Building Human and Institutional Capacity Quarterly Report 7 - FY 2014 April - June 2014

The project focuses on two Development Objectives: strengthened rule of law and improved governance, and conditions created for broad-based, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. To achieve these objectives, BHIC provides a flexible approach to meeting capacity building needs, including in-country, U.S., and third-country training of current and potential leaders and experts, institutional assessments of key private organizations/public institutions, targeted technical assistance, and focused grants. By the end of the three-year period, BHIC aims to achieve several results, including strengthening the performance of at least 5 Albanian central and local governmental organizations, 15 non-governmental organizations and private sector entities, and building the performance of at least 45 leaders and 45 technical specialists. During the 7th quarter of the project, five programs begun in FY2013 were completed, and 18 new programs were initiated. These programs include seven women's empowerment grants, four garment machine matching grants, CEC software, PPP mentoring, and two LGBT technical assistance programs. The project also supports capacity building activities for governmental institutions, including the Agricultural University of Tirana, which received support for the construction of a landscape demonstration garden, and the Professional Training Center in Shkoder, which received machines donated by firms as part of a matching grants program. In addition, the project supports capacity building for non-governmental institutions, including a program to conduct a market study of high-level IT training needs and willingness to pay for Protik, a public-private partnership to support Information & Communication Technology innovation. Based on the research findings, Assist Impact awarded a grant to assist Protik ICT Resource Center to improve its products and service offering, strengthen its internal financial reporting processes, and better measure the outcome of its interventions. The Central Election Committee (CEC) is receiving technical assistance through Assist Impact to improve the software of the CEC to administer local elections scheduled for 2015. The CEC will test the beta version of the new software and provide comments for fine-tuning. The Academy of Science and University of Agriculture benefited from a grant from Assist Impact to the Albanian Medicinal Plants - Essence Producers and Cultivators Association (EPCA) to produce the Book of Abstracts for the 8th Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of Southeast European Countries. Overall, the BHIC project is making progress in building the capacity of institutions, leaders, and technical experts in Albania, and supporting the country's development and European integration. The project's focus on strengthening rule of law and improved governance, and conditions created for broad-based, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth, is critical to Albania's future development and integration into the European Union.