What is the programme about?

“EU4Schools” is a Programme funded by the European Union in response to the recovery process following the earthquake of November 26, 2019. It aims to support Albanian citizens initially in eleven affected municipalities, namely: Lezha, Tirana, Rrogozhina, Mirdita Vora, Shijak, Durresi, Kruja, Kurbin, Kamza and Kavaja in the area of education. The Programme is part of the European Union’s financial commitment during the International Donor’s Conference, organized in Brussels on February 17, 2020 and is being guided by the nine principles of engagement foreseen in the Statement of Intent at the occasion of this Conference, namely: consistency, clarity, participation, transparency, accountability, equity, efficiency, resiliency and sustainability. The Programme is being implemented by the UNDP, in cooperation with the Albanian Government. The European Union has allocated EUR 65 Million in total for the reconstruction of the education sector   in the municipalities most affected by the earthquake.

The overall objective of the Programme is:

To support national and local governments in reducing further social and economic losses, and to accelerate the recovery process through educational facility repairs and reconstruction. 

Meanwhile, the specific objectives are:

(i) To support repairing and reconstruction, including basic furnishing, of education facilities in municipalities affected by the earthquake according to the EU standards.

(ii) To provide increased transparency, accountability and inclusiveness to the recovery process and

(iii) To improve capacities of central and local governments in accelerating the recovery processes according to the highest EU international standards

“EU4Schools” Programme targets indicatively 58 educational facilities to be repaired or fully reconstructed. Around 20.000 children and students will directly benefit through this intervention. Educational facilities targeted are part of the Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA), which indicated that a total of 321 public Crèches, Pre-Schools, Basic Schools, and Secondary Schools were fully destroyed, partially damaged or lightly damaged in the 11 affected municipalities in Albania.

The Programme will deliver rapid assistance to help restore education services in local communities in order to ensure that students loose minimum school and learning days, and to enable the gradual normalization of life of affected population in those municipalities, with education being the foremost priority. “EU4Schools” Programme will contribute to addressing the recommendations of the last European Commission report to Albania, which stated that “in the coming year, Albania should in particular: implement the pre-university education strategy and the higher education reform, with a focus on ensuring inclusive and quality education at all levels. 

Expected Results

Concretely the Action will have three key results.

Result 1: Education facilities repaired and furnished.

Result 2: Education facilities reconstructed and furnished.

Result 3: Strengthened transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in this process of recovery.

Below is an indicative list of educational facilities to be repaired or reconstructed by Phase I of the EU4Schools Programme funded by the European Union.

What we have achieved so far: 

As it is well identified in the project document, the main objective of EU4Schools is to support national and local governments in reducing further social and economic losses, and to accelerate the recovery process through educational facility repairs and reconstruction of those affected by the earthquake of 26th of November 2019. Transparency, accountability and inclusiveness are the principles guiding the entire implementation efforts of EU4Schools programme. To achieve this, the following activities are implemented, and results are accomplished:

·       Initial consultative meetings to discuss on the prioritization of the facilities where EU4Schools would focus, were organized with representatives of Ministry of Reconstruction, Ministry of Education Sports and Youth, Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and affected municipalities. Identification of prioritization criteria have been part of the discussion.

·       Field visits are organized with representatives of the Ministry of Reconstruction, the Ministry of Education and the Institute of Construction to prepare technical specifications for all identified and selected educational facilities. All education facilities identified for repairs underwent a quick technical survey to assess the extent of the repairs needed to make them fully operational. This process has also included data gathering on the exact number of students impacted as well as the current status of education services.  This activity has resulted in the preparation of technical specifications and Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the design and supervision for 22 education facilities, agreed and approved by national actors. Work is going on for preparation of technical specifications for 36 remaining educational facilities.

·       Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with benefitting municipalities are signed describing joint obligations, responsibilities and roles of all actors, to be followed during the repairing and rebuilding processes. The memorandum includes also preconditions to be fulfilled by municipalities before the start of the works, such as delivering on time the permits and other documents relating to land ownership, demolishing of the place where the new facilities will be rebuilt when possible, among others, as well as the role of municipality and local institutions after handover especially adequate maintenance of the facilities. 

·       Tendering process has been launched for 22 entities. Civil works contracts for 10 educational facilities are signed. Experience to date with the municipalities of Durres, Kamza, Kruja, Kavaja and Kurbin has shown that when local governments are involved in the process from its inception, and when obligations are clear, detailed and discussed between the parties, local governments are more responsible and more willing to collaborate.

·       A consultation strategy and action plan are prepared which outline the consultation and engagement process of affected by earthquake communities in the entire implementation stages.   It is extended to 5 stages – Designing, Contracting, Implementing, Handing-over, Monitoring, and defines in detail which of the stakeholders will be involved at each stage and how. Consulting techniques are carefully selected depending on the typology and specific needs of the group/stakeholder, in order to ensure the highest possible participation, the most effective consultation and the most comprehensive inclusion. In that regard, the selected techniques and tools focus not only on purely information providing, but also on those that enable dialogue engagement, and participation. 

• 20 consultation meetings with targeted groups such as: teachers, students, government of students, parents, local institutions are conducted so far aiming to inform the participants on the project, its planned activities, and to give an opportunity to all the invited stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed design models. 

·     An online transparency tool/platform is being developed containing the following elements: (i) home, (ii) progress up to date, (iii) questions and answers, (iv) reports (iv) gallery and (v) feedback. Detailed information will be uploaded for each and every subcategory and will be regularly updated by a dedicated project staff. This platform will increase transparency and will be an important tool during the monitoring process.