Monday, January 30, 2012

Academy of Political Studies (APS), in addition to its national programme addressing young political leaders,  is developing a training programme focused on newly elected local officials aiming to strengthen their capacities and leadership at local level. The first course of this program was held in Tirana on 27-29 January 2012, under the thematic "Decision-making, policy and local finances". The training was attended by 15 representatives from local elected and also members of municipal administration from: Tirana, Kamza, Burrel, Vau i Dejës, Përmet, Berat, Kavaja, Shijak, Lushnja, Orikum.

The opening remarks were addressed by Mr. Marco Leidekker, Head of Office of the Council of Europe and Mr.Fatmir Demneri, director of the Training Institute of Public Administration. The first day of the course, introduced the Slovenian experience and practice in the decision making as part of the citizens participation. Ms. Neza Vodušek, an expert of the Governmental Office for Local and Regional Policy in Slovenia, addressed the experience of a European Union country, but also part of our region.

The second day of the course, focused on the Albanian experience in local budgeting. Ms. Albana Dhimitri, local government expert, also former deputy mayor of Tirana, explained the budgetary policy practice examples in the Municipality of Tirana. The visit of the participants at the municipality of Kamza served as additional practical example. The mayor, Mr.Xhelal Mziu explained the experience in increased revenue from citizens and the good example on fundraising in this municipality. The representatives found very interesting also the visit in the one-stop-shop service center at this municipality. The third day of the course was focus in the relationship between central and local governments. Ms.Afrida Domnori, director on local finance in the Ministry of Interior, explained to the participants ways of gaining central government grants as well as recent legal guidelines for local revenue collection. Some of the participants were not familiar with these new practices and legal guidance for 2012 and the course served as another opportunity to provide manuals and other instructional materials for practical implementation of legal acts.

At the end of the first course, participants received the certificate issued by the Academy of Political Studies and Training Institute of Public Administration. The programme is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation as part of its contribution on the local democracy and decentralization reform in Albania.