"Community works III" program - At a Glance

Geographical coverage :
This program  includes the 12 regions of Albania.

Implementation period :
November 2008- December 2011

Program Cost :
The overall cost of the program is estimated at  14,38 million Euro.

Funding partners :
CEB-Council of Europe Development Bank
ALBANIAN GOVERNEMNT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Main beneficiaries:
Approximately 20,000 inhabitants of 16 Communes.

Main implementing partners:
The Albanian Development Fund - The implementing agency of the program
Local Government Units (Districts, Communes)
Local Consultants
Albanian engineering contractors

Goal :
Improve the living conditions of the rural population by drafting the local development plans for the communes which possess potentials for the economic development especially in  tourism

Objectives :
- To encourage sustainable socio-economic development,
- To improve communal infrastructure,
- To strengthen government at local level,
- To increase community role at governance via participative approaches.

Expected results:
- Drafting of narrow sectoral plans for 16 Communes,
- Drafting of  Spatial Plans (Petrele, Ulez, Velipoje),
- Drafting of Tourism Development Plans (Ishem, Petran, Qender-Vlore,
Kryevidh)

The reason why this program has been chosen for

In the framework of the reforms undertaken by the Albanian Government in the last decade on the decentralisation policies of the local government, the communes are endowed  full administrative, service, investment and regulatory competences for their own functions defined by law; Consequently, the local government units are faced with the planning of their socio-economic development. The first difficulty  encountered by these  LGUs  is the lack of local capacities in the drafting of local development plans. Therefore, it has been deemed necessary the drafting of a program which has to do with the provision of technical assistance and the carrying out of  infrastructure investment in those communes which provide potentials for economic development mainly in the sphere of tourism.
ADF's approach and expected results
ADF’s strategy for the implementation of this program is based on the principle of improving the living conditions for the rural population in Albania that is:

- Drafting of local development plans with the participation of local communities,
- Drafting of spatial or tourism development plans,
- Supporting  via investments local infrastructure projects in line with the designed plans.

In the course of the year 2008, ADF has selected the communes to be included in this program based on certain criteria such as: administrative competences, local financing resources, potentials for the economic development and finally on the proposals forwarded by the respective districts. Having evaluated the 30 proposals made by the districts, 16 communes were selected. They are as follows: Kutalli, Ulez, Rrashbull, Ishem, Tregan, Dermenas, Petran, Drenove, Margegaj, Fushe-Kuqe, Velipoje, Postribe, Petrele, Kryevidh, Qender Vlore and Orikum.

Program Components 

Component I :   Building LGUs capacities
 
Drafting of  development plans according to the designed methodology and support of ADF. Currently the Communes of Tregan, Orikum, Drenove, Kutalli and Fushe Kuqe are equipped with local socio-economic development plans which are drafted on the basis of  a broad community participation.

Drafting of  narrow sectoral plans with the assistance of an expert contracted by ADF and supported by local staff; such plans are being drafted in 16 Communes.

Drafting of  tourism development strategy by local companies contracted by ADF and supported by local staff; Six LGUs:-Ishem , Kryevidh, Qender Vlore, Petran, Orikum, Drenove – have already their respective “Tourism Development Plans”. These plans  assist these communes in being better oriented towards a sustainable development in the priority spheres they have chosen.

-Drafting of  Spatial Plans by local contractors for the communes of Petrele, Ulez and Velipoje which are  finalizing these drafts.

Sectoral Plans:
The Sectoral Plan for the development of ecotourism in the Commune of Fushe-kuqe which takes into consideration the resources of this Commune has been designed.
The Management Plan for the Thermal Waters (Spa) has been drafted for the Communes of Tregan, in the District of Elbasab.
The Plan for the production of fresh vegetables and fruits  has been drafted for the Commune of Kutalli in the District of Berat.
-Study-tour with the representatives of the Communes with high touristic potentials.

Component II : Improvement of local infrastructure
This component includes infrastructure investments for emergency needs; investments which serve to the further development of these LGUs. The largest part of these  these projects consist in upgrading the road network and various arrangements in the village centers.The investments are made under three stages: The implementation of works has started for the first and second stage  and 13 projects have already been carried out. In the third stage, the investment plan is under preparation process.

About ADF

The Albanian Development Fund (ADF) is established as an autonomous agency for the implementation of the project on “The Alleviation of Poverty in Rural Areas”  since 1993 on the basis of an agreement between the Albanian Government and the World Bank.
On May 11, 2009, the Albanian People’s Assembly at the Plenary Session approved the Law No. 10130 dated 11 May, 2009 “On the Albanian Development Fund” which defines a special legal status for this institution.

ADF’s activities aim at  encouraging  a sustainable, balanced and cohesive social and economic development in order to support the governmental develoment policies at the local and regional level.

ADF’s frame of activities varies according to assignments: It includes the process of project designing, management, financing, implementation, and supervision of all projects pertaining to the scope of activities.

ADF is run by the Board of Trustees which is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and is made up of representatives of the central and local government.

ADF, so far, has successfully carried out the implementation of 1730 local infrastructure objects such as: regional rural and urban road sections, water supply schemes, schools and kindergartens, health care centers, bridges and footbridges, river embankments and retaining walls, drain and sewer systems, public and community centers.

Contact

Albanian Development Fund
Rruga “Sami Frasheri”, Nr.10
Tirane
Tel +355 4 235 597/8
Email: adf@albaniandf.org
www.albaniandf.org