Back Europe: Central & Eastern: Albania Political Context With the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, Albania reached a new milestone as it moves away from 45 years of communism and near anarchy in the 1990s toward becoming a modern European democracy. Having achieved political stability, Albania has set its sights on integration into the European Union and NATO. Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s center-right government must take decisive steps to strengthen the rule of law, increase economic opportunity and reduce public sector corruption. To accomplish these reforms, Albania must make its political system more open, accountable and participatory. The challenges are daunting but prospects over the longer term are bright. Polarization continues to define relations between the governing Democratic Party and the opposition Socialist Party, delaying needed reforms in the electoral, judicial, and public administration areas. The implementation of laws is often uneven owing to public sector capacity and a deficit in parliamentary oversight of the executive branch. Civil society organizations are maturing and are poised to play important roles in national level advocacy and government monitoring. Grassroots non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and citizen groups are becoming active in pressuring politicians for change. Many are now in position to build on influence gained through local advocacy efforts and develop them into campaigns with national reach. Equally important is the role of investigative journalists, who are gaining increased freedom from political and private interests through a new union and job contracts that protect their rights. Political parties are making use of trained activists and public opinion research as they prepare for municipal elections scheduled for late 2006 or early 2007. The extent to which the election process is democratic will be a key factor in advancing forward on the country’s Euro-Atlantic agenda. NDI Programs in Albania Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), NDI has conducted programs in Albania since 1991 to promote citizen political participation, election monitoring, and the development of political parties and emerging political leaders. NDI is the prime implementer of the USAID-funded Democracy and Governance in Albania program, in partnership with the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and Partners for Democratic Change. The program’s goal is to reduce corruption by creating influential citizen political participation, strengthening independent media, improving the representative capacity of political parties, and promoting electoral transparency. Citizen Participation First launched as a civic education program in 2000, NDI’s civic program supports grassroots activists throughout the country as they define local budget needs and monitor public expenses; advocate for community development projects; organize town hall meetings; monitor public tenders; and ensure that community development priorities, such as school construction and wastewater treatment are properly implemented. “The public meetings are efficient methods that should be developed and practiced between citizens and elected officials. This meeting helped me to assess how to best represent my constituents.” —Member of Parliament Ardi Kollozi after a meeting with constituents through NDI's program These efforts are producing change. Elected officials are reaching out to the public. Some MPs have opened offices in their home districts for the first time to serve constituents. Political leaders are meeting with citizens, at both national and local levels, in town hall discussions, candidate debates, and other venues to discuss the content, scope, and pace of reform, particularly concerning corruption and economic development. Civic activists trained by NDI played an important role in the 2005 parliamentary election, organizing public surveys and creating community development platforms to engage candidates on public interest issues, organizing candidate debates, and participating in election monitoring activities. They will undertake similar efforts in upcoming local elections. In cooperation with the Tirana-based NGOs and local civic groups, NDI will focus efforts on building national-level issue advocacy campaigns in the coming year. Political Party Development Since 2000, NDI has trained mainstream political party activists in leadership, internal and external party communication, coalition-building, ethics and anti-corruption, and voter outreach techniques. In advance of the 2005 parliamentary election, NDI trained candidates on election campaign tactics, prepared party members for their role as pollwatchers, and conducted Albania’s first-ever pre-election poll to help parties reach out to voters. NDI’s political management school has reached several thousand political party activists, offering information on campaign planning and management, candidate training, and constituency and voter outreach. Going forward, NDI will sponsor public opinion research and advise political parties on using the findings to develop policies that are responsive to citizen concerns. NDI will focus on the municipal elections, training candidates and campaign managers in election strategy and planning, issue-based campaign techniques, and voter outreach. In the post-election period, NDI will work with parties at the headquarter and branch levels to support outreach activities and encourage broader participation in internal party affairs. Good Government Initiative In 2005, NDI led a multifaceted initiative in support of fair and transparent parliamentary elections, seen as crucial to Albania’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. NDI supported major domestic and international election monitoring efforts, media monitoring, and voter education drives. NDI plans a similarly comprehensive initiative for the municipal elections scheduled for 2006 or 2007, including a good government pledge for candidates to sign and ongoing, post-election monitoring of elected officials’ efforts to promote transparency during their mandates. Residents of Novosela, Albania put questions to their mayor at a town hall meeting organized by NDI. Contact Information For more information on NDI's Albania program, please contact: Washington, D.C. Nathan Evans, Program Officer 202-728-5676 Albania Aleksandra Pajevic, Resident Senior Program Manager 355-4-230 009 Send Email Updated November 2006 Back