USAID/Albania Success Story: Opening Doors to Financial Sustainability

The project's primary objective was to enhance the capacity of local governments to secure grant funds from the European Union and other international donors. This effort aimed to address Albania's high demands for infrastructure and capacity development to meet citizens' needs for public services and prepare for EU membership. The training program, which was the second collaboration between USAID/PLGP and the Slovenian government, focused on the transfer of best practices from Slovenia's 12 years of European Union membership. Participants included representatives of local and national governments, NGOs, and local government associations. The training was provided by a Slovenian NGO and consisted of a one-day workshop on building partnerships between national and local governments, as well as four days of practical training on writing proposals for the EU and other donors. The training was highly effective in enhancing the skills of public servants to prepare high-quality project proposals. Staff from the municipality of Korca, for example, used the skills learned at the first USAID/PLGP-supported workshop to prepare a successful proposal for funds to restore the city's historic bazaar and market. Similarly, the Office of Projects for the Municipality of Fier reported that the training was "very specific and practical" and helped them to write successful grant proposals. The project also emphasized the importance of regional collaborations and cooperation between different levels of government. Intermunicipal and transnational proposals can often increase the likelihood of funding success, as many issues transcend political borders. The training included a workshop on building partnerships between national ministries and local governments, which is a key success factor in securing grant funds. The PLGP's mandate is to support resource development, which is an intentional process for engaging stakeholders in their community. While one of the objectives of this engagement is raising grant funds, resource development also includes PLGP support for other outcomes such as adequate and responsible fiscal decentralization, strong collaborative partnerships between citizens and local governments, and municipal elected officials and professional staff who are committed to growing professionally. The project's success is evident in the positive feedback from participants. Burbuqe Mecaj, Head of Development and Projects in Kuçova Municipality, stated that the workshop was a great tool for the staff of their municipality to be oriented and write projects for the priorities they are eligible to apply for. The training helped them to learn and introduce new aspects of rules, tips, and ways of writing a winning project proposal.