Transition Initiatives: Albania Field Report
May 5 - May 19, 2000
Situation in the Region
A recent Radio Free Europe report claims that the Democratic
Party of Sali Berisha is likely to win this fall's local
elections, due to the widespread feeling that the governing
Socialist Party has failed to deliver on campaign promises. This,
coupled with the region's tendency to vote against a party
rather than for a party, enhances the Democratic Party's
chances at the polls. Sali Berisha has been actively campaigning for
his party across Albania.
An electoral code debate between the Socialist Party and the
Democratic Party continues. Under the auspices of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), all major political
parties met to discuss the rules regarding media and political
campaigns. The Albanian Democratic Party opposes the code, stating
that it allows the ruling party "to kill free elections in
Albania."
In recent weeks the press reported that approximately $3.5
million dollars worth of gold and jewels had disappeared from the
national treasury. Unfortunately, the government could not specify
when the theft took place. Last week the government reported that
the gold and jewels were found. The Democratic Party claims that the
disappearance and re-appearance of the gold demonstrates the ruling
party's lack of accountability and its inability to protect the
national patrimony. The ruling party counterattacked, stating that
the theft took place during the last Democratic
administration.
USAID/OTI
Highlights
Since July 1999, the Albania Transition Initiative has completed
33 infrastructure rehabilitation projects. Four additional
projects will be completed over the next month. Total project
funding is $1.39 million. Over 22 cities and towns
across Albania have benefited from this program.
Project Activity - Projects completed during this
reporting period include:
- The Shkodra region Gur I Zi school
rehabilitation.
- The Korcha Physical Rehabilitation
Center.
- The Mumajes bridge near Tirana.
- The Veski bridge near Tirana.
Community Engagement
- During this reporting period, the ATI Team held 37 meetings
with community groups and local officials to discuss community
improvement priorities.
- In Kuchova, community members contributed $2,000 to replace
tiling at the ATI-renovated health center.
- In Baldushk, community members dedicated time and labor to
clear up the bush and shrub overgrowth around the site of the
ATI-funded footbridge construction.
- At the Kol I Dromeo School in Shkodra, the parents and
teachers' association worked with the municipal city
government to collect funds necessary to purchase school
furniture for the ATI-renovated school.
Media Campaign
- On May 1 the largest independent newspaper in Albania,
Shekulli, published an article highlighting community participation during
the rehabilitation of the Baldushk bridges.
- ATI is funding "Heroes Of Albania", a weekly
television program featuring successful community action around
Albania.
Coordination
USAID's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) is planning
to provide the International Office of Migration (IOM), the
implementing partner for the Albania Transition Initiative, with $10
million to be used for additional municipal infrastructure
improvement projects. The USAID Mission in Tirana made it clear that
they want to work with IOM/ATI because of the quality of work the
team has done to date. They felt the current team has the right mix
of skills and the right approach to municipal infrastructure
rehabilitation in Albania
The ATI team is providing technical assistance to a local NGO
that is rehabilitating a women's center in Tirana. ATI has provided
an architectural evaluation and cost estimates of the project site.
ATI's technical staff prepared and collected bids from construction
companies and helped evaluate these bids.
DFID, the British Government's bilateral aid program, has
enhanced ATI support for school rehabilitation through the donation
of school furniture. DFID funding totaled $81,000 and assisted five
schools. In addition, the Canadian Government is contributing
$18,000 for furniture for a kindergarten that ATI is
rehabilitating.
The Government of Norway and the OSCE have pledged $6,000 for the
purchase of furniture for the ATI-renovated Gjirokaster Municipal
Library.
Issues
OTI is reevaluating the ATI program to shape a closer
programmatic collaboration with the USAID Albania Mission. While the
new E&E monies offer an exciting opportunity for Albania, OTI
wants to assure that the two programs work in tandem, avoiding any
overlap.
BHR/OTI's Albania Transition Initiative is
implemented through IOM, the International Organization for
Migration.
Other relevant program documents available on request:
- FY 1999 Country Profile: Albania
- Albania Transition Initiative, Revised
Implementation Plan: February 2000-December 2000.
- ATI Project Status Table, May 12, 2000
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