Plan ends operation in Albania, creates local NGO

TIRANA, March 8 – Civil society in Albania took a major step forward Thursday when children’s organization, Plan International, began the process to transition its programmers and activities to a Albanian non-governmental organization (NGO), according to a statement. The new organization, which is still to be named, will over the next two years progressively assume responsibility for lobbying and advocacy as well as a host of child centered activities such as health, education, and children’s rights in Albania. Plan will formally support the new organization during the transition period. The current budget stands at US$ 2.3 million in over 150 communities throughout the country.
Plan’s CEO Tom Miller, in Tirana said, “This is a great day for Plan and a great opportunity for Albanian civil society. There is a lot of talk about NGOs creating a culture of dependency and sometimes failing to promote local independence. Well here is your answer, we are now helping to establish a completely stand alone, accountable, and responsible home-grown Albanian organization governed by some of the country’s most prominent citizens.” The new organization will be a model of good governance and accountability, run by a board of prominent Albanians chosen for their integrity, public service, and dedication to development. The 10 strong board comprising 5 men and 5 women will act as the driving force behind the new child-centered NGO working with children and communities throughout the country.
Civil society in Albania has had a difficult time since the end of communism in 1990. Although there are many international organizations – large, home-grown, and locally accountable organizations are far fewer in number. The new children’s organization will be unique in that it will be the only local organization advocating and working at the highest levels of government in an arena usually reserved for only the largest international organizations.
Prominent lawyer and new board member, Emira Shkurti, said, “Civil society in Albania, like us, is in its infancy, but today is a watershed. NGOs have a worthwhile and necessary role to play in a country’s development. We look forward to taking this opportunity to strengthen our country’s democracy and improve the lives and rights of thousands of Albanian children. Plan will continue to provide support and assistance to the new NGO over the next two years at which time the new organization will assume complete responsibility for all programmers and activities.
Plan started its work in Albania in 1995. Initial operations were supported by grant for emergency projects in poor rural areas. In 1997, Plan started a sponsorship program and enrolled the first sponsored child in Kllojka village. Currently Plan has a caseload of 5,251 enrolled children t in 81 villages in 8 districts. The program which began with a budget of about USD300,000 has now grown within 10 years to a budget of around US$ 2 million in the current Fiscal Year (see figure below).
Plan’s programs focused on improving the infrastructure in rural areas, specifically on electricity supply, water supply systems, bridges, re-construction of schools and health facilities. Between 1999 and 2003 the major focus of the program was on potable water systems, using an ECHO grant from the European Union – 60 villages have benefited from improved water systems under the grant since 1997. The last grant from ECHO was designed to build the capacity of the communities to appropriately manage the water systems. This grant recommended a shift from hardware to software, specifically, towards capacity building in general.
In 2002, the focus of Plan’s intervention moved from infrastructure development towards capacity building for communities, communes and local institutions. The emphasis was on children, women and community participation in the development process. Partnership with the local government and the public sector institutions was a key strategy in project implementation. Plan’s major partners in the rural areas are the village councils, the school boards, the farmers’ associations and the student governments. Plan also supported local NGOs which provide technical support in education, early childhood care and development (ECCD), primary health care, reproductive health, hygiene, gender issues and rural development.
Plan has a 10 year CSP which span 2000-2010. The first cycle of CPOs is now completed and Plan Albania is in the process of designing new programs in the context of a transitional CSP which is being written to replace the existing CSP. Since 2005, Plan Albania has expanded its operation to the North using Grants. This is in line with what is being developed in the new CSP. The program in the North focuses on education and health in the poorest, most isolated parts of Albania. In addition to expansion in the north, the last few years have seen Plan begin to work at the national level on child rights issues. In 2000, Plan, working with UNICEF, Save the Children and other Organizations helped established a large movement of Albanian civil societies, focusing on the promotion of child rights. This is done through support to the Children’s Alliance which brings together a network of child rights Organizations in Albania.