Transition Initiatives: Albania Program Summary
November 2000
The Kosovo refugee crisis was one in a
series of human and political catastrophes to affect Albania over the past decade. From a succession of weak governments, to the 1997 collapse of pyramid schemes, to the subsequent rise in crime and instability, Albania continues to be one of the most vulnerable and volatile countries in southeast Europe.
| 6/99 |
12/00 |
$3,000,000 |
$934,431 |
In May 1999, OTI launched a program in Albania with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Albania Transition Initiative (ATI) was designed to alleviate the impact of the Kosovo refugee crisis on Albanian host communities. Following the return of the refugees, OTI shifted its focus from simple community improvement projects to a more process-oriented program of community engagement and empowerment.
The program strengthens local governments by helping them meet community needs for infrastructure and basic services. As of July 2000, the ATI had completed 44 infrastructure projects in 22 cities and towns, including school, bridge, and community center rehabilitation.
The ATI has targeted two types of towns for assistance-reform-oriented towns and those that have received little or no attention from the international community. Once the ATI had established itself in these towns and built a solid reputation, the projects began drawing support from other donors, including the Soros Foundation, the British Department for International Development (DFID), and the Canadian government. Due to the success of the program, USAID's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) is planning to provide IOM with $10 million to be used for additional municipal infrastructure improvements.
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| The Albania Transition Initiative helped local citizens rebuild the Kuchova Community Health Care Center. |
OTI's program does more than work with Albanians to prioritize community needs and provide tangible neighborhood improvements. It helps instill in democratically elected local officials the principle of accountability to their constituencies, particularly as they approach local elections. Successful infrastructure projects are covered in the media so that Albanians across the country are exposed to examples of local communities engaged in civic action. Perhaps the most important result is that the projects provide concrete examples of hope to communities on the brink of despair.
OTI's operating partners in Albania include Development Alternatives Incorporated, the Urban Institute, and the International Office of Migration. OTI's funding partners include DFID, the Soros Foundation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Norwegian government.
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