U.S. supports territorial planning reform in Vlora

VLORA, Nov 23 – The territorial planning and building permitting process took a step toward greater transparency and efficiency in Vlora as Mayor Shp쵩m Gjika and Millennium Challenge Corporation Albania Threshold Program Chief of Party Richard Wolfe last week signed an agreement, witnessed by USAID and the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunications representatives, to deploy a test version of the Territorial Planning Register in municipal offices.
The Register is an internet-based portal linking multiple databases containing information about territorial planning and construction permit procedures and features an on-line tracking and inspection system that enables applicants for building permits to track their applications online.
Vlora is one of five municipalities that are signing agreements with the MCC Program, (Shkodra, Fier, Pogradec, and Tirana), taking advantage of technical assistance from USAID to integrate municipal planning information electronically into what will become a National Territorial Planning Register. As mandated in the 2009 Territorial Planning Law, the aim of the Register is to introduce transparency and reduce corruption in planning and building permit procedures and decisions. This cooperation will entail training of municipal staff, furnishing of equipment, facilities and other resources necessary to maintain and update the information databases.
Gjika said that it is not by chance that Vlora municipality was selected to participate in this effort. This reflects positively on the work of municipal staff, in particular of those that deal with urban planning, as well as on several key documents that serve as the basis for city’s development. Such documents include the General Urban Plan and the Study of the City Center in Vlora.
Jeffrey Zahka from USAID pointed out that the building permitting is one of the most opaque processes in Albania. It is also one of the processes most susceptible to corrupt influence. With the signing of this agreement today, the Vlora Municipality has shown its will to fight corruption in the construction planning and permit process.
The second stage of the MCC Albania Threshold Program (MCCA2) is a two-year, $15.7 million agreement between Albania and the United States, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and administered by USAID, which aims to strengthen the rule of law, reduce corruption, and increase public oversight, thereby improving the business environment in Albania through IT solutions and technical assistance.