Flag is advancing standards in governance in Albania

The Foundation works to improve local governance by providing access to its network of experts and range of tools and services. It provides examples of good practice from municipal and commune councils from across and outside of Albania, and offers to local government units (LGUs) services from its wide ranging expertise.

News

Flag, Dibër County Council and Polog Region (Macedonia) have developed a partnership that aims to support community and economic development of the two regions. Dibër and Polog share Mount Korabi, the highest peak in the western Balkans, and are the regions with the smallest contribution to their respective national GDP.

Assessment of the strategic plans for local development of all the municipalities of Dibër County is nearing completion. Flag is working with the county council to assess the existing plans and review a new plan for each municipality as part of the Core Development Dibër project.

Also, review of the strategic plans for development of Berat, Durrës, Korça, Lezha and Shkodra municipalities is near completion. The new mid-term strategic plans will be published in the spring of 2012.

At the end of February 2011, officials from Berat, Durrës, Korça, Lezha and Shkodra municipalities were hosted by the Local Government Association of England and Wales on a one-week training in the UK. The training (part of the Delta project) included exchange of development experiences with LGA, Cambridge County Council, Oxford City Council, Cedos and LGAID.

At the end of 2010, the Commune of Dajç Bregu i Bunës, Shkodër, completed a project implemented jointly with Flag to rehabilitate the river embankment.

Albania joined the EC research programme in January 2007 and qualifies to apply for funding under the seventh framework. Further information and EC news can be found at the EC website.

Local government in Albania

Local elections
The final report of the international observers mission on the 8 May 2011 local elections in Albania is available in Albanian.

If you are a municipal or commune mayor, or councillor please follow the Services link, top right. If you would like to know more about the areas covered by Flag’s network of experts please click on Expertise. Some of the Foundation's publications (some in Albanian, some in English, and some in both) are available on-line: please click on Downloads.

All are welcome to use Flag's documents but acknowledgement is required, including reference to this website.