ReLOaD2 programme selects partner municipalities in Albania

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by United Nations Development Programme, launched two calls to select the partner municipalities.

1.                  The first call launched on 22 April 2021 aimed at identifying six partner municipalities in Albania for the implementation of ReLOaD2 programme. The call, with the deadline of 10 June 2021, was open for all municipalities in Albania except for 12 partner municipalities of ReLOaD1.  

A total of 16 applications were received. The Evaluation Commission evaluated all applications according to the mandatory, scoring and convergence criteria of the public call. Based on the public call guidelines and defined criteria, with the endorsement of the Board of Partners of ReLOaD2 Albania, 6 new municipalities were selected for participation in the programme in Albania.

2.                  In addition to the newly selected Municipalities, ReLOaD2 invited 10 ReLOaD1 partner municipalities to apply for participation in the project. The direct call was open for ReLOaD1 partner municipalities from 7 May 2021 till 10 June 2021.

A total of 5 applications were received and the evaluation commission evaluated all applications according to the mandatory, scoring and convergence criteria of the direct call. Based on the direct call guidelines and defined criteria, with the endorsement of the Board of Partners of ReLOaD2 Albania, all 5 municipalities were selected for participation in the programme in Albania.

The municipalities of Shkodra and Tirana, as best performing municipalities of ReLOaD1 partner municipalities will be engaged in ReLOaD2 project as Mentor municipalities to the newly selected partner municipalities.