The Electoral Assistance Project aims to provide technical assistance to the Government in the development of electoral practices in Albania which meet international standards, specifically targeting the upcoming Local Elections planned for the autumn of 2000. The project takes a comprehensive and resource-efficient approach. It envisages the preparation of an accurate and transparent Voter Register through the updating and computerization of the central Civil Registry, the issuance of Voter Cards, and the establishment of a Data Center to help manage this and future electoral processes. This Government project was formulated in collaboration with UNDP, and with the cooperation of OSCE and IFES. This is an important element of the ongoing efforts to ensure free, fair, and transparent democratic elections in Albania.

15 May 2000 Background and Update

2.   Guidance in Programme/Project Planning, Formulation, Implementation and Appraisal

Albania has undertaken significant efforts towards social and economic development in recent years, and has received substantial support from international donors. However, the absorption capacity of the Government is quite low in terms of timely disbursement of allocated program/project funds. Albania’s ability to effectively utilize foreign aid and assistance is directly linked to the speed with which it will reach its stated goals of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. This project was formulated upon the request of the Government to help its personnel take up full responsibility for program/project identification, formulation, management, monitoring, and evaluation. Through the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) focal point for the Government, Project Coordination Offices have been created in 7 line ministries: Health, Local Government, Agriculture and Food, Public Works and Transport, Education and Science, Public Economy and Privatization. The project supports these offices through the supply of equipment, and has subcontracted a consulting agency to provide training in database and project cycle management. The Project Coordination Offices report directly to their respective Ministers on the implementation status of projects. They have been successful in sensitizing ministry officials to factors hindering the timely implementation of projects, and constructive in generating solutions. The Project Coordination Offices will also function as donor coordination and facilitation units for their respective ministries, and maintain project databases along with the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade.

3.  Preparatory Assistance for Building Sustainable Capacities for Human Rights Treaty Reporting

This preparatory assistance will aim, for an initial period of six months, at facilitating the initiation of the treaty reporting process with discussions on what the treaty reporting process entails, the expression of a firm political commitment, the design of a strategy and the setting up of a mechanism for reporting on human rights. In addition, a survey and analysis of the existing institution capacity and means for information gathering and data collection for the preparation of State reports will be carried out. On the basis of this preparatory work, a full-fledged project on treaty reporting will be developed, which will focus on the process of treaty reporting through which institutional capacity is strengthened and appropriate measures to ensure the respect of human rights are taken.

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4.  Establishing a Training Institution for the Albanian Public Administration

The project aims at supporting the creation of an Institute for training in (central) Public Administration and developing the initial managerial and operational relationship between this Institute, its supervising authorities and its main users – ministries and dependent bodies in central government; developing its management and training capacity and setting-up its initial programmes.

Ultimately it should support the consolidation and development of a professional civil service in Albania.

The preparatory assistance during a six month period aims at facilitating the initiation of the treaty reporting process with discussions on what the treaty reporting entails, the expression of a firm political commitment, the design of a strategy and the setting up of a mechanism. In addition, a survey and analysis of the existing institution capacity and means for information gathering and data collection for the preparation of State reports will be carried out. A full-fledged project on treaty reporting will be developed, which will focus on the process of treaty reporting through which institutional capacity is strengthened and appropriate measures to improve ensurement of human rights are taken.