By Rudina HOXHA
The Head of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA),Heinz Habertheuer, details of the 2016 major Austrian projects for Albania while highlights his so far experience in Albania with its “likes“ and “dislikes“.
2016 appears to be an important year for ADA in Albania. What should the Albanian citizens expect?
Albanian citizens should expect from the Austrian Development Agency six to seven financing agreements to be signed in various fields in the course spring (ca. 5 million Euro). Austrian financed projects will focus on the water sector, labor market-oriented vocational education and training, rule of law, public administration reform, regional development and gender equality.
Although all details have not yet been elaborated in the project proposals, I can say that the project in the area of vocational education and training will be implemented in cooperation with two schools, most probably in Korà§a and Saranda. Together with the Ministry of Education we aim at enhancing the quality and competitiveness of the labour force in the tourism and hospitality sector by improving the labour market relevance, quality and inclusiveness of vocational education and training. This basically means that we have to improve the quality of teaching, curricula, work based learning and the cooperation with the private sector, hence linking the theory with the practice. The teaching in the schools must be practice-oriented (e. g. by means of a teaching hotel attached to the school) and students must have a chance to gain work experience through internships in hotels or restaurants. I expect the support of Austrian experts and partnership of Austrian tourism schools to achieve this objective. All our efforts will be harmonized with similar support e. g. from Switzerland or Germany to make sure that we aim for the same standards and objectives. Whatever we support, we shall include minorities, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
To assist the reform efforts of the government in the water sector, we will commission an engineering study to identify and value existing water supply and sewerage system assets located in about 1.500 remote villages across the country. The managers of water utilities in the new 61 Municipalities have no information about these assets and I hope that by the first quarter of 2017, the study will be able to provide this crucial information and data.
In addition, we will support the OSCE Presence to encourage about 300 judges and court staff to increase the efficiency of trials in 18 district courts in Albania. The number of hearings in civil and criminal cases in each district court shall reduce by 20 % and the length of first instance proceedings shall decrease by 10 %. Experts will introduce practical measures and mentor judges to improve the efficiency of proceedings.
Social inclusion is equally important. One project will particularly focus on the improvement of living conditions for 160 young Albanian citizens and their families (Roma and Egyptians, vulnerable boys and girls) at risk of unsafe migration by enabling access to quality social services, education, vocational training and income generating activities. At least 80 Albanian children and young people (girls and boys at risk of unsafe migration and return children) will benefit from educational support through after school lessons helping their inclusion, integration and learning. In addition, 50 professionals working with and for returned families or families at risk of unsafe migration will receive in-depth training.
Monitoring and coordination is an important aspect of our work. We will dedicate more time and resources to monitor and coordinate the implementation of projects financed by Austria. I hope to see concrete results and the benefits of the projects on a case by case and individual basis within one year.
Would you attach more importance to one of the projects that you just mentioned?
All of them are equally important. There is a new Cooperation Strategy for Albania since October 2015. We are obliged to support each sector as agreed in the strategy. Albania is implementing a number of reforms. Our support to the water sector is an important contribution to the implementation of the reform given that the government is struggling to implement several reforms at the same time.
European integration is a key pillar for Austrian Development Cooperation. How could ADA assist Albania in meeting the 5 key criteria
In the end, these criteria are rather political. Over the last seven years, the Project Preparation Facility has substantially driven the reform agenda forth. The main objective of this facility was to improve the planning, programming and implementation of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and to support mechanisms for an integrated EU accession process in Albania. Therefore, the project increased the capacities in the Ministry of European Integration and line ministries and central institutions to plan and implement IPA programmes. More than 1000 officials received training and 200 programming documents have been written, checked and approved. In this regard, the project was quite successful. I think it was a great assistance for the government to kick start reforms and to improve the quality and timeliness of IPA-planning.
How would you characterize your time in Albania so far?
I came to Albania one year ago. These 12 months have passed by very quickly because it has been an intensive working year. We have worked really hard to conclude a new country strategy on development cooperation. My colleagues will confirm that behind every strategy is a heavy work load. On the one hand, is shall satisfy the expectations of the Austrian Government and on the other hand, those of the Albanian Government. We have tried hard to harmonize the expectations of both sides but also to consider the views of the parliament, civil society, academia, the private sector and others. Some members of the Austrian Parliament had very specific questions (e. g. social inclusion). The strategy was subject to several rounds of consultations with stakeholders. At the same time, we determinedly worked on the design of new projects to be financed in the first quarter of 2016. Whatsoever, most of the paper work is done and now it is time to bring alive those ideas, strategies and plans.
I had a chance to travel throughout Albania. There are beautiful landscapes. It does not take long to travel from Tirana to neighboring countries like Podgorica/Montenegro, Skopje/Macedonia or Greece. Therefore it is convenient to explore these places during weekends. The hospitality of Albanians is great. The food is delicious. In Tirana, there is a coffee house culture which Austrians enjoy in Vienna or in my hometown Graz. We like to go to cafà©s to read newspapers or to meet friends. Travelling across Albania has given me the chance to meet many people, youngsters and the elderly. All of them are curious, particularly if you are a foreigner or a stranger. If you say that you are from Austria, then, the interest is even greater. To conclude, it was an intensive working year but I also had the chance to explore a bit the country.
What has impressed you most in Albania and what bothers you here?
Recently, I went to see the ballet “The Nutcracker” . Before I came to Albania, I did not expect to find an opera house in Tirana. It always surprises me when I go there. The quality of the productions is above expectations. The artists give their best and it is always a pleasure to watch the performances. Albanians, who I meet, apart from work-related officials, offer a welcoming hospitality, especially in the remote areas. The food is very delicious making our stay here very convenient. There is a music culture, particularly in the area of jazz or live music. It goes without saying that we cultivate an excellent cooperation with the Albanian Government. Numerous ministries request our support in one way or the other. The visit of the Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz, in February to Tirana was well perceived and several high-ranking Austrian representatives regularly visit Albania.
On the negative side, I would mention corruption, which occurs at all levels of society. We should not forget that corruption has two sides: one, which offers and the other one, which takes. Proactive investigations, systematic risk assessments and inter-institutional cooperation need to be improved. The polarization between the main political parties is evident. More needs to be done to address the disruptive political culture and ensure a more constructive cross-party dialogue but also consensus rather than antagonism. In the end of the accession process, it is Albania and all of its citizens that are supposed to join the European Union and not just a political party or the capital Tirana.
When I talk to young people, I see their enthusiasm to learn, to acquire working experience and to find a job, even in Austria. In my responses I emphasize that I am not here to encourage anyone to leave from Albania to find a better living in Austria. To the contrary, the Austrian Development Agency is providing funding through projects to improve the living conditions of the Albanian citizens. Therefore, it is frustrating to see so that so many young Albanians would take the chance to immediately leave the country rather than doing their best to improve and change the actual state of affairs in Albania. This cannot be left to the government, ADA or other development partners. We have to set a good example and set reforms in motion. Imagine all youngsters and intellectuals leave the country! There would be no bright future.
Monitoring and scrutinizing ADA’s projects have given you the chance to meet many locals. What lessons did you draw from the meetings?
Many people view recent developments with mistrust. We have requests piling up on the work desk because people think that if the job is done by Austrians, Austrian companies or ADA, it will work out all right. This is not the way forward. We will not be here forever to act on behalf of another person or institution. Austria has to support systems, institutions or persons that will be capable to do it on one’s own. By the same token, we shall support development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In other words, there is a lack of sustainability. When we conduct project monitoring missions across the country, very often it is the sustainability of interventions that we miss. I can give easy examples in the water sector: ADA finances a vehicle but the water facility has no money to maintain it. ADA finances a billing system but people don’t pay. A waste water treatment plant has been constructed but is not operational due to bad management. What’s the point for that? It is pointless if we finance computers, software or laboratory equipment if there is no maintenance or know-how to operate systems after the end of the project. Although our assistance is highly appreciated, sustainability of achievements is lacking behind.
How close do you see Albania and Austria?
I would say the closeness is 1345 km (laughing). If you ask man in the street in Austria what they know about Albania they might respond what they read or hear in the news and that many are trying to find a better life there. Eventually, you come across Albanians who have lived and worked for quite some time in Austria knowing their homeland very well. The two countries are rather close. In April, we will be marking the 60th anniversary of Austria’s recognition of Albania’s independence. We will celebrate this historical event accordingly. Besides Austrian Development Cooperation there are Austrian businessmen, businesswomen and Austrian banks investing in the country, many Albanians study in Austria, there are several Austrian-Albanian NGO partnerships, and Austrian school in Shkodra, cultural ties, and cooperation at ministerial levels. Last but not least private persons like Marianne Graf have demonstrated a great personal commitment and ties with the country and an ambitious Austrian businessman stands behind the Rogner Hotel in Tirana, which is a very visible sign of the Austrian-Albanian relationships. However, what cannot be seen are many personal friendships, connections and ties, which bring Albania and Austria even closer despite the 1370 km distance between the two countries.
Do you think something is missing in this long-lasting relationship?
I wish ADA could extend the area of development cooperation to universities as well besides the business to business or NGO to NGO cooperation, which ADA is nurturing day by day. There are several individuals, professors involved but an institutional cooperation is missing. The establishment of such institutional cooperation is something on which I have to work on.
