Switzerland supports local government strengthening

TIRANA, August 8 – Representatives of the Swiss and Albanian governments have signed a new agreement that ensures support for local government strengthening. This marks a new phase for the Decentralization and Local Development Program (DLDP) which contributes to the strengthening of local government units’ capacities in the northern regions of Shkod철and Lezh롡nd to the decentralization process in Albania.
The deal with a financial commitment of approximately 5 million Swiss Francs over a period of 3 years was signed last week by Swiss Ambassador to Albania Yvana Enzler and Minister of Interior Bujar Nishani. The signing took place at the Ministry of Interior with the participation of Deputy Minister of Interior, Ferdinand Poni, Swiss Cooperation’s Acting Country Director Anne Savary, and other officials from the Ministry of Interior, the Swiss Embassy, and the Swiss Cooperation Office.
According to the new agreement, Swiss assistance will go towards increasing capacities of municipalities and communes in Shkod철and Lezh롷hich in turn will facilitate the decentralization process. The main result expected is an improved efficiency and effectiveness of administration, public service delivery on the part of communes and municipalities and citizen’s participation. A new element in this programme is its focus on sharing experiences and good practices at the national level so as to benefit also municipalities and communes of other regions of Albania.
Both the Swiss Ambassador and the Minister of Interior emphasized the useful cooperation and successful partnership during the previous phase of the programme. In response to a question by the media, Ambassador Enzler clarified that “both the decentralisation reform on policy level and concrete grant funds to improve local infrastructure are very important in the framework of the programme”.
While the Minister of Interio Nishani stressed that “the programme offers the element of sharing practices at national level in order that other communes and municipalities may benefit”.
The new phase will be further implemented by Intercooperation, a Swiss NGO with specific expertise in decentralization. Municipalities and communes will benefit from shared experiences, best practices and Swiss expertise.
The Swiss Cooperation Office is one the main international actors supporting actively the decentralization and local government functioning in Albania. During the previous phases of the decentralization program, the Swiss Cooperation has enabled communes and municipalities in Shkod철to improve public services, increase communication with citizens and better plan and manage local resources.
The Swiss Cooperation pays special attention to strengthening local government and advancing the decentralization process in Albania. In the framework of its Cooperation Strategy with Albania (2010-2013), Switzerland commits approximately one third of its budget resources towards strengthening local government, the rule of law and decentralization.