500 interviews conducted and meetings with 200 citizens organised), a list of 22 problems was elaborated. As a result of lobbying with the Pogradeci Municipality, through six petitions signed by 68 citizens, 8 of these 22 identified problems were solved.

Problems solved by the Municipality include: ● Improved drainage system in Neighbourhood 5, which

was often flooded by rainfall.

● Removal of urban waste in Verdova River.

● Reconstruction of traditional and particular street “Naim Frashëri” and it is underway the city river cleaning, a long-standing request of the residents there.

● Reconstruction of roads in neighbourhoods 1, 2, 3 and 5.

● Improved internal street lighting in all neighbourhoods.

● Reconstruction of the damaged pavements in neighbourhood 5.

● Reconstruction of a recreation area for the elderly in cooperation with a local businessman in neighbourhood 4.

● Rehabilitation of the sewerage system is underway in neighbourhood 1.

● Rehabilitation of the area at “Rinia” street has started.

For other 14 problems, it was lobbied to allocate the needed funds in the 2017 budget. The project has been very active in social and local media. The project news was feed on the website pogradecinews.com, reaching 2,000 views.

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FAtBArDHA NerGJoNIProJect tItLe: Transparency and effectiveness of the “Participatory Budgeting” Programme in Elbasan Municipality through local media and civic engagementIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Elbasan Municipality

GoAL: Improve transparency and effectiveness of the “Participatory Budgeting” Programme in Elbasan Municipality through the local media, by empowering a group of engaged citizens to have an impact on decision-making.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: After analysing the practice of the Participatory Budgeting organized by the Elbasani Municipality of Elbasan for the budget years 2015 and 2016, a set of problems were identified and addressed to the Municipality and the Municipal Council, in order to improve the 2017 budgeting process.

As a result, Elbasan Municipality improved the participatory budgeting process for 2017 budget year, notably: ● The Municipality extended the information channels for

the participatory budgeting.

● It expanded the target groups consulted in meetings, by engaging civil society representatives prior to the start of meetings in administrative units.

● A special meeting was organized with citizens selected from the participatory budgeting meetings for the 2017 budget, and a higher attendance by citizens then the 2016 budgeting meetings was observed.

Also, the Municipal Council reviewed the project findings and recommendations in its meeting of February 2017.Moreover, the project provided transparency on investments made from the participatory budgeting during 2015 and 2016. This list was published in the local newspaper free of charge, at the post offices.

60 interviews conducted with citizens were broadcast on the local TV “Best Channel” in 6 sets and where published on the social media https://www.facebook.com/BuxhetimMeQytetaretElbasan. The interviews had a high audience, namely 7,200 viewers for each set of interviews.

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ArNIsA HoXHA & GertA tosKA ProJect tItLe: Council of Wisdom

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Tirana Municipality, Administrative Units: Krraba, Petrela, Peza, Bërzhita, Ndroq and Vaqarr.

GoAL: Improve all-inclusiveness of elderly citizens in decision-making and the “obligation” of the local government to take the designated measures as provided for in the legislation in force.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: About 45 people aged 61-65 years (33% women) were engaged in six Councils of Wisdom / Elders (one per each Administrative Unit). The problems of the area identified by the Councils of Wisdom were addressed to the Tirana Municipality.

Six requests were sent to the Municipality to address the problems in the respective areas (one request per Administrative Unit):

● For Krraba, the main problem was the infrastructure that connects the national road to the centre of the administrative unit. Now the road is paved up to the centre, as well as its connecting alleys.

● For Bërzhita, the main concern was water supply, an election promise by the Tirana Mayor. As a result of lobbying, a fund was allocated for the construction of water supply systems in some villages of the Bërzhita Administrative Unit.

● For Petrela and Vaqarr, the main problem was transport from the unit to Tirana city. This problem was addressed by Decision no. 39 of the Municipal Council, which re-organised the city and suburban transport lines, including the transport going through Petrela and Vaqarr.

● For Ndroqi and Peza, Tirana Municipality was asked to improve the public transport service, cleaning services and conditions that the Administrative Units themselves are unable to provide to the citizens, for which a concrete solution has been promised by Tirana Municipality.

Also, another concern for the Krraba citizens is the lack of pharmacies. For this reason, lobbying with the administrator of the Administrative Unit (AU) resulted in some premises owned by AU that were made available for the requested pharmacy.

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GeNtJAN HAJDArI ProJect tItLe: Bordi Rinor Këshillimor VorëIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Vora

GoAL: Foster youth empowerment and participation in decision-making processes in Vora Municipality, through the establishment of the Youth Advisory Board.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: The Youth Board with 15 young people (46% of them girls) was set up as an Advisory Body to the Municipal Council. 152 young people built their capacities for advocacy and organizing awareness campaigns, local government operation, volunteering and youth participation in decision-making.

This Board was acknowledged by the Vora Municipality and was invited to give advice during the 2017 budgeting and fiscal package consultation.

The Advisory Board has submitted the following requests to the Municipal Council:

● Restore the former secondary school in Marqinet into a youth centre. This request is under review by the Vora Municipality.

● Improve the sewerage at the high-school “Isa Boletini”, Vora. This request was addressed by the Municipality and the sewerage system of this school was improved.

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HArILLA KoÇI ProJect tItLe: For growing transparency of Local Governance

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Vlora

GoAL: Improve the quality, timing, efficiency and legal compliance of services delivered by the Vlora Municipality administration to its citizens, by strengthening civic engagement and the media role as the public transmitter.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: 16 TV debates entitled “Transparency” were organised in cooperation with the local TV station “6+1 Vlora”.

Topics of discussion included concerns of Vlora community, such as: construction of the LuNPOmare (sea front promenade); the concession of public parking in the city awarded to TISPARK company; the concession of a maritime area around 150 h in the Vlora Bay, near Karaburuni, for the construction of a fish breeding plant to a Turkish company; overdue compensation of Novosela residents who suffered flooding by the Vjosa river in 2015; the overall local plan and problems associated with its implementation; emergency service problems, etc.

These programmes were attended by the Vlora Mayor, the Head of the Regional Council, other Municipality representatives, national and local experts, and representatives from civil society and business community.

In these programmes, 24 interviews with residents of Novosela, Qendra, Shushica, Orikumi and Vlora city were broadcast.

Tangible results achieved through this cycle of programmes include:

● The Turkish company withdrew from its investment.

● The problem of financial compensation for some Novosela families affected by flooding was addressed.

● Additional emergency service staff was recruited.

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rAIMoND KoLA ProJect tItLe: Local multimedia platform “Open Governance” in GjirokastraIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Gjirokastra, Libohova

GoAL: Enhance civil participation in Municipal policies through multimedia mediums (Facebook, Blog). Raise awareness and provide practical assistance to citizens to obtain information based on the Law on the Right to Information.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:“Open Governance” platform (www.qeverisjehapur.com) was established, with over 1,503 articles published there and followed by over 300,000 visitors.

Topics of articles focused on:Transparency: 303 articlesNews 760 articlesSocial 77 articlesTourism 116 articlesPhotos and clips 604

Citizens were regularly informed on the expenditure and procurements made by Municipalities. An extensive campaign was launched on the platform to familiarise citizens with Law on the Right to Information through the publication of guidelines, spots and videos. Web debates were conducted on the extent of marijuana

cultivation, the anthrax problems in the south, restoration of the Gjirokastra Bazaar, problems caused by the construction of the water supply system, the problem of transportation of students in some areas of Gjirokastra.

Five TV forums entitled “Open Governance” were broadcast in the “RTV Gjirokastra” with the participation of 15 persons, representatives from both municipalities, representatives of civil society, media and citizens. The forums discussed problems about waste management, mainly the establishment of a landfill for the Gjirokastra district, and problems related to the UNESCO-protected historic centre.

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NAturAL resources IN DeVeLoPMeNt tItuLLI I ProJeKtIt: Economic development through

community participation in decision-makingIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Shkodra Municipality

GoAL: Institutionalise citizens’ participation in decision-making in setting priorities in development, planning, budgeting and delivery of quality and transparent services, paying special attention to rural development and agro-tourism.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: After an open competition, 50 young people were selected for the in-depth training on local government functions. The trainees were involved in an internship program at Shkodra Municipality and in conducting surveys in rural Administrative Units.

Problems were identified in 10 Administrative Units: Velipoja, Ana Mali, Rrethina, Gur i Zi, Dajç, Postrriba and 4 units in urban Shkodra. 600 citizens were interviewed on community needs and lacking investments, and 10 meetings with the citizens of these areas were organised.

The detailed analysis of the proposals that came out from the meetings and questionnaires was sent to the Mayor of Shkodra. This detailed analysis served as a reference to Shkodra Municipality for the 2017 budgeting and its investment plan. It is also published on the Municipality website: http://www.bashkiashkoder.gov.al/

The bulk of proposals identified by the study were included in the list of investments for 2017 and in the medium-term budget programme 2018-2020.

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INstItute For DeMocrAcY AND MeDIAtIoN ProJect tItLe: Albania SpeaksIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: 12 municipalities that are region centres: Tirana, Shkodra, Durrësi, Korça, Elbasani, Vlora, Gjirokastra, Fieri, Berati, Lezha, Kukësi and Dibra Dibër

GoAL: Develop participatory democracy and local good governance through voluntary community activism in urban areas.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:For the first time, the regulatory framework on community self-governance was adopted, introducing the approach for community structures to be set up based on civic initiative (Articles 68 and 69 of the Law 139/2015) and the relevant guidelines.

Being a new and challenging initiative, the project developed many promotional activities which served as an incentive for debate on setting up community structures and awareness-raising across municipal councils to adopt this approach. Six meetings were held in regional centres (Tirana, Korça, Lezha, Durrës, Kukës, Berat with various stakeholders. The project developed an extensive media campaign: an info TV spot was produced, articles were posted on the national media and debates in some local TV stations took place.

As a result of this campaign, the regulatory framework was adopted by the Berat Municipal Council on March 30ty, 2017. This marks the first experience at national level where the community engagement and civic participation in local governance processes is regulated by legal acts. Volunteerism and civic initiatives remain at the core of this approach.

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LA cAsA NeL cuoreProJect tItLe: Enhance youth participation in local governance

(Youth Municipal Council, PeqinIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Peqin Municipality

GoAL: Enhance youth impact on local decision-making about youth-related issued in Peqin Municipality.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:The Youth Municipal Council was established at the Municipal Council in Peqin, composed of 30 young people (aged between 13 and 25) trained on the functions of local governance. It serves both as an advisory group and pressure group on Peqin Municipality. 14 standing commissions were set up within the Youth Municipal Council, aligned to the Municipal Council Commissions. The youth took part in the meetings of the Municipal Council.

As a result of the lobbying activities, donations were collected for families in need, tends were provided to four families in housing emergency. Lobbying also sought that scholarships given by the Municipality go to the disadvantaged groups.

The youth organised hearing sessions with the Mayor on the implementation of youth policies designed by the Youth Municipal Council. Following an extensive consultation phase, a local youth plan with 16 sector-based policies was drawn up.

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ceNtre For tHe PreserVAtIoN oF NAturAL ecosYsteMs IN ALBANIA (ecoAlbania) ProJect tItLe: Community engagement – indicator of integration in decision-makingIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Areas along Vjosa River (Përmeti, Tepelena, Selenica and Mallakastra)

GoAL: Increase active public participation in decision-making on the sustainable use of natural resources in the Vjosa River area.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:JTwo civic protests took place, as a result of the company actions and inaction of the Ministry of Energy and Industry (the first protest took place on July 14th, 2016 and the second in November 2016). The protest led to the blocking of Levan-Tepelena national road, at a place called Poçemi Turn, and attracted the attention of national visual and printed media.

Residents and local government representatives jointly lobbied to stop the construction of the Hydro Power Plants (HPP) on the Vjosa Valley, one of the last wild rivers of Europe. By late January 2017, the Mayors of Përmet, Tepelena, Memaliaj, Mallakastra and Selenica signed an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister Edi Rama and Speaker of the Parliament Ilir Meta, which raised the concerns of their communities over construction of HPP. A series of meetings were held with the residents of Kutë, Çorrush, Sevaster, Anëvjosa and Qesarati.

A petition with over 2,000 signatures was addressed to Prime Minister Mr. Edi Rama and the Albanian Government, demanding the cancellation of the Poçemi hydropower project and prevention of flooding in the Kutë area, prohibition of all hydropower projects and announcement of Vjosa as a National Park, according to European standards.

Examination of the administrative file for granting the concession of HPP Poçem on Vjosa Valley showed that none of the residents of the area affected had been consulted or invited to public hearings. Such findings from the examination of the concession file are being processed to direct a complaint to the Compliance Committee of the Aarhus Convention, pointing out all violations of the Albanian public authorities during the concession for Poçem HPP.

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WOMEN’S CENTRE “LIGHT STEPS ProJect tItLe: Civil movement for co-governance

ZoNA e ZBAtIMIt: Shkodra Municipality

GoAL: Enhance the impact of civil society and community informal groups in the development and monitoring of local policies.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: The project reactivated 10 community groups in Shalë, Shosh, Velipojë, Gur i Zi, Bërdicë, Rrethina, Postribë, Dajç, Ana Malit and Shkodër, amounting to around 123 persons. In consultation with the citizens of these areas, the main problems in these Administrative Units were identified, mainly about road infrastructure, drinking water and drainage channels, promotion of tourism, waste management, upgrading of school infrastructure and health centres.

An Expert Board with 18 members was set up to monitor the Municipal Council. The problems identified in the administrative units were discussed in joint meetings of the Expert Board and Municipality representatives, providing also solutions.

One tangible result of the project was the monitoring of the social contract of Shkodra Municipality. The monitoring findings are serving as an advocacy tool for all stakeholders at the municipality to exert pressure in keeping election promises.

Concrete actions were taken to resolve issues such as, the improvement of the soccer field at the Bërdica Administrative Unit and traffic signs at the Ana Mali Administrative Unit.

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ForuM oF Free tHouGHt ProJect tItLe: Monitor the Municipality in delivering on electoral promises and enhance civic participation in governance and accountability through media and social networksIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Tirana, Elbasan, Vlora, Lezha

GoAL: Hold the locally elected accountable for the implementation of election promises, producing for the first time the approach of coming face to face with their constituents. Create mechanisms for citizens’ participation in the accountability process and involve all media outlets in monitoring the Municipality performance.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: A webpage “UnëMonitoroj” (www.unemonitoroj.com) is built with all election promises of four mayors, along with relevant news and the Municipal Council decisions, including a particular section “You Report“. Over 41,100 people visited the site, while 448.628 contacted, clicked, shared or liked posts on social networks. 473 reports were posted on the section “Your Report”, mostly about Tirana Municipality (206). Reports focus on infrastructure problems, both urban and rural, pollution of public areas, mainly in the city, and also problems of agricultural sewerage and canals in villages.

Six face-to-face confrontations between mayors and citizens on election promises took place for the first time. Each meeting was attended by 120-250 people from all Administrative Units of municipalities.

36 information and awareness-raising meetings were organised in the administrative units of the four municipalities covered by the project, with the participation of the community and administrators.

The main concern highlighted in meetings with rural residents was the lack of investment or the Municipalities’ attention focus only in the cities. Issues raised were sent to the respective municipalities. Following these concerns, the four municipalities significantly raised the funds for rural areas in the 2017 budget, mainly for roads, irrigation and drainage canals.

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ALBANIAN MeDIA INstItute ProJect tItLe: Test implementation of the new law on access to

information by the new local administrationIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Berat, Lezhë, Sarandë, Gjirokastër,

Kukës, Pogradec, Mat

GoAL: Improve transparency and accountability of local government and local public institutions through a more active role of local media and citizens.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:The project tested the implementation of the Law “On the right to information” in seven municipalities, by sending them 148 requests, 55% from journalists and 45% from citizens. Testing showed that only 64% of the applicants received a reply. It is noted that Municipalities tend more to reply to journalists, rather than to citizens. In total, 53% of requests submitted by citizens received a reply, against 72.8% of those submitted by journalists.

Seven workshops with journalists and citizens in the municipalities of Berat, Lezha, Saranda, Gjirokastra, Kukës, Pogradec and Mat were organised to train them on the right to information.

Two articles for each municipality on the right to information were published, in the following local media outlets: “Urat e Mjedisit”newspaper (Saranda); “Jemi edhe Ne” nespaper (Kukës); “Arbëria News” portal (Gjirokastra); “Mat” newspaper (Burrel); “Lissalba” (Lezha) newspaper; “Pogradeci News” portal (Pogradec); “Berati Millenium” portal; and “Berati News” newspaper (Berat).

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BIrN ALBANIA (BALKAN INVestIGAtIVe rePortING NetWorKProJect tItLe: Strengthen local partnership between the media and civil societyIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: National

GoAL: Increase the accountability of local government through strengthened cooperation between civil society actors and local journalists.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:BIRN Albania constantly monitored the level of transparency in 61 local units, on their legal obligations to disclose information without a request, in two different time periods, prompting municipalities to improve compared to one another. Both monitoring exercises showed that the level of implementation of the Law “On the right to information” and “On public notification and consultation” remains very low.

The lack of transparency and accountability of local administration is confirmed also by 18 in-depth analysis and investigative articles produced by BIRN staff and journalists supported by investigative grants, which shed light on cases of legal noncompliance.

Also, the network of 12 local journalists who received formal training and mentoring by BIRN editors, reported in more than 40 feature articles and video reports on actors of change - individuals and organizations - who play an important role in their community, strengthening demand for accountability by the administration and the model of an active and participatory citizenship.

BIRN Albania has also launched the website (http://pushtetivendor.reporter.al/) as part of Reporter.al, which serves as window for articles prepared by local journalists and local government issues.

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INstItute For DeVeLoPMeNt, reseArcH AND ALterANtIVes

ProJect tItLe: Develop innovative approachesto involve communities in local governance

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Shkodër, Tiranë, Durrës,Elbasan, Fier, Korçë

GoAL: Identify innovative approaches for a more effective involvement of citizens / communities in local decision-making.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:An in-depth study is prepared on the current practice of citizen involvement in local decision-making and publication of a roadmap for this purpose to be used by civil society and local institutions. For the preparation of the study, an in-depth analysis of applied models of civic involvement was conducted, focusing on six municipalities with beneficiary groups and representatives of municipalities.

Some of the main results of the study indicate that:

● There are good examples of civic participation, but not always good practices proposed by various projects are converted into sustained processes regularly used by local institutions.

● Public participation in decision-making is simply a series of consultations with the community and there is a no designated procedure laid down in the regulations of institutions.

● Civil society is not yet a solid and powerful voice in local decision-making.

A ToTs event was organised to set up a network of trainers on community involvement issues, and one of the methods for civic involvement in decision-making was piloted in the Municipalities of Elbasan and Patos.

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INstItute For PoLItIcAL stuDIesProJect tItLe: Open MunicipalityIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Tiranë, Durrës, Shkodër, Vlorë

GoAL: Monitor implementation of the Law on the Right to Information by the administration of the new municipalities, as a prerequisite for transparent, open and close-to-public governance and encourage citizens to use this right.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: The project monitored the implementation of the law on the right to information in the Municipalities of Tirana, Durrës, Shkodra and Vlora, which included an online monitoring of the official websites of these four municipalities, field observation in the offices for the right to information and the notices posted by municipalities in their info stands, in parallel to testing them directly with requests for information. Eight requests for information were sent, two on the initiative of the organisation and six by citizens, i.e. two to each municipality.

A request for information was appealed to the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data. The municipal administration lacks in-depth knowledge of the standards set out in the Law on the Right to Information and responsibilities stemming from it. Their online information fails to provide the required certainty for their accuracy / authenticity, while there are problems with the publication and implementation of the transparency program.

Special attention was paid to promoting open municipalities. Pressure on the Tirana Municipality resulted in the publication on its official website of the Transparency Programme and registration of requests.

In addition to the monitoring, three hearing sessions were organised (in Vlora, Tirana and Shkodra) between representatives of municipalities and citizens concerning the challenges in the implementation of the right to information (with over 100 participants).

The project also hosted a round table with representatives from the municipalities, civil society, the Commissioner and the media. Three info spots/ads on the right to information were produced and widely distributed in the social media

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AN eQuAL roMA AND eGYPtIAN VoIce IN tHe VLorA

ProJect tItLe: Commit-get informed-learn-act for the good of community

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Vlorë

GoAL: Encourage wilful commitment of youth, as the active force of the community, build their capacity to respond to community interests and enable them to build communication bridges between the local government and the community.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:69 Roma and Egyptian youth were involved in the project as direct beneficiaries, 43% of them being girls. This group organised all the project activities. A cooperation agreement was signed with the Vlora Mayor intended to ensure participation of this young Roma/Egyptian group in the Council’s consultative processes.Lobbying with the Vlora Municipality yielded these results:

● Three Roma / Egyptian youngsters received scholarships to vocational schools, allocated by the Municipal Council.

● Following a petition signed by 80 citizens of Akërni village, Vlora Municipality paved with gravel the road linking the Akërni village to the main road.

● Five families in difficult conditions sought housing

bonus; two have women as heads of households and one of them has a protection order.

● Vlora Municipality, in its 2017 budget, planned the reconstruction of several roads in villages Akërni, Llakatund, Grabian and Risili, following the lobbying of the young group with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and members of the Municipal Council for the reconstruction of these roads.

● Similarly, the 2017 budget includes construction of a day-care centre for 100 children in need, among them 30 Roma and Egyptian children, proposed by a group of young activists.

● Three Roma families were included in the economic aid scheme, as they met the criteria stipulated by law. The young activists, the day when the 2017 draft budget was to be adopted, organised a photo exhibition entitled “I have a Dream” near the Municipality, in order to raise awareness among the decision-makers on the problems of this community.

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INstItute For PoLIcY AND LeGAL stuDIes tItuLLI I ProJeKtIt: Win-Win model for civic participation in local governanceIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Librazhd and Përmet

GoAL: Enhance direct citizens’ involvement in local decision-making and in management of local issues.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:After the launch of the Call for Applications for the communities in Librazhd and Përmet Municipalities, 363 project-proposals were submitted (163 in Librazhd and 200 in Përmet). Out of this total of 363 projects, 25 projects in Librazhd Municipality and 28 in Përmet Municipality were introduced in the 2017 budget for financing.

Projects in Librazhd are related to investment and development orienting studies in the fields of agriculture, tourism, road infrastructure, education, sports and capacity building for local administration to improve management.

Projects in Përmet focused on investment, orienting studies and capacity building for local administration for development in the fields of tourism, urban infrastructure, water and roads, waste disposal, vocational education and culture.

A regulation about the preparation of participatory projects was approved in principle in both municipalities, in the meetings of their respective Councils. Regulations will enable the implementation of a Win-Win model for the preparation, adoption and implementation of participatory projects even after project completion.

Over 330 citizens were involved in the consultative meetings in this process (150 citizens in Librazhd and 180 in Përmet).

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YoutH MoVeMeNt For DeMocrAcY ceNterProJect tItLe: Youth multimedia activism

for better local governanceIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Puka

GoAL: Make youth of Puka Municipality, particularly those in rural areas, more active and better represented in the new local agenda.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:25 young people from the five Administrative Units: Gjegjan, Rrapë, Qerret, Qelez and Puka (city) monitored the Social Contract signed by the Mayor during the election campaign, and the findings were published on Facebook webpage “Puka Youth Voice “.

30 young people produced three documentaries focused on youth participation in decision-making, social problems affecting young people in Puka - mainly unemployment and how to make leisure time more efficient. The youngsters monitored 10 meetings of the Municipal Council and advocated for four scholarships of excellence and greening of one of the neighbourhoods in Puka, which are also the promises made by the Mayor in the Social Contract.

The young group published several articles on the site “Puke Youth Voice” on topics such as: a) youth unemployment; b) youth addiction on social networks; c) lack of projects for youth employment, etc.

Two public debates put face to face the youth and municipality in a discussion to ensure delivery of the priorities set out in the Social Contract and to demand more attention on youth, through local policies.

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PArtNers For cHILDreN ProJect tItLe: Community advocacy for social servicesin Dibra MunicipalityIMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Dibra

GoAL: Empower community members in Dibra Municipality in improving delivery of social services to youth and adults in need.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes: A group made up 20 activists (60% women and 40% men), activists, mostly parents of children with disabilities was established. This group, assisted by the organisation, conducted a mini-study to identify the main needs of the community and the findings were addressed to the Dibra Municipality.

Lobbying with the Municipality produced these results:

● Increased number of assistant teachers for pupils considered as persons with disabilities in Dibra Municipality. This service was offered in one school only, but the project ensured that this service is offered by 9 intern teachers in five secondary schools.

● Opening a Multidisciplinary Centre for the disabled children. The activists lobbied at Municipal Council to allocate a fund in the 2017 budget for opening this centre, but the proposal was not approved. However, the Mayor offered some premises – two rooms – for this centre and the activists supported by Partners for Children are lobbying with donors operating in Dibra to open this centre.

● Info stands were placed in all administrative units, intended to inform the public on the decisions of the Municipal Council, but also on the problems of the disabled persons.

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sHeLter For ABuseD WoMeN AND GIrLs ProJect tItLe: Youth for local governance

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Bulqiza

GoAL: Empower youth in rural and urban areas to take action in the identification and visibility of sharp social issues in the Bulqiza Municipality and lobby for the solution, with active participation in the Municipal Council.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:Efforts focused on eight Administrative Units (AUs) of the Bulqiza Municipality to set up the Youth Advisory Group at the Municipal Council. A cooperation agreement institutionalised the cooperation of the Municipal Council and the Youth Advisory Group as an advisory body. Forty young people built their capacity, mainly on participatory decision-making models and functioning of local government.

404 young people were mobilized and engaged in needs identification and assessment activities. Problems relate mainly to banning child labour in chrome mines, improving school infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, and lack of health and entertainment services. These issues were raised by the Advisory Group at the Municipal Council meetings.

A special attention was dedicated to the involvement of girls in project implementation, because barriers were encountered due to mentality, particularly in rural areas. The number of girls involved in all project activities reached around 42%.

The young activists consistently posted produced articles, videos and photos in social media, in order to report problems in their areas. These problems were mostly related to environmental pollution, child labour in chrome mines and poor road and school infrastructure.

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ALLIANce AGAINst IMPort oF WAste (AKIP) ProJect tItLe: Abrogate the law on import of waste in the territory of Albania (emergency support)IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: National

GoAL: Prevent adoption of the draft/law that allows the import of waste in the territory of the Republic of Albania.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:Three massive protests were organised: on 19 September 2016, near the Pyramid; on 22 September 2016 in front of the Parliament during the vote in plenary session of the law on import of waste; on 1 October 2016 where over three thousand citizens marched after the adoption of the law and demanded from the President of the Republic not to decree it. The protesters marched from “Rinia” Park to the Prime Minister’s Office and the President’s Office.

AKIP held meetings with the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, heads of parliamentary groups of SP, DP, SMI and PJIU. Awareness activities were carried out also in Vlora and Elbasan. As a result of advocacy by civil society, the President of the Republic did not decree he Law on integrated waste management and returned it to the Parliament.

Examination of the presidential decree in plenary session by the Parliament was postponed, although it should have examined it no later than 8 weeks from the day of its rejection.

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IeNVIroNMeNtAL AND terrItorIAL MANAGeMeNt INstItute

ProJect tItLe: For a sustainable development(emergency support)

IMPLeMeNtAtIoN AreA: Valbona (Tropoja)

GoAL: Prevent ecological massacre in Valbona River.

MAIN ProJect outcoMes:A protest was organised on 21 June 2016, in front of the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, with the slogan “Don’t touch my rivers”, “Don’t touch my Valbona” and “Don’t touch my Vjosa”, with the participation of around 100 persons. Also, many meetings took place with the residents of the Valbona Valley who were opposed to the construction of Hydro Power Plants (HPP).

A legal analysis was conducted pinpointing the problems in the concession file for the construction of HPPs, finding that:

● HPPs are constructed inside the protected area of the “Valbona Valley” national park.

● The entities that applied for the concession contract had incomplete bidding file and are in non-compliance of contractual obligations.

Also, two environmental analyses were performed:

a. “Eco-tourism – Away from HPPs as economic development option and preserving natural environment in the alpine valleys of Cursed Mountains”, and

b. “Geological and hydro-geological aspects of the construction of hydropower plants on alpine rivers”.

These analyses served to give more arguments on the environmental impact of these HPPs, placing the emphasis on the shortcomings identified from the environmental assessment made by Valbona Project Company.

As part of the lobbying and advocacy, a positioning letter was prepared and sent to the Ministry of Energy and Industry, containing a legal overview of the concessions. It points out the problems related to the HPPs planned to be constructed and a set of recommendations for this Ministry.