Friday, September 28, 2018

The Academy of Political Studies (ASP) in cooperation with the Open Society Foundation Albania (OSFA) finalized the second phase of support for research and advocacy work aiming to improve policies at local level. The project "Research and Advocacy Ensures Better European Policies in Albania" targets the alumni of the "Albanian School of Political Studies", representatives of political parties, public administration, civil society, academics and Media.
Alumni were supported on monitoring the progress and the problems encountered as result of implementing the administrative-territorial reform in local units. Facing their professional experience and placing it in the context of the daily developments of the new local units, these research aims to identify positive examples in specific units with the purpose of replication in other units, and to provide concrete recommendations for improving the current practices.

Following an open application process in May 2017, were selected five best proposals by alumni, which benefited from training on research and advocacy techniques and were financially supported in these activities. The first training on “research writing techniques” was held on 4 July 2017, followed by the second training on “advocacy techniques” on September 6, 2017, both by the expert Mrs. Gentiola Madhi, who act also as a mentor of papers.

One of the research, untitled "Challenge and Opportunity for Reintegration of Migrant Children in Gjirokastra Municipality", by Mrs. Evis Fico, was presented on 28 September, at Hotel Xheko Imperial Tirana, in an event that brought together experts, alumni and representatives of partner organizations. The Director of the State Social Service in Gjirokastra, Mrs. Magdalena Margariti, praised the analyses and recommendations of the research and vowed to include it as part of the action plan of the institution. She and other stakeholders also recommended the extension of research to other local units facing the challenge of returning migrants and the problem of their reintegration.

  The policy papers can be consulted more concretely:

• "Challenges and Opportunities for Reintegration of Migrant Children" - Case of Gjirokastra Municipality - Author Evis Fico - Click here for pdf version

• "Functioning of the National Referral Mechanism of Domestic Violence and the role of local structures" - Case study Korça and Berat Municipality - Author Artur Hasanbelliu - Click here for pdf version

• "From formal representation of women to effective influence on local politics" - Shkodra municipality case - Author Gentiana Ramadani - Click here for pdf version

• "The Potential of Direct Democracy in Local Governance - Tirana Case" - Author Indrit Puteci - Click here for pdf version

• "Deficiencies and problems in the use of social media by municipalities - Saranda and Mat case study" - Author Alban Tartari - Click here for pdf version  The research works were also printed out and disseminated to decision-makers and various stakeholders, with a view to promoting a comprehensive public dialogue on issues and finding appropriate solutions.

The Academy of Political Studies (ASP) is a non-governmental organization established in 2009, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, with the aim of promoting a generation of young political leaders and civil society. ASP is the structure responsible for organizing the Albanian School of Political Studies program in Albania with the financial contribution of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.