Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The preliminary findings of a study on the "Challenges of the reorganization of Local Administration" was presented today in Tirana in a roundtable with policy makers, experts and the local administration servants. The open debate aimed at analyzing the efficiency of the administrative-territorial reform in the new municipalities, based on the case study of Fier municipality. This paper was prepared in the framework of the public initiatives of the participants of the "Albanian School of Political Studies".

Part of the guest speakers were Mr. Enea Hoti, advisor to the Minister for Local Government and Mr. Artan Shkëmbi, General Director of Agency of Territorial Reform Implementation. The participants evaluated the initiative of participants of the School to study this important subject. They stressed the necessity of replicating the positive examples and solutions for the problems and confusion created during the first phase of the implementation of the reform, which must be treated under proper attention and involvement of all stakeholders.

Some of the recommendations presented by the researcher Mrs. Arlinda Hoti were:

• The territorial reform will not necessarily led to lower administrative costs and improvement of services. The realization of this hypothesis depends on many factors but primarily on how the new heads of municipal administrative will approach the administrative reorganization.

• Mayors will face multiple and immediate challenges. The management of the transition and the cooperation with governmental structures will be a key to the success of this term.

• Implementation of new approach to municipal administration (e-governance) is a necessary condition for achieving administrative efficiency and improve services.

The expertise and suggestions collected from this roundtable will serve as an additional support for the finalization of the study. This document was produced as part of public initiatives to participants "Albanian School of Political Studies" and was supported by the Academy of Political Studies. Thanks to these activities and through the wide network of its alumni, the Academy of Political Studies aims to create sustainable connections between Research and Policy making. A special thanks goes to the research group: Arlinda Hoti, Evis Shurdha, Blerina Ago, Dorina Puto and Mirjeta Gjongecaj.

A summary presentation of the paper can be downloaded here