RESULTS OF CALL NO. 6 AND RAPID RESPONSE DEDICATED TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY

#LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy

A PROJECT OF: IMPLEMENTED BY: Dedicated to Local Democracy Introduction 5 Direction 3: Call for Applications No. 6 6 Community Action Initiatives 40 Livia Kreko 41 Direction 1: Lusjen Koci 42 Strengthening civic activism to Raxhi Rakipi 43 influence local government action 8 Pëllumb Gjini 44 Partnerë për Fëmijë 9 Xhenis Kryekurti 45 Për Ju nëna dhe fëmijë 10 Noljan Lole 46 Agritra Vizion 11 Spartak Dikellari 47 Çobanët e Kelmendit 12 Dritan Kurti 48 Youth Act Centre 13 Behar Dema 49 Together Foundation 14 Aurora Konomi 50 Bicycle Durrës 16 Qendra Durrësi Aktiv 17 Rapid Response Grupimi ATA 18 Environmental ownership Tamam Albania / and protection 53 Bord Rinor Këshëllimor Vorë 19 Dhimitër Koleci 53 Qendra STEPS 20 Post-earthquake emergency 54 Qëndresa Qytetare 22 Rrjeti për Demokraci i Institute for consulting, Gruas Shqipëri 54 marketing and management COVID-19 55 (IMMC) 23 Jonathan Centre 55 Hapësira Kulturore UZINA 24 Together Albania 56 Lëvizja Rinore Egjiptiane Rome 25 Shoqata Kombëtare Shqiptare New Bridges Berat 26 e Njerëzve që Nuk Dëgjojnë 57 Woman Vision 27 Dea Buza 58 Institute for Policy and Qendra Sociale në Ndihmë të Legal Studies (IPLS) 28 Njerëzve në Nevojë 59 Sustaining Inclusive Growth Mendime dhe Iniciativa të Lira 60 – SIG Foundation 29 Qendra T’Reja 61 Nisma Luleve 30 SME Albania 31 Agenda Institute 32

Direction 2: Qendra Media dhe Çështjet Shoqërore 33 Europartners Development 34 Qendra Konsumatori Shqiptar 35 Qendra Media dhe Çështjet Shoqërore 36 Citizen’s Channel 37 ABC Tirana Club 38 Shoqata “Lëvizja për Zhvillimin e Turizmit Ksamil” 39 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Projects are awarded through a transparent Introduction and competitive process which is well-rec- ognized. The practice of public Idea Compe- Since 2015 Leviz Albania has aimed to in- titions was an innovation aimed not only at cite “movement” and bring about social transparency but also for interaction among change by providing a platform, a network applicants. Throughout 7 calls for applica- and support that enables citizens to act tions, 627 applicants have presented an idea and resolve issues of interest to different to the Grants Board over 21 Idea Competitions local communities. organized in 15 different locations. The out- reach of LevizAlbania has extended to practi- LevizAlbania is a project of the Swiss cally every municipality and aims to reach out Agency for Development and Cooperation, deeper. implemented by a Consortium of three Al- banian organizations, Open Society Foun- Going beyond the periodic calls for applica- dation for Albania, Partners Albania, and tion, LevizAlbania also innovated with other Co-Plan. instruments supporting the same objectives. Through Rapid Response, civic actors have LevizAlbania is committed to improve local the opportunity to respond to emergent is- democracy in our country by empowering sues in which a quick reaction is required. actors in the civic space to be drivers of Since 2015 LevizAlbania has supported 18 change that exert the necessary pressure Rapid Response initiatives. to ensure local governments act in the ben- efit of citizens. Ensuring that local govern- ‘Strategic Grants’ is a new instrument, sup- ments actually work for the public good porting major strategic projects aiming to requires informed, organized, active and influence the national agenda. These include peaceful citizen engagement. support for consolidated organizations or coalitions to address systemic challeng- Through LevizAlbania, civil society actors es. LevizAlbania has supported 2 ‘Strategic have the opportunity to come up and ap- Grants. ply concrete ideas to resolve different is- sues of interest to their communities. At In addition, the Value-Added Support Services, the heart of these initiatives is the aim to involving a direct commitment from the Con- incite reactions from local government in sortium, are designed to improve an enabling response to a strengthened demand for environment for civic engagement in areas re- better local governance. lated to local governance:

The grant scheme is operationalized • Municipal Finances and Citizen Perceptions through periodic calls for applications. • Law Clinics Since 2015 LevizAlbania has launched 7 • Youth Movement: a new page for local com- calls for applications and received a total munities of 2,100 applications from a diverse group • Networking, and exchange opportunities of civic actors country-wide, out of which • Porta Vendore 226 projects have been supported. Unlike other projects in support of local democ- Over the last year, Leviz Albania achieved to racy and civic participation, Leviz Albania inspire and empower 49 actors in the civic supports individuals and informal groups. space to drive social change. We would like 720 individuals and informal groups have to share with you a brief summary of their sto- applied with concrete ideas for improve- ries, motivators, and achievements. ment of their communities. This interest shows that readiness for active citizenship is present in communities all over Albania.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 5

Call for Applications No. 6

40 initiatives successfully implemented by empowered civic actors, driving social change and improving local democracy in Albania

The last local elections in Albania took place in a tense political environment. These elections were held without the participation of opposition candidates. As a result, citizens did not have the opportunity to choose between political alternatives. This situation affected local democracy and citizen engagement.

In this context, LevizAlbania launched Call for Applications No. 6 with the objective to empower local civic actors who are active actors of change in their community to drive change and exert pressure on local government to take action benefiting citizens.

Through Call for Applications No. 6 LevizAlbania supported 40 initiatives focusing on three priorities of intervention:

Figure 1. Directions of Call for Applications No. 6

Organizations Individuals Organizations and and and Informal Informal Informal Groups Groups Groups

Direction Direction Direction 1 2 3

Strengthening civic Promoting transparent Community activism to influence & accountable Action local government local governments Initiatives action

Initiatives supported 24 6 11

The start of the implementation period of the 40 initiatives supported through Call for Applications No. 6 coincided with the arrival of COVID-19 in Albania. The pandemic implied a challenge in itself for civic actors to adapt their interventions to the new normality.

6 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Figure 2. Summary of Call for Applications No. 6

IMPACT ON CIVIC DIRECTION MECHANISMS OUTCOMES SPACE

Community /Interest Improved local public groups mobilization services

Advocacy Addressed environ- mental issues at local Strengthened visibility level Strengthening Innovative participation civic activism platforms Instances of local to influence priority setting/deci- local government Existing official sion-making in favour action mechanisms (request of vulnerable groups petitions, complains, public consultation)

Monitoring and Increased transparen- Empowered civic analysis cy& accountability actors drive social Improved local public change and local action Information to and services from citizens Strengthened role of Promoting transparent Documentation and civil society organiza- & accountable evidence tions as intermediaries local governments between citizens and Interaction with local local governments governments Local governments Advocacy take action in the benefit of citizens

Individual coaching& Improved local public assistance services

Strengthened visibility Addressed environ- Community informa- mental issues at local tion and mobilization level Community Action Initiatives Existing official Strengthened leader- mechanisms (request ships at community petitions, complains) level

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 7 Direction 1: Strengthening civic activism to influence local government action

LevizAlbania strengthened civic activism through the inclusion of groups of citizens, youth, interests groups to demand good governance at local level, channelling constructive civic pressure towards local decision-makers to be more responsive to the demands and rights of citizens.

8 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Partnerë Implementation period: 01-05-2020 – 25-03-202128-02-2020 për Fëmijë Implementation area: Municipality of Kukës

Name of the project: Proactive Communities for Improving Local Democracy

BACKGROUND

One of the current shortcomings of legal and institutional framework in place is the representation of the rural population in local government. The municipality of Kukës has about 60,800 inhabitants out of which 66% live in rural areas, while only 25% of the budget available to the municipality is spent on rural communities. After the administrative and territorial reform, administrators of administrative units are now appointed by the mayor. Links between the rural population and municipal decision- making seem to have further weakened. Partners for Children applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania to promote further consideration of the needs and interest of rural communities in the priorities of Kukës municipality.

PROJECT GOAL

To influence the development priorities of the municipality of Kukës in accordance with the needs of the rural population in 3 Administrative Units, through the organization and mobilization of the rural community and community-based advocacy.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized rural communities influenced the priorities of their municipalities Partnerë për Fëmijë worked with three communities in each of the targeted Administrative Units: Bicaj, Bushtricë and Topojan. During these meetings about 145 young people, women, and men were actively involved in discussions on the priority needs and problems faced by each community. For these meeting, Partners for Children managed to identify around 15 community leaders with the abilities and potential to lead community ad- vocacy processes. These leaders held meetings with the com- munity, reaching out to at least 400 people who got informed on the process and steps that would be followed to address the priorities identified. Members of the respective communities got engaged and supported the requests sent to local institutions; signing petitions and initiating the organization of actions in their community. More concretely, 2 of the priorities of the Bush- tricë Administrative Unit - the construction of a water supply system and the establishment of a water tank in the school to improve the hygienic-sanitary conditions for about 200 children - were completed within 2020. 2 of the 3 priorities addressed for Bicaj Administrative Unit - rehabilitation of internal roads in the village, the lack of drinking water supply in the village and works in of the 9-year school, were included in the municipal budget for 2021. 1 priority by the Topojan group for the reconstruction a road was also addressed. The works for systematization / reha- bilitation of the road started in December 2020 and continuation is foreseen in the 2021 budget.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 9 Type: Organization Për Ju nëna Implementation period: 01-05-2020 28-02-2021 dhe fëmijë Implementation area: Municipality of Kukës

Name of the project: Youth and the community move, transparency and accountability increase

BACKGROUND

In the municipality of Kukës, just as in many other municipalities in Albania, there is a low participation of young people and the community in general, in setting priorities and local decision-making. The most common reasons are related to an overall lack of information, knowledge and skills of young people and the community about their rights to participate and the obligations of local government regarding public information, public transparency, and civic participation. There is a lack of a meaningful dialogue and effective cooperation between civil society, community and local government. With this in mind, the local organization For You, Mothers and Children applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania with the objective to increase the participation of young people and the community of Kukës municipality in local decision-making by increasing their engagement in monitoring the activity of local government.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to more transparency and accountability of the municipality by increasing civic participation in local decision-making and the engagement of young people and the community in monitoring the activity of local government.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered community participate in public consultation, influencing decisions of local government The organization conducted information meetings with young people in schools and with community, forming two groups which were trained and participated in meetings of the Municipal Council. The youth groups and community member groups were supported to lobby with the council and the municipality on different priorities. The trained youngsters participated in the municipal council meetings and conducted 4 lobbying campaigns. Information for participation has resulted in informed, active citizens, prepared to participate and express opinions in public consultations, consequently becoming part in decision making processes. They worked together to bring 5 concrete proposals for the improvement of services by the Municipality. They also carried out monitoring on the provision of public services by the municipality of Kukës during a 6-month period, May-October 2020, mainly focusing on water supply, environmental clean-up, distribution of economic assistance and medical services. The monitoring produced concrete recommendations, some of which have started to be addressed by the municipality: Providing maintenance for the sports field in the 9-year school “Bajram Curri”, Maintenance works in rural roads, rehabilitation of neighbourhoods. Work is being done systematically for the regulation and systematization of the environment, but the community itself must also contribute to its maintenance. The drinking water supply has been improved. The regulation of drinking water infrastructure is also expected to begin. The organization also carried out an analysis on the evaluation of the budget of the Municipality in the last 2 years, focusing on services for women and youth.

10 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Agritra Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 28-02-2021 Vizion Implementation area: Municipality of Dibër

Name of the project: Improving local governance, community activism & inclusion of women

BACKGROUND

The Municipality of Dibër has a considerable territorial extension with rural areas comprising most of its territory. In these rural areas, at least 60% of families have as main income source economic assistance. In a context of stark poverty and inequality, women often find themselves in a situation of unpaid work at home, in child-care and in agriculture. Not being able to contribute to family incomes, they are often left out from family decision-making. Due to the traditional gender roles deeply engrained, men also make all decisions of the community at village level. When it comes to representation in local decision-making, village-based decision-making bodies are composed only of men. In order to make a difference and promote more inclusion for women in 40 villages in Dibër, Agritra Vizion Centre applied to Call for Applications No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to better local governance through the establishment and strengthening of gender- balanced community groups, promoting the inclusion of women in local decision-making bodies at the village level.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered women participated in and influenced decision-making affecting their villages.

Agritra Vizion achieved to form community-based gender-balanced groups with representatives from 40 villages in 10 Administrative Units in Dibër with the participation of 50 women and girls and 35 men and boys. Through these groups, Agritra Vizion managed to establish an important mechanism to allow for women’s participation in community-decision-making. A concrete example of women’s empowerment is given the community group set up in the village of Staravec (Administrative Unit Tomin). This group decided to send the municipality a request to address the provision of irrigation water for the village. The group was supported by Agritra Vizion to draft the request and to follow up the official communication with the municipality. As a result, representatives of the municipality attended several meetings with the community group from the village and an intervention plan was agreed to jointly solve the problem.

“One of the most successful activities of the project were the awareness meetings through which women’s self-confidence to be part of joint activities with men was increased to raise and articulate quite well the problems they have in their community” Bukurie Begu, Project Coordinator.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 11 Type: Informal group Çobanët e Implementation period: 01-05-2020 31-05-2021 Kelmendit Implementation area: Municipality of Malësi e Madhe

Name of the project: Name of the project: Improving the operation and living situation of Kelmend area shepherds

BACKGROUND

In the mountainous areas of Albania, the inherited practices of “transhumance” are still very much alive but in need for preservation. Transhumance is a form of pastoralism characterized by the action of moving livestock from one grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle, typically to lowlands in winter and highlands in summer. A group of shepherds from the Kelmend area applied to Call for Applications No. 6 with the objective of restoring, preserving, recognizing and promoting the values of shepherds in the area of Kelmend, also in the framework of the preparations for the file to register transhumance as one of the phenomena of Albanian cultural heritage in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) “Representative List of Intangible Humanities”.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to improve the quality of life of shepherds in the Kelmend highlands area through interventions related to improving working conditions and facilitating some aspects of the shepherds’ profession.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Organized shepherds undertake action to restore, preserve, and promote their cultural heritage The shepherds achieved to move a step forward in their objective to include transhumance in the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanities” by documenting the preparatory phase with various photos and videos of the shepherds’ return from the mountains and highlighting the difficulties that this phenomenon carried. They also prepared an Inventory of the Mountaineering Materials, an integral part and basis on which all subsequent work for the compilation of the UNESCO folder for Northern Albania will be based. The shepherds went as far as conducting the identification of families and farmers who practice transhumance, as well as finalization of individual cards documented with photos describing the geographical position, time of stay in the winter period, as well as time of stay during the summer, composition of families practicing transhumance type of breeding animals, etc. To assist the cause of the shepherds from Kelmend area in their visibility efforts, a reportage was dedicated as part of the well-known streamline of TV shows “Green Space” of RTSH, on Çobanët e Kelmendit (the Shepherds of Kelmend) and their ongoing mission to formalize transhumance as one of the phenomena of Albanian cultural transhumance heritage in the UNESCO “Representative List of Intangible Humanities”. Part of this reportage, were the Albanian Ambassador at UNESCO and the Deputy Minister of Culture. The contribution this group has given and will continue to give to the promotion and preservation of a century old tradition to promote cultural values and provide the local community living in extremely remote areas with a sense of identity on an international scale.

12 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Youth Implementation period: 02-03-2020 - 31-12-2020 Act Centre Implementation area: Municipality of Kurbin

Name of the project: YOUth FOR CHANGE

BACKGROUND

The engagement of young people in decision-making can be incentivized through the establishment of special structures such as Youth Councils in each municipality to monitor the work of the local administration and to address important issues affecting young people. The establishment of a Youth Council and the activation of other mechanisms for the engagement of young people are an important tool for their mobilization in specific issues. Considering this, Youth Act Centre applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania to increase youth participation in decision-making in the municipality of Kurbin.

PROJECT GOAL

To raise awareness and increase the level of youth representation in local government with the aim of engaging in decision-making processes and inclusive voluntary activities.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Youth Council established, capacitated and empowered to influence decisions of local government. The Youth act Centre organized several activities in order to increase the capacity of young people in relation to good governance and decision-making at the local level; to engage young people to influence decisions by local government with the aim of improving services and to increasing the level of youth representation at the local level through voluntary activities and virtual platform. The marching “Activism for change” created an impact on the entire community of Kurbin district on the role of the Youth Council as a structure that is now regularly activated in local decision-making and voluntary services for the benefit of the community. The Youth Forums in Milot, Gorre, Lac and Mamurras - served as a model of inspiration to young people about the impact they can have on local government, and encouraging them to become part of youth initiatives that can lead to the solution of community problems. “Voluntary youth activities” in Lac and Mamurras in which youth engaged in voluntary activities for the distribution of food packages to help families affected by the earthquake and marginalized groups. Finally, the bilateral meetings between the Youth Council and municipal Staff – were aimed for the students to raise and discuss some issues and problems related to infrastructure in schools, lack of suitable facilities for sports and youth activities, engagement of the whole community in various issues, support continuous by the local authority.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 13 Type: Organization Together Implementation period: 02-03-2020 - 31-01-2021 Implementation area: Municipalities of Shkodër, Foundation Mat and Durrës

Name of the project: Taking action for accessibility

BACKGROUND

Lack of accessibility prevents people with disabilities from fully participating in society. Accessibility is a precondition for people with disabilities to enjoy all other rights. Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 1074, dated 23.12.2015, requires local self-government units to take measures to remove obstacles for the provision of public services to people with disabilities. According to this Decision, no public funds should be used for projects that do not comply with accessibility standards. This regulation is currently far from full-implementation. People with disabilities face several barriers to access local public services due to lack of accessible conditions. Together Foundation’s previous work in raising awareness on the cause of accessibility for people with disabilities influenced their decision to apply to Call for Applications No. 6 of Leviz Albania.

PROJECT GOAL

To improve accessibility in the municipalities of Shkodër, Mat and Durrës through strengthened activism to keep municipalities accountable for the implementation and enforcement of legal obligations on accessibility.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered people with disabilities, activists and local organizations improved accessibility, awareness and accountability of local governments. Together Foundation produced three monitoring reports including specific recommendations for local authorities to improve accessibility. The findings of these reports were used in three documentaries broadcasted live during public forums in the presence of the Mayors. People with disabilities, activists and local organizations had the opportunity to advocate and address their mayors directly regarding their specific needs. As a result of these interactions which increased the cause’s visibility and by using different official mechanisms, local governments implemented concrete actions. The municipality of Mat made accessible the entrance of the Office for Civil Registry as well as a new neighbourhood park through the construction of ramps in response to the requests raised by the project. The Municipality of Shkodër designed and established new parking spaces for persons with disabilities, respecting fully the accessibility standards. The project also incentivized different public promises from the Mayors. The municipality of Durres committed to respect accessibility legislation and standards for the new buildings and interventions that are taking place in the aftermath of the earthquake. The municipality of Mat committed to a fully accessible Geraldine Park in Burrel by providing reserved parking spaces for persons with disabilities. The municipality of Shkodër publicly promised to continue improving accessibility in institutions and pathways for persons with visual impairments. They also committed to continue increasing the number of reserved parking spaces throughout Shkodër and they are in the process of designating a badge for the controlled usage of these parking spaces.

14 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy “I hope that in the near future there are no more projects implemented with public money that do not respect accessibility standards for people with disabilities” Suela Lala, activist and Executive Director of Together Foundation

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 15 Type: Informal group Bicycle Implementation period: 01.04.2020 - 31.01.2020 Durrës Implementation area: Municipality of Durrës

Name of the project: Move for the lanes, pedal safe!

BACKGROUND

The city of Durrës, the second biggest city in Albania, has only two roads equipped with bicycle lanes. Bicycle lanes and proper signalling are crucial to ensure safety of cyclist using bicycles as a means for transport. Based on the General Local Plan of the municipality of Durrës when building a new road, it should consider bicycle lanes in its design. The General Local Plan even defines very precisely the technical criteria for the construction of bicycle lanes. However, this has not been implemented in any of the roads that have been reconstructed or rebuilt since the approval of the General Local Plan. The municipal budget does not allocate any funds for bicycle lanes either. This situation can be repeated for the roads that will be reconstructed or the residential blocks after the earthquake of November 26, 2019. The informal group Bicycle Durrës applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania to encourage citizens to raise this problem to the local government and request them to take immediate measures to increase bicycle lanes and establish the necessary signalling to protect the lives of bicycle users.

PROJECT GOAL

To advocate for the increase of the number of bicycle lanes, proposing a map with the roads to be intervened and agreeing with the municipality for the construction of lanes and their integration in post-earthquake reconstruction projects.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized cyclists raised awareness, made proposals, and advocated with municipality to ensure their safety The group Bicycle Durrës started by informing and presenting their initiatives in different platforms, including high schools and the University of Durrës. In addition, through several articles and a wide local media coverage they managed to promote their cause and raise awareness of the general population. In coordination with bicycle users from the city, they organized several group cycling activities with the participation of citizens, an in one occasion, the vice-mayor and municipal police. To further increase awareness and support for their cause they produced three videos which were projected in different points of the city. Through the project the group Bicycle Durrës designed proposal for the cycling infrastructure of the city of Durrës. This proposal was drafted as a general guide to identify, plan, design, build and maintain cycling infrastructure, as well as to improve cycling in and out of the city. The guide was presented to the deputy mayor of Durrës and was also submitted to the municipality of Durrës together with a petition signed by about 1000 citizens for the construction and implementation of infrastructure dedicated to bicycles on the main roads and areas in the municipality. The petition also requires the installation of vertical and horizontal signalling, along with the construction of parking spaces for bicycles.

16 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Qendra Implementation period: 01.05.2020 – 30.05.2021 Durrësi Aktiv Implementation area: Municipality of Durrës

Name of the project: Durrës citizens, actors and factors in local decision making

BACKGROUND

Peripheral areas of the city of Durrës are affected by different issues regarding lack of adequate public services. Specifically, the areas of Shkozet, Ish-Këneta and Porto-Romano lack of an adequate sewage system. Dwellings discharge wastewater into an open canal, which was once used for agriculture and this wastewater ends up in the Adriatic Sea. The canal is open and at high temperatures the aroma is unbearable. The canal has become a source of infection, due to the high level of contamination. With the aim to empower the residents of these areas to request local government to address this issue, the organization Active Durrës decided to apply to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania. The organization Active Durrës was formed by the activist Klaudio Hyseni, which was previously supported by LevizAlbania as an individual.

PROJECT GOAL

To request a solution from the local government to the problem of wastewater discharge in open agricultural canals in the area of the Shkozet, Ish-Këneta and Porto-Romano, through civic activism and pursuing the issue legally.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered citizens demand local government to improve public services. Qendra Durrësi Aktiv directed to the municipality different requests for information regarding any planning for investment in the areas targeted. After an intensive work with the community, Active Durrës achieved to raise support from 526 citizens for their cause. Active Durres ensured the issue was covered by local media through 2 chronicles and the projection of videos in different points of the city of Durres. They managed to send a petition to the local government for measures to address the sewage problems of the targeted areas. More concretely, the petition requested the drafting a master plan for the wastewater network and to include in the budget funds for investments in the wastewater system of these areas. Active Durres did not stop here. In collaboration with The Albanian Consumer Centre, Active Durres ensured that the issue was sent to the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination for consideration. The Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination issued in April 2021 a decision where it was corroborated that the municipality incurred in discrimination against the residents of the area. The Commissioner gave the municipality 30 days to provide evidence of measures undertaken. As a result, in May 2021 the municipality opened a tender on “drafting the design study for the rehabilitation of the drainage network infrastructure in the area of Ish-Këneta and Porto-Romano and the systematization of the rainwater network in the urban area of the city of Durrës”.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 17 Type: Organization Grupimi Implementation period: 01.06.2020 -28.02.2021 ATA Implementation area: Municipality of Kamëz

Name of the project: “Democracy” Street (named after a street in Bathore)

BACKGROUND

Kamëz is a city near to Tirana with a large population concentrated in a relatively small territorial area. Since its inception and to this day, the ATA Group has undertaken initiatives aimed at reviving the intellectual capacities of activists engaged in Kamëz to be involved in public life of the city. After almost 6 years of work in the community, the ATA group has learned that the commitment and efforts to improve the city comes hand to hand with increasing the organization of the people of Kamëz and the demand for accountability from local institutions. Taking this into account and knowing that small local actions in neighborhoods can have a domino effect in other administrative units, ATA group applied to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania to develop research work, recognition and organization of different actions in some of less favored neighborhoods in Kamëz.

PROJECT GOAL

To advocate for a solution to different problems in three selected neighbourhoods of Kamëz and encourage the creation of neighbourhood councils, through creative acts.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized citizens identify and prioritize problems and create community structures Through a thorough community work in three neighbourhoods, including interviews and meetings with citizens as well as journalistic coverage, ATA achieved to create a connection to these communities and ensure their willingness to collaborate in the identification of the main problems in their areas. Different requests were sent to the municipality. ATA group also incorporated young actors from these areas in the play “Steal a little less” which was staged in different locations of the municipality. The play’s aim was to increase awareness about the importance of participating in community life and holding the municipality accountable. The field work in these neighbourhoods enabled the creation of a very rich archive of images, videos and audio recordings of conversations with residents, meetings and theatre performances. In the absence of cooperation with the municipality regarding the community’s requests, ATA opened the exhibition “Democracy Street” to not only expose the main problems identified in the selected areas and their requests, but also to invite again the municipality to visit the exhibition and hold a meeting to have a dialogue on possible solutions. The exhibition was open for more than one month.. In addition, ATA made a video documentary entitled “What is the Road to Democracy?” Following the continuous monitoring of the Municipality of Kamëz and under the implementation of the project “Democracy” street, ATA group addressed a lawsuit to the Municipality for violations committed by this institution regarding the transparency program, citizen participation in local democratic processes. The Administrative Court accepted the lawsuit of the informal group and gave the decision that the Municipality of Kamëz to complete the transparency program according to the order of the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Personal Data Protection.

18 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Tamam Albania / Bord Type: Informal group Implementation period: 04.05.2020-22.04.2021 Rinor Këshëllimor Vorë Implementation area: Municipality of Vorë

Name of the project: Aktivizmi vazhdon!

BACKGROUND

Vorë is an urban municipality with a young population. Spaces for social and cultural development of young people in Vorë are few. The only spaces dedicated to youth were a sports gym, put in place as a result of advocacy by the Youth Advisory Board of Vorë, as well as the community centre “Tamam Albania”, which was created in function of the youth and children of the area for various socio-cultural activities. Both of these spaces had the misfortune to close after the November 26, 2019 earthquake. The Youth Board held periodic meetings and a survey with the youth of the area and about 80% said that they wanted to have more spaces to enable the development of their skills. Almost all unanimously expressed as a concern that the city did not have a library. Vorë Youth Board was created through the previous support of Leviz Albania and throughout these years they have continued advocating for further prioritization of youth. However, advocacy efforts were not progressing in part due to the continuous change in mayors and head of Council during a relatively short period of time. In order to strengthen their advocacy activities, they decided to apply to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To increase civic activism to influence the agenda of the municipality to enable more recreational spaces for the youth of the area.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered youth and increased activism exert pressure on municipality to act in favour of youth. The group initially started by holding different information meetings with youth from three high schools in Vorë. The aim of these meetings was also to invite interested youth to apply to an open call to become members of the Youth Advisory Board of Vorë. 20 youth were selected to form part of the Board out of 65 applicants. The youngsters were also offered the opportunity to participate in different trainings on advocacy and how to influence decision-making of the municipality. An essay competition on “The City I want” was also organized to raise awareness on the youths’ priorities. The project also achieved the creation of three book clubs and the establishment of a mini-library “Take a book, leave a book”. Regarding its advocacy initiatives, the Board worked to increase the awareness of citizens about the lack of recreational spaces in the city of Vorë. A petition was submitted to the municipality including the signatures of 1,263 citizens. The Youth Board also achieved to sign an agreement with the Municipality of Vorë for the institutionalization of the Youth Advisory Board of Vorë and the provision of a library for the citizens.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 19 Type: Organization Qendra Implementation period: 01-04-2020 - 31-12-2020 STEPS Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: Artivism

BACKGROUND

The quality of public transport service in the municipality of Tirana is a concern for citizens in their daily life. The lack of schedules, hygiene, accessibility for people with disabilities, affect the users of public transport. The municipality increased the prices of tickets by 33.3% in 2017 with the promise that there would be a radical change. However not much has improved since then. Citizens are not empowered enough to demand and undertake actions to improve public transport service. With the idea to increase the capacity of young people and community organization through creative and at the same time constructive forms to put pressure on local government in order to improve public transport in Tirana, STEPS Centre applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to improve the quality of public transport service in the Municipality of Tirana through art and the strengthening youth activism.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Young activists involved in monitoring public transport, providing recommendations and proposing solutions. The Steps Centre in collaboration with young activists conducted a study on the situation of public transport in the Municipality of Tirana. Through a survey questionnaire they measured the level of users’ satisfaction with public urban transport in Tirana. The questionnaire was also followed by on- site field monitoring of the functioning and conditions in different urban lines of public transport. The study also included concrete recommendations to improve the condition of public transport. Based on these results, the Steps Centre also provided a concrete proposal for a monitoring model for the implementation of the plan on preventing the spread of Covid-19 after the resumption of public transport. In cooperation with the Foundation “Together” as an organization in defence of the rights of persons with disabilities with a special focus on the rights of accessibility and independent living for persons with disabilities the Steps Centre included in their monitoring activities the situation of inaccessibility of public transport for persons with disabilities and made specific recommendations to decision-makers in order to make public transport service accessible. Civic Resistance, Together Foundation and Steps Centre, 3 grantees from CfA6, joined their efforts to coordinate a petition of 75 citizens with disabilities and to send it to the Tirana Local Council. The petition demanded: (i) posting of itineraries, bus schedules and display of visual and audio information of stations and along the bus trip making them accessible to hearing / sight impaired people; (ii) Equipping new line buses in Tirana with ramps, adding ramps on existing buses and training public transport staff to assist, access and create conditions for people with disabilities to use public transport; (iii) improving the infrastructure in the bus stations of urban lines in Tirana to create access for people with disabilities.

20 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy A photo exhibition event was organized by the young volunteers of the project in order to portray the conditions of public transportation. During the event a public debate took place where young people, local NGOs and activists addressed these issues to the representatives of the municipality of Tirana.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 21 Type: Organization Qëndresa Implementation period: 01-04-2020 - 28-02-2021 Qytetare Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: QytetarIN

BACKGROUND

The municipal council of Tirana has fallen short regarding full implementation of Law 146/2014 “On notification and public consultation.” Notifications by the council on public consultations hadnot been updated since 2017 in the webpage of the municipality. After 6 months of having been elected, none of the decisions of the council had been published. Information on the Council meetings held were also missing in the website. Due to the political configuration of the council after the last local elections, the risk is that the participation of citizens in decision-making will be even scarcer. On the other hand, the implementation of different instruments for citizen participation foreseen by Law like citizen initiatives, petitions and complains, are rarely used. The organization Civic Resistance applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania in order to monitor the activity of the council and to ensure that decision- making is more oriented towards the needs of citizens.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to ensure that decision making by the local council is dictated by the opinion and initiatives of engaged citizens for better local governance.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Citizens exercise their right to submit petitions to the local Council, generating positive responses. Qëndresa Qytetare established a good practice on the right to submit petitions to the Municipal Council of Tirana, with 5 petitions signed by citizens, residents of the capital. This has increased the participation of about 1,299 citizens in the decision- making of the Municipal Council. The Council and the Municipality of Tirana reacted officially and through concrete actions to the petitions and requests addressed by the Civic Resistance as follows: 1) The Council responded to the petition of 239 residents of the village of Kakunjë who requested the asphalting of the road and the return of public transport with project proposals to be approved by the Council. 2) The Municipality responded to a petition submitted by 5,400 students, requesting the Council to cancel dormitory fees, as from March 9, 2020 students were not using them due to the pandemic situation. The Municipality reacted by proposing to return the money to the students or its use for accommodation for the academic year 2020 - 2021. 3) The Municipality responded to a petition addressed to the Council on the cleaning of inert and urban waste in the area of the “former Polygraph”, stating that the Directorate of Urban Cleaning and Waste, in cooperation with the cleaning operator, took all measures for the cleaning of urban waste in these road segments. 4) The Council responded to the request for information of the Civic Resistance to receive all copies of the decisions of the Council to upload to the platform QytetarIN. 5) The Council responded to a petition sent to increase the accessibility of persons with disabilities in stations and buses, stating that 13 of the 15 city lines are equipped with ramps and work for computerization of stations has started. In addition to the petitions, Civic Resistance produced 2 monitoring reports of the Council. The reports were published in several media and included the content of the Council decisions, the reactions of the citizens on these decisions and the media coverage of the situation. Part of the monitoring was also the measurement of civic perception on the transparency and decision-making of the Municipal Council through a questionnaire with 1600 citizens surveyed.

22 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Institute for Type: Organization Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 31-05-2021 consulting, marketing Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana and management (IMMC)

Name of the project: Zero Waste

BACKGROUND

The current legal framework “On Integrated Waste Management” has been adopted since 2011, based entirely on EU directives. However, the implementation of this law is totally unrealized. Environmental, climate change, and waste management problems remain among the major current concerns globally at a time when ocean plastic pollution, significant increases in greenhouse gas levels, and the intensification of natural disasters are already undeniable facts. In order to incentivize the first steps for the implementation of preventive measures such as education, community and capacity building to improve waste management practices in the municipality of Tirana, and raising awareness of youth, the Institute for consulting, marketing and management (ICMM) applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to improve waste management practices in the Municipality of Tirana, raising the level of awareness among the younger generations in terms of environmental, economic, and legal education.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered and mobilized youth contribute to improve waste management practices and possess more awareness on environmental protection and climate change topics

The ICMM started by establishing ecological groups and increase awareness and education on responsible consumption within students from different high schools of Tirana. These youngsters were trained on advocacy techniques to increase accountability of public authorities (social capital). In order to increase the media space dedicated to the problem of waste management, and consequently raising general awareness, the ICMM also supported youth to take part of traditional and social media appearances presenting their viewpoints and proposing solutions. Media presentation and different events organized with a high impact, empowered high school students as climate agents. The IMCC also coordinated the implementation of pilot projects on the separation of waste at the source, in order not only to educate about recycling practices, but also the importance and functions of all actors of an integrated system. The organization prepared a climate educative module for high schools in Albania, as well as guidelines for the implementation of this step-by-step training. The last activity was a role play game with the students of the school to educate them on the concept of circular economy s, the factors that influence decision-making in the field of waste management, and the positioning and behaviour of different actors. This game aims to improve debating skills and research abilities. This module was created by Learning United Cities and Local Governments, organized in Barcelona Spain and suitable for the implementation of the Zero Waste project.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 23 Type: Informal group Hapësira Implementation period: 02-03-2020 - 31-03-2021 Kulturore UZINA Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: Creative spaces

BACKGROUND

Tirana is abundant in cafes and bars, but has a lack of alternative spaces where youth (but not only) can gather and hang out without having to pay for a drink. The Cultural Space UZINA was inspired by the idea of offering a space that satisfied community needs, starting from the need to belong, and the need to have a collective identity. Inspired by the work done by groups from the region, volunteers worked during the summer of 2018 to reconstruct what was once a tractor factory in the zone of Shkozë in Tirana. The reconstruction of the space was an important push for the local community and, based on the idea of further bringing social change, the Group “Cultural Space UZINA” applied to Call for Applications No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To provide alternative spaces where young people can meet and develop creative skills and leadership, as well as to raise awareness regarding the importance and sustainability of these spaces.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

An empowered group of volunteers driving social change in a marginalized urban community. Due to different circumstances, including the earthquake and COVID-19, the UZINA space was less and less frequented and eventually vandalized. The group of UZINA volunteers found themselves in a situation in which they had to continue their activities in a different location. This by no means meant giving up on the original idea. The project Creative Spaces took place in the same neighbourhood. UZINA remained dedicated to further strengthen the connection with the community in that area and their activities there have continued, even after the end of the support from LevizAlbania. UZINA volunteers organized a Summer Camp at the Cultural Space for children of the community, providing them with the opportunity to participate in activities like gardening, art, cooking, sports, woodwork, etc. They also organized a joint voluntary action with the community to clean and improve the common environment in the yard of the Shkozë social housing. The activity included the construction of garbage bins, planting flowers and trees, building plots, and building benches. The core activity was the implementation of a creativity program that is helping about 40 children develop personal and interpersonal skills through art, environmental activism and sports. Twice a week, Uzina volunteers spend a few hours with children from this community to develop different activities. .

“The support of LevizAlbania has helped to empower us as a group, as a collective, because it was the first time that we had some sort of stability, not only financial but also in terms of further exposure that allowed us to partner with other actors” Erika Haxhi, volunteer, Cultural Space UZINA

24 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Lëvizja Rinore Implementation period: 01-05-2020 30-04-2021 Implementation area: Municipalities of Tirana Egjiptiane Rome and Elbasan

Name of the project: Civic activism and involvement of homeless families in local decision-making

BACKGROUND

According to the study conducted by UNDP “Social Housing in Albania”, the number of homeless people registered as such with the Local Self-Government Units is 31,994, out of which 18,661 persons belong to vulnerable groups. The most vulnerable categories with the largest number of applications for social housing are beneficiaries of economic assistance, female-headed households, young couples, and people with disabilities. According to data provided by official sources, the number of homeless families in the Municipality of Elbasan is 509 while in the Municipality of Tirana it is 5880. Law No. 22/2018 “On social housing” specifies the responsibility of municipalities to undertake housing programs for the population in their jurisdiction, based on the analysis of the needs for social housing. The organization Roma and Egyptian Youth Movement applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania with the objective to undertake an initiative to encourage the two of the municipalities with the highest needs for social housing to design a housing program that takes into consideration the needs and opinions of citizens without access to housing.

PROJECT GOAL

To involve homeless families in decision-making processes at the local level in order to design social housing policies as needed.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Homeless families involved in the advocacy process for local housing programs. Around 73 homeless families in Elbasan and Tirana were, informed, involved and consequently mobilized in the advocacy efforts with the municipalities on the need and importance of designing a 5-year housing program. The project has conducted a housing need analysis, which has been validated in meetings with the community, representatives of Municipal Councils, representatives of the Housing Directorate at MFE and projects supported by other donors, OSCE and UNDP. This comprehensive document was followed with ongoing efforts also through; meetings between the community members and representatives of the municipal councils, realization of two petitions (one for each of the targeted municipalities) with the commitment of the community to seek approval of the 5-year housing program and a budget analysis for the municipalities of Elbasan and Tirana for 2021 aiming for evidence advocacy campaign. As a result of this intervention, work for the design of the 5-year housing program has started since November, 2020, the 1st draft of this program has gone through an intensive consultation process and is expected to be finalized by the end of 2021.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 25 Type: Organization New Bridges Implementation period: 01-05-2020 30-04-2021 Berat Implementation area: Municipality of Berat

Name of the project: To listen and work with citizens

BACKGROUND

In the municipality of Berat, just as in many others in Albania there is a low involvement of citizens in setting priorities, influencing local decision-making, and holding accountable the local government. Some of the main causes of this situation include a low level of awareness. Citizens, especially those from the Administrative Units, do not have the information, knowledge, awareness needed to participate in these processes. In addition, there are few opportunities to mobilize citizens in concrete initiatives that enable participation in local discussion and decision-making and the inclusion of their suggestions in the municipal plans and relevant budgets. Consequently, the investments and services provided by the municipality of Berat are not always undertaken in accordance with the needs of the citizens. The organization New Bridges applied to Call of 6 of LevizAlbania adapting the model of the successful case of “Escucha Madrid” – Listen Madrid-, a project in which the municipality and citizens collaborate together in community development and the solution to local issues.

PROJECT GOAL

To increase the involvement of citizens in improving the quality of local government through orientation based on demand / needs generated by the community, through competitive identification of groups.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized citizens in concrete initiatives participate in local discussion and decision-making and the inclusion of their suggestions in the Municipal Plans and budget. Through capacity building, direct collaboration and awareness raising campaign of 39 citizens mainly from the peripheral areas of the Municipality of Berat were empowered to participate qualitatively in the discussion and decision-making on local issues, to be a leader in the community and directly involved in the identification process and addressing the problems of their communities. Furthermore 9 project fishes were developed by the citizens themselves. The project ideas followed by a wide information campaign in social media, were voted by the community, leading to 3 best selected ones (one representing each administrative unit) which were later presented to 8 municipal council members and 3 representatives from the municipality including the Deputy Mayor. Through this interesting model of citizens engagement and collaboration between municipality and community members, two project proposals received an official public promise by the municipality to be part of the 2022 budget, respectively the reconstruction of 4 secondary streets in Otllak and rehabilitation of the Palace of Culture in Lapardha and its transformation into a Multifunctional Center,

26 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Woman Implementation period: 01-03-2020 - 31-01-2021 Implementation area: Municipalities of Skrapar Vision and Poliçan

Name of the project: With women for livestock

BACKGROUND

Livestock has an important impact on local economic activity, particularly in rural areas of small municipalities like Skrapar and Poliçan. Throughout its work with the community in these areas, the organization Woman Vision has verified in the field how this activity is actually mostly done by women. They milk the animals, they keep the stalls clean, they produce cheese and butter, they process meat, they wash and spin the wool… And they also sell their products, in addition to caring for their homes and children. Having these women in mind, Woman Vision applied to Call for Applications No.6 of LevizAlbania in order to bring their most pressing needs to the local governments’ attention.

PROJECT GOAL

To mobilize women in livestock to encourage local elected officials to make possible the construction of public markets for local products.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Almost 100 women mobilized to request action from their local government. A petition was sent to the Municipal Councils of Skrapar and Poliçan requesting the establishment of modern and accessible public markets dedicated to the trade of livestock products as well as the provision by the municipality of specialized supervisory staff to guarantee the quality of product marketing and food safety for consumers. As part of its advocacy, Woman Vision produced several videos with the intention to portray the lives and needs of women in livestock and increase the base of support for the petition. In addition, a televised debate was held with the participation of local interviews with women and the presence of a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture. Both mayors have publicly promised to address the petition.

“I milk my cow 2 times a day, once in the morning and once at night. It produces 14 litres of milk every time it is milked. With the milk, I make white cheese, yogurt, butter, cottage cheese and I sell them in Çorovodë. Part of what I produce is also for family consumption.” K.M., woman inhabitant of the village Vërzhezhë, municipality of Skrapar.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 27 Type: Organization Institute for Implementation period: 02-03-2020 - 31-12-2020 Policy and Legal Implementation area: Municipality of Lushnje Studies (IPLS)

Name of the project: Services for citizens with citizens - the case of Lushnja municipality

BACKGROUND

Being a consolidated Tirana-based organization, the Institute for Policy and Legal Studies (ISPL) aimed to provide a concrete contribution for a better implementation of existing mechanisms and processes for citizen participation in decision-making process at the local level. In partnership with the local organization Free Thought and Initiatives (MIL), ISPL applied to Call for Applications No. 6.

PROJECT GOAL

To create a good practice through the effective citizen activation to include the needs and voice of community in the budgetary process for a group of services offered by the municipality of Lushnje: physical infrastructure of para-University school system, environment and cleaning, social services, and others.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Local civil society influenced the local budgetary process by including community priorities. ISPL achieved that five proposals from local organizations and activists were accepted officially by the municipality of Lushnje. The proposals were: 1) Reconstruction of middle-school “Jani Nushi”; 2) Intervention to increase capacity and improve the conditions of two kindergartens; 3) Maintenance of the Centre for Development Lushnje to support people with all types of disabilities and not only autism spectrum; 4) Closure of the waste collection point in the city of Lushnje and its turn it into a park; 5) Investment in Water and Sewage company to enable a 20-24 hour daily water supply in the city of Lushnje. These results were achieved through: Capacitating 13 local organizations and activists on advocacy; An awareness raising and advocacy campaign through open calls for the identification of needs and proposals through social media, surveys, and direct contact with local officials both in the Municipality and in the Local Council; A detailed analytical report for the budgetary processes of years 2019 and 2020 to enable local organizations and activists involved in the project to monitor the local budgets and articulate different issues.

“I would of course take part in the public consultations organized by the municipality of Lushnje because this is one of the ways in which I can get first- hand information on what is planned for my school with the 2021 budget. It is also my only chance to tell them what I think they should take into account with priority.” Megi, student at Jani Nushi middle-school, Lushnje.

28 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Sustaining Implementation period: 02-03-2020 - 01-03-2021 Inclusive Growth Implementation area: Municipality of Pogradec – SIG Foundation

Name of the project: Empowerment of youth in local decision-making

BACKGROUND

Young people, especially those living in medium and small municipalities in Albania face a context of emigration, lack of education opportunities in their places of origin, unemployment, difficult economic situation, and few social, artistic and cultural alternatives. In addition, the majority of young people do not get involved in local decision-making processes. Particularly in the municipality of Pogradec, the opinions, observations and preliminary interviews held by Sustaining Inclusive Growth Foundation (SIG) with youth indicated that the local government prioritized public services for the community as a whole, leaving aside specific services for youth, capacity building of young people, promotion of employment programs, etc. Having the adequate access to students from different high schools in the municipality of Pogradec, SIG applied to Call for Applications No. 6 of Leviz Albania with the overall aim of promoting youth activism.

PROJECT GOAL To empower young people to be promoters of change in local decision-making, through inclusion, activism and volunteerism.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered and engaged youth have a concrete impact on local decision- making in favour of young people. Around 70 youngsters engaged in the project were trained and played an active role by being part of the editorial team of the newspaper “Open Letter”. The engaged youth are from different areas of Pogradec, urban and rural and range from 15 to 25 years old. Besides producing 7 monthly editions of “Open Letter”, these youngsters undertook different initiatives to take part in volunteering activities, monitor and report on different local issues in their newspaper. As a result of their activities, local institutions have been kept accountable: For example, within their monitoring of Local Council meetings they have made sure that these meetings were publicly announced within the legal deadline and completion of the quorum, they enabled the necessary space for the monitoring of the meetings (physically and online, Zoom access), and they participated in different discussions for the allocation of a Youth Fund, the employment of a new youth specialist at the municipality, and requested to receive direct information on the distribution of funds and proposed a possible restructuring of the youth municipal directorate. Furthermore, in coordination with the regional coordinator of the project “Strong Municipalities”, a petition with 51 signatures was submitted to the Local Council to request the establishment and functioning of the Youth Empowerment Programme taking the form of a youth centre.

“The newspaper Open Letter served Pogradec youth to gain exposure and experience. By monitoring the meetings of the local council, we got informed on decision making and got in contact with the persons that make decisions that impact the life in our city. We managed to be taken into account by them.” Elia Meci, Coordinator of Pogradec Youth Council and part of the editorial staff of “Open Letter” newspaper.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 29 Type: Organization Nisma Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 30-05-2021 Luleve Implementation area: Municipality of Saranda

Name of the project: Cleaning the subsoil of the Ionian Sea

BACKGROUND

The Flowers’ Initiative is a civic movement aimed at promoting civic activism and collective responsibility for public life. It was created in October 2018 by a group of young people from the city of Saranda, initially called “Donate a Flower for Saranda” Their initial idea was to engage ordinary citizens in the increase of green public spaces. The idea was massively supported within a few months where through civic activism about 500 Bougainvillea flowers and hundreds of other ornamental trees were planted. Following this first success, the Flowers Initiative launched in October 2019 different voluntary actions for cleaning the Ionian Sea. The activities resulted in hundreds of car tires, tens of thousands of bottles, plastic cans and cans at the bottom of the sea. This pollution is of great danger for the fauna and underwater flora, as well as the health of the citizens. The Flowers Initiative applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania to further continue these efforts and address the need to create a structure at the local level for coastal care in terms of cleaning and maintenance.

PROJECT GOAL

To exert pressure on the local government to create structures for the cleaning and maintenance of coastal areas through increasing awareness and engagement of citizens.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Engaged citizens act and raise awareness, exerting pressure on local government to clean and maintain coastal areas. Through 10 diving activities to clean up the subsoil of the Ionian, the Flowers’ Initiative raised the awareness of 134,000 inhabitants of Saranda regarding the level of pollution of the Ionian Sea and their commitment to its cleaning. During these diving sessions people from the Saranda and tourist joint the team to contribute to clean the subsoil of the sea. In 10 diving sessions more than 1284 tires, 3600 plastic bottles were removed from the sea in different beaches in Saranda. Many well-known people participated in these activities to demonstrate their solidarity to this actions, such as the US ambassador etc. The initiative achieved to engage students of the city in the maintenance of the Ionian Sea and the creation of a model to be followed in the long run by all future generations in terms of care for the Coastline. A photo exhibition with the diving actions and cleaning up the beaches of Saranda was also organized in order to raise awareness with tourists and inhabitants of Saranda. The municipality of Saranda recognized the importance of the actions. As a result, two proposals were presented one to the Municipality of Saranda to prevent the pollution and take concrete actions and the other proposal to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to established appropriate special corps for diving in function to the cleaning of the subsoil of the sea.

30 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization SME Implementation period: 01-04-2020 28-02-2021 Implementation area: Municipality of Gjirokastër, Albania Fier and Kukës

Name of the project: Engaging small enterprises in monitoring and transparency of municipalities

BACKGROUND

Municipalities have key competencies in the area of local economic development. Small and medium businesses, being an important factor in local development, have overall little information on these competencies and consequently are disorganized to influence or shape policies on local economic development. SME Albania organization applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania aiming to monitor and increase the transparency of the municipality for the role and competencies they have in terms of local economic development through entrepreneurship, engaging the latter through various, innovative methods.

PROJECT GOAL

To monitor the policies undertaken for local economic development in the municipalities of Gjirokastër, Fier and Kukës, engaging small and medium enterprises in the accountability process.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Engaged small medium enterprises for more accountability and transparency in the services and support provided by local government

Through the direct involvement of 60 SMEs combined with evidence based advocacy efforts, municipality of Gjirokastër and Fier have initiated the establishment of the Local Economic Development Council through the signing of a cooperation agreement with SME Albania. The Economic Council will be engaged in the implementation of obligations to support SMEs, recommendations for local economic development and the establishment of communication bridges between local authorities and small and medium businesses to better convey their problems and requirements. Furthermore the establishment of communication bridges between local authorities and representatives of medium and small business and the development of a final study, analysis and recommendations for the municipalities of Gjirokastër, Kukës and Fier on the ways of engaging small enterprises for more accountability and transparency in the services and support provided, positively affects the creation of a clear framework of interventions needed and for the future to be replicated in other municipalities.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 31 Type: Organization Agenda Implementation period: 02-03-2020 28-02-2021 Institute Implementation area: National project

Name of the project: Extension online platform for civic participation buxhetimi.al in 61 municipalities

BACKGROUND

Taking into account the need to further increase participation and influence of the citizens in the drafting of the municipal budget, Agenda Institute has conceived the platform www.buxhetim.al. This platform enables citizens to select their own priorities for the budget of the municipality where they live. Agenda Institute applied to Call No. 6 of Leviz with the idea to extend the platform www. buxhetim.al to all of the 61 municipalities in Albania. This platform was developed initially as a result of the project “Active participation of citizens in drafting the budget of the municipalities of Durrës, Elbasan and Korçë” and later extended though the project “Extension of the platform buxhetim.al in 23 municipalities of the country”, both supported by Leviz Albania.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to increase the participation of citizens in the drafting of the municipal budget through the platform buxhetim.al

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Increased the participation of citizens in the drafting of the municipal budget Through a nationwide information campaign, training and close collaboration with local partners (organizations and informal groups) 55,908 citizens made use of the platform buxhetimi.al to express their priorities in the budget for 2021. The data collected from the application have been processed and analysed, producing the results on the preferences of the citizens and translated in 61 reports with findings in all municipalities, for each municipal council before discussions and approval of the local budget for 2021. After sending reports to 61 municipalities and municipal councils, there was confirmation / response from 55 of them. Local authorities expressed readiness to address as far as possible the priorities expressed by citizens according to the relevant report. From the monitoring done afterwards (form local partners), after the approval of the final budgets, 33% of citizen’s priorities were included in the 2021 budgets. The platform is a good instrument of “digital democracy” that has proven to be an innovative model to increase the direct influence of citizens in decision making processes that can be replicated beyond the budget planning and prioritization.

32 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Direction 2: Promoting transparent & accountable local governments

LevizAlbania increased civic pressure for local accountability and transparency to allow local governments to respond and act with more transparency and accountability towards its citizens.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 33 Type: Organization Europartners Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 30-05-2021 Development Implementation area: 10 municipalities

Name of the project: Citizen, understand your municipality’s budget!

BACKGROUND

The regulatory framework in Albania strongly supports and provides for significant room for citizens and civil society to exercise their right to participate in decision-making processes. Municipalities have a legal obligation to hold budget consultation meetings as well as to publish annual budget forecasts on their official website. The last years have seen a good progress in ensuring more transparency of local governments. However, it is worth noting that there is still shortcomings and challenges in terms of ensuring full transparency, particularly regarding budgetary decisions. Even when the information on local budgets are public, not every citizen who can access them can fully understand and use this information to make proposals, monitor governmental action and request the addressing of different local issues. The organization Europartners Development decided to apply to Call No. 6 of Leviz Albania to turn the 2021 budgets in 10 municipalities from a document with a technical language into a simple and understandable document for the citizens.

PROJECT GOAL

To use innovative tools that enable citizen information, increasing transparency on the distribution of municipal budget lines for local investments and priorities.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Transparent and accessible budgets for citizens in 10 municipalities. Europartners development held20 meetings with Working Groups in 10 Municipalities to inform them about the initiative and the establishment of joint working groups with participants from municipal staff. During the meetings it was discussed about the situation in the budget directorates in these Municipalities and they were asked to submit different documents related to planning and budgeting in order to conduct the analysis. The organization conducted an evaluation of 10 municipalities on the current situation regarding participatory budgeting. The evaluation was done in each of the municipalities following a methodology which is based on the number of citizen participation in previous years’ budget consultations, compliance with the criteria for notification and publication of public consultations and citizen information mechanisms for budget priorities. After the evaluation, Europartners Development conducted a thorough review of the 2021 budgets for all 10 municipalities 10 citizen budgets were prepared, enabling citizens to obtain information in a simple and synthetized way. In the design of these citizen budgets Europartners Development maintained a close communications with municipal staff on setting priorities, content and format of factsheets. Ten animated videos are currently in the process of preparation. This will be narrative videos, based on the budget of 10 municipalities for 2021, priorities, items allocated to investments of each municipality.

34 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Qendra Implementation period: 01-04-2020 - 31-03-2021 Konsumatori Implementation area: National project Shqiptar

Name of the project: Local Consumer Index

BACKGROUND

Every citizen is also a consumer; hence consumer protection is an important responsibility of governments. Law 9902/2008 “On consumer protection”, amended in 2018, stipulates that municipalities should establish Consumer Protection Offices. In addition, local self-government legislation has defined about 50 functions for municipalities, which translate into more than 150 services for citizens. Even though citizens are consumers of these services and municipalities have competencies in consumer protection, most municipalities in Albania have not set up offices for consumer protection. The Albanian Consumer Centre decided to apply to Call for Applications No. 6 of Leviz Albania in order to provide a contribution towards the solution of this problem.

PROJECT GOAL

To support citizens and increase civic pressure for the implementation of consumer protection policies and legislation at the local level to achieve a better quality of life for all citizens.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized consumers influenced decisions of local governments, keeping them more accountable with respect to their legal obligations in consumer protection. Led by the Albanian Consumer Centre members of the community requested the opening of Offices for Consumer Protection in9 municipalities. The Municipality of Kukës, Peqin, Rrogozhinë, Gramsh, and Vau Dejës addressed this request and opened local Offices for Consumer Protection in response. The process to mobilize the community included information, trainings, consultation, coordination meetings, with representatives of civil society, journalists, and consumers in different municipalities as well as direct support to concrete cases in which consumer rights were violated by local public service providers. The Albanian Consumer Centre also analysed and documented the state of consumer protection in each municipality through the “Local Consumer Index” which measures the level of consumer protection in each municipality based on a rigorous fact- based methodology.

“For me it is very positive that you came today to my city to listen to my concerns as a consumer. There are many consumer rights violations happening and I did not know where and how to complain. With the opening of the Office for Consumer Protection I can now go to the Municipality and meet the specialist who will register my complaint and refer it to the competent authority. Now I know they have to follow up with the process until my complaint is addressed.” B.K., participant in a community meeting in Kukës.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 35 Type: Organization Qendra Media Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 28-02-2021 dhe Çështjet Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana Shoqërore

Name of the project: Youth, the best opposition for Tirana

BACKGROUND

The local council of Tirana lacks a strong opposition in its configuration and this affects the possibilities of having different voices that may bring in debate regarding decision-making. On the other hand, the council of Tirana has different short-comings regarding the transparency of the council activity and decisions. The Media and Social Affairs Centre applied to Call No 6 of Leviz Albania with the idea of establishing a youth groups that could play an “opposition” role and request further transparency and accountability of the council who can channel the citizens’ voices directly to decision-makers.

PROJECT GOAL

To establish a youth opposition that exerts pressure for further transparency and accountability in the council.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Empowered youth faces local governments and requests solutions to different community issues. 50 youngsters voted to represent their community from 11 suburban administrative units of Tirana (Ndroqi, Vaqarri, Kashari, Krraba, Farka, unit 13, unit 14, Baldushku, Dajti, unit no. 1 and no. 4), were able to identify issues pertaining their neighbourhoods, and actively present and discuss them in 5 face to face meeting with the Mayor of Tirana. The young people, based on a list of problems that were also evidenced by short videos with images asked the Mayor for transparency and accountability, for the missing investments in these areas. Lack of drinking water, a sports field, lack of some schools reconstruction and public kindergartens as well as health centres in the vicinity of these administrative units, were just some of the concerns of young people. The meetings, constructive discussions and public pledge by the Mayor were documented through videos as an alternative way to increase public pressure, if not prioritized in the 2022 budget for the municipality.

36 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Citizen’s Implementation period: 02-03-2020 31-12-2020 Channel Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: Citizens Urban Stories

BACKGROUND

In the last years Tirana has been undergoing an aggressive wave of constructions and alienations of buildings. Even the villas declared cultural monuments have not escaped. Currently the city lacks a plan for the classification and preservation of historic buildings, transparency is low, many buildings emerge from the status of “immovable cultural monument” and others, which are part of the urban landscape of the capital, are disappearing with partial plans, affecting the historical identity of the city. Citizens Channel applied to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania with the idea “Citizens Urban Stories” which aims to create a common communication channel to increase pressure on local government on two issues: the alienation of historic buildings in Tirana and the lack of transparency in decision-making affecting the historic identity of the city.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to increase transparency on local government decision-making for the alienation of cultural monuments in Tirana, strengthening the accountability process through journalistic, citizen and architecture expert reporting.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Increased awareness and transparency on the alienation of cultural monuments Buildings and structures in danger of being affected by new constructions in the capital were identified and mapped. The buildings were marked with a stamp which contains a barcode through which visitors, passers-by can get detailed information about the building, its history. A website dedicated to the project was built with fully updated information. The organization conducted a first tour based on a guide for the targeted areas. The buildings that are in danger of disappearing from the progress of the constructions were identified through digital traces. The organization presented the project with the target groups. A report with findings on the situation and condition of the villas targeted in the project was also produced. A call for investigative articles on the issue of endangered cultural monuments was also published within the project. The Citizens Urban Stories project attracted the attention of local and international media. The magazine of the Henrich Boll Foundation in Berlin published an article which talks in detail about the citizen urban stories project. Experts engaged in the project spoke about the initiative on the Swiss Radio Television. A radio report was published in the French media Liberation. Different national media also covered the issue widely. An Open lecture at Polis University presented the platform and research report.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 37 Type: Organization ABC Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 28-02-2021 Tirana Club Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: The library of my neighbourhood

BACKGROUND

A considerable part of the public local neighbourhood libraries in Tirana do not fully meet the needs of its users and are not attractive for new users in terms of their facilities, bibliographic supply, online service, etc. ABC Tirana Club applied to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania with the idea of monitoring the supply and performance of neighbourhood libraries in Tirana.

PROJECT GOAL

To offer more transparency to the public through monitoring and analytical review of the current supply and performance of libraries, encouraging decision-makers to increase the budget and attention for the network of local neighbourhood libraries.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Increased accountability in the supply and performance of libraries, encouraging decision-makers to increase the budget and attention for the network of local neighbourhood libraries The group of youngsters mobilized their efforts to conduct a survey with 1100 citizens, mostly attendees of public libraries in the capital on their opinions and assessments on the situation, services, and effectiveness the public libraries. The findings of the survey were further presented and discussed in meetings with the community, students, library staff, field experts, NGO representatives and journalists. The need for new libraries in Tirana (no new one has been built for more than 30 years), as well as the necessity of modernization (digitalization) of existing libraries - were two of the main problems that pertained the most throughout this meetings. Based on these findings an independent monitoring and analytical study on the current state of the network of public libraries in the capital was developed. The document also provides solutions and concrete proposals for improving the situation. The publication of the study was followed with an intensive information and public awareness campaign which also portrayed in different outlet media channels. Efforts by the youngsters continued by communicating with the Municipality in two main forms: sending officially the where are the main findings of the project and sending formal requests, as well as a personalized “appeal” letter all members of the Municipal Council, where they were asked to take responsibility for voting in favour of increasing funding for public libraries in the city in both the 2021 budget and the medium-term budget program (2021-2023). The answer where the commitment of the local elected is generally expressed. An official meeting was held with the Deputy Mayor for Tirana, where he was asked for concrete info on what plans the Municipality has for 2021, to improve the condition of public libraries and a public promise was received in front of the youth, for the budget of some of the libraries for 2021, a part of this budget is set for 2021.

38 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Shoqata “Lëvizja Implementation period: 01-05-2020 - 30-05-2021 për Zhvillimin e Implementation area: Municipality of Saranda Turizmit Ksamil”

Name of the project: Clean Ksamil, no trash

BACKGROUND

Ksamil, located in the municipality of Saranda, is a prominent tourist destination in Albania which attracts considerable waves of tourists every summer season and is also considered one of the best destinations by foreign vacationers in Albania. This idea came as an urgent need to improve the situation on the beaches and the territory of Ksamil regarding waste management. Lack of proper management of waste by responsible institutions and the irresponsibility of locals and tourists when disposing of waste have created a negative impact on the environment, affecting ecosystems and tourism. With the idea of changing this situation, the Ksamil Tourism Development Movement Association applied to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to a cleaner Ksamil by reducing the amount of pollution and by monitoring the institutions responsible for cleaning and community, increasing awareness to change the approach to the phenomenon of waste.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Increased accountability on waste management engaging community and youth. The project started with the evaluation of the waste collection service in Ksamil. The youngsters and the staff organized a schedule based on the contract between the Municipality and service provider. As a result of the evaluation, there were different issues with this service in timing and quality. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Municipality, the Service Provider and the Organization has been signed in order to inform each other for this service. During the implementation of the project 3 cleaning session have been realized by the staff and 100 young people of this area in order to contribute to the tourism season and to raise awareness. In order to have a more tangible result to address the issue of waste management in this area a Ranger has been appoint by the organization with the aim this professional category will be included in the Municipality staff next year. In addition an online App to address online with picture any issue relevant with for the pollution will be developed.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 39 Direction 3: Community Action Initiatives

LevizAlbania targeted active citizens in neighbourhoods or villages demanding the local government to address concrete issues in these communities. LevizAlbania directly worked with communities sharing a cause of concern and provided assistance enabling them to shape and achieve change.

40 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Individual Livia Kreko Implementation period: 01.04.2020 - 18.10.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Durrës

Name of the project: Safe cities for women and girls

BACKGROUND

Livia is a young activist from Durrës who has had remarkable achievements since a young age. With Master Studies in Public Relations, she has been involved in several projects focused on youth, women, capacity building, and environmental protection. Growing up in an urban area in Durrës, she experienced first-hand different unpleasant situations involving whistles, shouts, and other comments when walking back home from high-school in the dark streets surrounding her neighbourhood. She decided to apply to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania to ensure women and girls can feel safer in her city.

PROJECT GOAL

To improve the lighting system in neighbourhood no. 12 and no. 16 in Durrës, turning them into safer public spaces for the community and mainly for girls and women.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

An empowered community achieved to incite a response from their municipality to light –up the streets and make them safer. Livia worked informing and raising awareness of the community of both genders regarding the particular needs of girls and women and the problems they face on everyday basis with sexual harassment and crime due to lack of public street lighting. Through videos and community meetings, she managed to raise the support of neighbours of the area to sign a petition requesting the municipality of Durrës to set up lightning in the streets “Mujo Ulqinaku”, “Abaz Çelkupa” and “Hysen Kertusha” in the area around the Durrës stadium. The petition was signed by 300 inhabitants and the municipality addressed it in response. On December 2020, the Municipality of Durrës intervened in Mujo Ulqinako Street, replacing the old lamps with LED lamps, in the entire road segment. In the same month the adoption of the 2021-2023 budget includes investments in both road crossing Stadium area and neighbourhood No.12 and No.16 respectively, “Hysen Kertusha” and “Abaz Çelkupa “. Now the neighbourhoods in the area are safer because everyone can walk at night through those streets without fear.

“I am now standing in a segment of street Mujo Ulqinaku, very near to three high schools of Durrës city. This street was not lit, but in collaboration with community through my initiative and thanks to the continuous requests sent to the municipality and the local council, now the street is lit.” Livia Kreko, activist

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 41 Type: Individual Lusjen Koci Implementation period: 01.04.2020 -16.10.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Durrës

Name of the project: Street art and activism

BACKGROUND

Lusjen is a teacher and activist from the city of Durrës with a solid formation in Arts. He has worked with youth for several years, not only as a teacher but also through his involvement in several projects aimed to mobilize and mentor youngsters to bring change to their communities. Lusjen regrets that during the last 30 years his city was transformed by disordered urban growth, building construction, changing its identity linked to its ancient history. The earthquake in November 2019 evidenced even more the damage done to the city of Durrës. Lusjen came up with an idea based on the belief that more colour could change something deep inside the perceptions of the city’s inhabitants and visitors. Art is a powerful communication channel and activism through art is a way revitalize hope and the critical thinking of young people. With this in mind, he decided to apply to Call for Applications No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To promote youth activism through Street Art for the return of public spaces in recreational areas for the citizens of Durrës.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Enhanced youth activism and revitalization of public spaces through murals in 2 neighbourhoods. In order to encourage youngsters to be active and critical of the situation created in the city by disordered construction and on the importance of urban spaces, Lusjen held open lectures with students of 3 high schools. Students were invited to be part of an open competition “Critical thinking through visual art”. All the works were exposed in an exhibition. 3 winning ideas were selected with the potential to become a mural. In parallel Lusjen directed to the municipality with an official request for a permit to work on the murals. The municipality accepted the request. Lusjen created the first mural to set the example to the group of youngsters involved. The second mural was painted based on a combination of the three winning pieces worked by the students. Within the project Lusjen also sent an official request to the municipality to consider the idea of “Street Art” and murals in the budget of 2021 as a way to revitalize urban areas after the earthquake.

42 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Informal group Raxhi Rakipi Implementation period: 01.04.2020-04.01.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Elbasan

Name of the project: Investment in neighbourhood 5 Maj Rrapishte by Municipality of Elbasan

BACKGROUND

Raxhi Rakipi is currently undertaking University studies to obtain his degree as a Teacher of Albanian and Roma language. He was born and raised in the Rrapishte neighbourhood in Elbasan which has around 3000 inhabitants. Most of these inhabitants belong to the Roma community. From a very young age, Raxhi became an active member of this community by getting involved in different projects. His neighbourhood lacks asphalting, lighting, greenery and sewage treatment. One of the most urgent issues was a septic pit inside the yard of a family. The sewage of 250 families accumulated in this cesspit. Residents complained because of the sanitary threat it represented and its negative health impacts. In over 14 years this pit had never been cleaned. The manholes in the neighbourhood had not been cleaned either and during the rainy season the yards of some families would get flooded. When Call for Applications No 6 of Leviz Albania was publicized, Raxhi decided to apply with the objective to continue contributing to improve his community.

PROJECT GOAL

To mobilize the community and advocate with the municipality of Elbasan for the design and financing of infrastructure in the neighbourhood 5 Maj Rrapishte.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized and empowered community achieved to incite action by the municipality to improve neighbourhood’s infrastructure.

Through his commitment and the engagement of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, Raxhi managed to bring tangible change to his community. 532 inhabitants in this neighbourhood signed a petition requesting the municipalities’ intervention to address different issues. After a meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Elbasan, it was achieved that the septic pit was cleaned. The Local Council approved the elimination of the cesspit and the construction of a sewage canal. Additionally, the sewage system was cleaned in the entire area by the municipality of Elbasan and Elbasan Water Supply and Sewerage Company. The municipality also reacted by installing 10 street lights.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 43 Type: Individual Pëllumb Gjini Implementation period: 01.04.2020 -15.12.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Librazhd

Name of the project: Natural and cultural resources, community awareness and local democracy

BACKGROUND

Pëllumb Gjini, 63 years old, is a history and geography teacher. The studies in this field and the recognition of nature’s extraordinary value made him dedicate his life to the protection of its magnificent and fragile beauty, endangered by human activity. His connection to the national park of Shebenik - Jablanicë goes way back. In 1992, he became the first mayor of Commune of Stebleve, a position which he held for two consecutive terms, until 2007. After his term ended in 2007, there was a strong turn in the occurrence of the phenomenon of massive and indiscriminate deforestation of the national park. After years of mobilizing the community and advocating for the protection of the park, he decided to apply to Call No 6 Leviz Albania to minimize any risk that endangers the park. And these dangers are now associated with water resources and concrete dams on the outflow of park gravel.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to increase community awareness for the preservation and good management of natural resources and cultural heritage.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Motivated citizen raises awareness and advocates for causes linked to his interests. Pëllumb met with representatives with different interest groups including the Former Associations, Users of Municipal Forests and Pastures and representatives of the administration of the Administrative Units of the municipalities of Librazhd, Përrenjas, and, Bulqizë. Pëllumb also distributed information leaflets. Based on the meetings and on direct information from community in these areas he drafted a proposal to address the issue of destruction of natural and cultural resources in these areas. He sent this Proposal to the relevant local authorities. In addition he compiled an archaeological map of the park Shebenik - Jablanicë, including the identification of historical sites, old roads and other points of interest of natural and cultural heritage. This map and the materials produced were placed in the Natural and Historical Resources Center of Librazhd, which has been visited so far by around 1,450 people. Through his project a promotional video was produced to further raise awareness and inspire others to act in the protection of natural and cultural heritage.

“The park needs life; it needs to be known and loved by everyone. The park has its risks and challenges, which is why I applied to LevizAlbania, to raise my voice again, in order to minimize any risk that endangers the park.” Pëllumb Gjini

44 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Individual Xhenis Kryekurti Implementation period: 01.04.2020 – 15.03.2021 Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: Lobbying, advocacy and awareness raising to increase safety of bicycle lane users

BACKGROUND

Xhenis is a young professional working in a company in the Business Process Outsourcing sector. She goes to work and moves around Tirana on her bicycle. She has experienced first-hand the dangers of riding a bicycle in a city in which bicycle lanes lack minimum standards of security and in which cyclists, pedestrians and vehicle drivers have little awareness and respect for the rules of bicycle lane usage. She decided to apply to Call No. 6 of LevizAlbania in order to increase the safety of bicycle lane users.

PROJECT GOAL

To increase the safety for bicycle users in the capital by raising awareness on the importance to respect lanes and signalling by cyclists, pedestrians and vehicle drivers.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Active citizen generates evidence, raises awareness and advocates for causes linked to her interests.

Xhenis conducted several information campaigns for 1,150 citizens and cyclists in order to inform and raise awareness that bicycle lanes are intended for cyclists and not for pedestrians or motorcycles. In her campaign she also included several sensibilization messages to encourage cyclists to use safety equipment while riding. To advocate for this cause, which in the capital comes at a time when bike lanes are only increasing, Xhenis went even further. In collaboration with the well-known road safety expert Artur Sulçe, she conducted a study and technical report on the current situation of bicycle lanes. This report identifies the main risks of bicycle lanes in Tirana for their users especially in highly transited areas where these lanes intersect with vehicle crossings. Within her initiative Xhenis officially sent the technical report including specific recommendations to the urban planning Directorate of the Municipality of Tirana.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 45 Type: Organization Noljan Lole Implementation period: 01.04.2020 – 26.02.2021 Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana

Name of the project: Hapësira publike për fëmijët për një argëtim të sigurt në komunitet

BACKGROUND

Noljan is a journalist and activist who lives in Tirana. He has previously undertaken different projects with the support of LevizAlbania. Around his neighbourhood he noticed children playing in the street, between parked cars and with little space to ensure safety and fun. These spaces are not designed in the function of citizens, especially for families. He decided to apply to Call No. 6 Leviz Albania to advocate with his local Administrative Unit on the need for more functional public spaces.

PROJECT GOAL

To request to the administrative unit Nr. 2 of the municipality of Tirana for the provision of at least one environment in favour of the children of this community and to encourage them to enable more public spaces for the benefit of the citizens and children of this municipal unit.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Active citizen generates evidence, raises awareness and advocates for cause in the benefit of his community.

Noljan started by evidencing through photographs of the state of public common spaces around his neighbourhood and compiled a comprehensive photo album. These photographs were used for informational products like brochures and flyers which were distributed to the community in order to inform them and raise awareness. He also conducted an informational campaign in the field and online, including videos and articles published in local newspapers and online media. Noljan met the head of the administrative unit and representatives of different institutions to raise his cause and propose one space that could be enabled in his neighbourhood for this purpose. Noljan officialised the advocacy process with a written request.

46 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Individual Spartak Dikellari Implementation period: 01.04.2020 – 31.01.2021 Implementation area: Municipality of Pogradec

Name of the project: Protecting the lake from urban waste pollution

BACKGROUND

Spartak Dikellari is a journalist from Pogradec who has Master Studies in Aquaculture and Fishing Management. Being from Pogradec, his upbringing as his life in this city is very much influenced by the Lake. This lake is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest lakes, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance. Knowing well the Lake, Spartak was aware that 7 small streams flow into the waters of Lake throughout the lake line from Lin-Pogradec-Tushemisht. These streams, in addition to lacking basic infrastructure, are polluted by waste dumped by residents of nearby villages as well as by alluvium that in times of rain end up in the lake, polluting it. This problem is a result of the dumping of waste by the population and the lack of care by the local government to clean it or to make the population aware of not dumping it. Spartak applied to solve this problem in Call for Applications No. 6 of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To propose to the municipality of Pogradec to build in every stream that flows into the lake nets to stop the discharge of waste into the lake.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Community increased awareness and requested their municipality to act, inciting a concrete response.

The municipality of Pogradec made an investment to install the necessary nets to stop the discharge of waste from the streams into the Lake. This was the result of the work done by Spartak to sensitize and raise awareness of the communities in the villages to stop throwing their waste in the streams that flow into the Lake. In 6 villages that did not have bins, they were placed by the municipality, sensitizing the residents not to throw the waste in the river. Spartak managed to gather the support of 66 community members who signed a petition directed to the municipality of Pogradec. Being a journalist was key to achieve media coverage with the potential to draw the attention of local authorities and raise awareness of the overall population on the necessary measures to solve the issue.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 47 Type: Organization Dritan Kurti Implementation period: 01.04.2020- 04.12.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Klos

Name of the project: Community advocacy

BACKGROUND

Dritan Kurti is a journalist from the city of Burrel. Through his work as a journalist, he covers different social issues in his city and in nearby municipalities. While covering a story in the village of Suç in Klos municipality, he realized that people from the village had no choice but to dispose of their waste in the Mat River, due to a deficient waste collection. By talking to the locals, he learned that despite having about 500 inhabitants, Suç had never had any bins where people could deposit waste. He applied to Leviz Albania through Call for Applications No. 6, with the objective to help this community to resolve the waste problem.

PROJECT GOAL

To engage citizens in action to solve the waste problem in the village of Suç in the Municipality of Klos.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Community achieved to incite a response from their municipality, solving waste collection issues. Dritan worked in raising the awareness of the village inhabitants on issues related to the lack of waste collection service and the negative impact of waste on the environment. Members of the community also met municipality representatives to raise the issue. After submitting a petition to the municipality from the 75 inhabitants of the village, not only have rubbish bins been placed but also the waste collection is now conducted periodically. Dritan worked with the local media outlet “Mat TV” to support his awareness raising and advocacy activities.

48 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Behar Dema Implementation period: 01.04.2020 – 18.12.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Dibër

Name of the project: Solving the problem of irrigation water in Maqellarë

BACKGROUND

Behar was born and raised in Maqellarë, and has spent most of his life in this village, which is part of the municipality of Dibër and is located in the north-eastern part of Albania, near the border with North Macedonia. He had previously undertaken a successful initiative with LevizAlbania so Behar felt motivated to apply for a second time and act in the benefit of his community. The lack of investments in the irrigation system in the whole area of Maqellarë has an impact on the economy the farmers and consequently the inhabitants of the area. Four lakes were enabled for irrigation during the years 1975-76 but since then no intervention has been made to maintain them. As a result, two of them are out of order and the other two are operating at reduced capacity. This situation impacts the irrigation of lands, and brings reduced productivity and the consequent abandonment of land cultivation by farmers in the area.

PROJECT GOAL

To improve the irrigation situation for the farmers of Maqellarë, raising the civic voice for this concern.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized farmers got informed and submitted a petition, inciting a response from local government.

Through his initiative Beha held small group meetings with 120 inhabitants from the villages of Maqellarë, Pesjakë, Çernen, Vojnik, Fushë e Vogël, Kovashicë and Grazhdan. During the meetings, through their discussions, the residents pointed out the problems that each of the four lakes has. An advocacy group called “Functional Lakes” was set up composed by 19 residents of the area. They took part in 2 trainings to increase their advocacy skills. In collaboration with a topographic expert, Behar produced a study report “On the assessment and analysis of the condition of the four lakes and the irrigation system in the administrative unit Maqellarë”. This report and the work done with the community were the base to gather support for a petition which was signed by 250 members of this community. The petition was submitted to the municipality of Dibër. Behar made also use of local media to support his cause. Two articles were published in an online portal and two chronicles were broadcasted by local TV. In response, the municipality of Dibër issued an official response committing to conduct the required investments.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 49 Type: Individual Aurora Konomi Implementation period: 01.04.2020 - 04.10.2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Vlora

Name of the project: Changing the environment, educating the community

BACKGROUND

Aurora is a teacher from Vlora who has worked for the last 25 years in a special education school. She has been previously leading initiatives in her neighbourhood with the support of Leviz Albania and this was part of the reason why she decided to apply to Call No. 6 with the aim to continue inciting social change. In region no. 3 of Vlorë city, in which Aurora resides, the areas in between the buildings have been left without adequate maintenance, accumulating waste. The areas had become a source of infection, emitting unpleasant odours and affecting the neighbourhood image. Aurora intended to raise this problem and concern with her fellow citizens who live in the same neighbourhood, cooperating with the community mediator and the neighbourhood community, the Municipality and the region no. 3 to make a rehabilitation of these areas and turn them into green plots with grass and decorative trees.

PROJECT GOAL

To incite community action of groups of citizens lobbying and addressing the problem in the Municipality of Vlora to rehabilitate and maintain areas between the buildings in the neighbourhood Lef Sallata.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Mobilized neighbours address local authorities and request a solution to a community problem.

Aurora contacted five of her neighbours, two men and three women, to form a Community Action group. The group requested to have a meeting with the Public Services Company in charge of Cleaning and Greenery to raise the problem in their neighbourhood with the condition of the areas in between the buildings. After sensitization and awareness meetings with the residents of the neighbourhood and in the framework of cooperation with the Directorate of Public Services in the municipality of Vlora, it was possible to remove the accumulated waste in the problematic areas.

50 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Rapid Response 9 initiatives successfully implemented by empowered civic actors, responding to different emergencies in which a quick reaction was required.

Rapid Response allows the possibility to react swiftly on specific emergent causes of public interest. Leviz Albania has supported 18 different Rapid Response initiatives since 2015. 9 of these were implemented during 2020.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 51 Figure 3. Summary of Rapid Response, 2020

IMPACT ON CIVIC EMERGENCY ISSUE MECHANISMS OUTCOMES SPACE

Increased cause Strengthened resis- visibility tance of community against construction Environmental Networking of hydro power plants ownership & protection Strategic litigation

Empowered civic Community mobiliza- Families with children actors drive social tion and whose homes were change and local action severely damaged by Post-earthquake Collaborative advocacy the earthquake, esponse & legal assistance received an integral solution to their Tailored services situation

Local governments encouraged to take action in the benefit of Tailored services Children with special citizens needs received tele Volunteering & social therapy responsibility Free online counselling Innovation for youth & technology COVID-19 Information in sign Alternative forms of language for the deaf activism & advocacy Promoted solidarity

Families in need supported

52 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Environmental ownership and protection LevizAlbania supported the effort of the Zall-Gjoçaj community to save their park and river by preventing the construction of the “Sekë” and “Zais” hydropower plants, planned to be built by the concessionaire “Seka Hydropower”.

Type: Individual Dhimitër Koleci Implementation period: 01-02-2020 - 31-07-2020 Implementation area: Municipality of Mat

Name of the project: Stop HPPs in Lura-Mali i Dejës National Park!

BACKGROUND

The National Council of Territory issued decision no.16, dated 03.10.2019, granting a construction permit to the company Seka Hydropower, for the construction of HPP Sekë and Zais, in the Uraka River and in Zall i Melthit, part of the national park Lurë-Mali i Dejës. This decision was taken without regularly assessing the impact on the environment and above all without obtaining the consent of residents who, faced with the reality that their area would be transformed, launched a series of actions to oppose the construction of the hydropower plants. Dhimitër Koleci, one of the most vocal activists involved in organizing the resistance, applied to the Rapid Response instrument of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To slow down the progress and ideally achieve the prohibition of works in the protected area, in order to mitigate the irreversible impact on the environment, sensitizing local and central government bodies on the effects of these policies, and promoting civic response to events that directly affect the lives of the community.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

The resistance against the construction of hydro power plants in the area was strengthened. LevizAlbania’s support allowed the inhabitants of Zall-Gjoçaj to give a wider visibility to their cause. Leviz Albania facilitated important alliances between the inhabitants of Zall-Gjoçaj, which allowed them to undertake joint actions towards the common goal of protecting the National Park. The OSFA Legal Clinics provided legal assistance in order to address the issue at Court; Eco Albania, an organization with long experience in the field of ecosystem protection, assisted with advice; the informal group ATA from Kamëz served as facilitators and offered their expertise in carrying out activities. Additionally, the collaboration with media/journalist was key to exert further pressure: Porta Vendore closely covered the case, Nyje.al a local media portal published written and audio-visual materials and helped to establish contacts with other media; Citizens Channel, Reporter.al, Fax web, Syri.net. Around 200 journalists covered every activity organized within the project. In January 2021, the Administrative Court of Tirana abolished the decision which licensed a company to build a power plant in a protected area. The community of Zall-Gjoçaj continues its resistance to save their park and river.

“We continue, in the field, in the protests, and at Court. We will not stop until Hague.” Dhimitër Koleci, activist.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 53 Post-earthquake emergency A strong earthquake hit Albania on 26th of November 2019, accompanied with loss of life and extensive damage. LevizAlbania responded through the Rapid Response instrument with a dedicated support to citizen initiatives on issues related to the post-earthquake emergency.

Type: Organization Rrjeti për Implementation period: 01-02-2020 - 31-05-2020 Demokraci i Gruas Implementation area: Municipality of Tirana Shqipëri

Name of the project: Supportive intervention and after-school for children affected by the earthquake

BACKGROUND In the aftermath of the earthquake thousands of families found themselves in very difficult situations. The Women’s Democracy Network Albania (WDN) identified a group of families with school aged children under 14 years old, whose homes in buildings 18, 19, 20 near the Student City of Tirana were severely damaged. In addition to having lost their homes, the families were undergoing through psychosocial distress. These families’ children needed help to cope with shock and post-traumatic stress and gradually return to normality. WDN applied to the Rapid Response Instrument of LevizAlbania in order to respond to this emergency and incite the response of the municipality of Tirana in the benefit of these families.

PROJECT GOAL Contribute to ensure the personal well-being for children in post-earthquake situation.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

21 families with school-aged children and whose homes were severely damaged by the earthquake, received an integral solution to their situation. The Women’s Democracy Network Albania (WDN) mobilized and assisted these families to bring to the Municipality’s attention some of their immediate needs in the aftermath of the earthquake and to request a holistic approach from different local public and non-public service providers. Through cooperative advocacy and close collaboration with the Administrative Unit No. 2, as well as with the responsible municipal staff for social welfare, child protection, urban infrastructure and social housing, the families assisted by WDN managed to obtain a positive response from the municipality. Out of 21 families involved, 17 received the social bonus, a support program of monthly rent for 12 months supported by the municipality. Out of these 21 families, 15 applied for the national housing reconstruction program. Furthermore, the project informed 21 families about the local soft loan program and began the process to apply. In addition, WDN supported the families by incorporating children in after-school activities, provision of legal assistance and the organization of a positive parenting workshop.

“My family needs support with the rent bonus after the earthquake because my house got damaged. My children come to get after-school classes at the Centre and that has helped them cope with all the stress. Here they also will help me with the application to get all paperwork ready” Miranda, mother of two children attending the after-school activities.

54 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire chain of functioning of the economy and society. Governments at central and local level, private sector, civil society organizations, and citizens, have been facing the challenge to adapt to a “new normal” since the arrival of COVID-19 in Albania in March, 2020. LevizAlbania timely responded by dedicating its grant instrument “Rapid Response” to support initiatives that would contribute to cope with the emergency situation. LevizAlbania supported the implementation of 7 projects aiming to respond to different emergencies created by COVID-19.

Type: Organization Jonathan Centre Implementation period: 18-05-2020 - 18-08-2020 Implementation area: National project

Name of the project: A tele-therapy model for Albania

BACKGROUND

During the lock-down period to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Albania, thousands of people living with a disability such as Down syndrome, epilepsy, speech delay, encephalopathy, etc., found themselves at home without being able to receive appropriate attention. The Jonathan Centre applied to the Rapid Response instrument with the objective to put in practice an alternative way to help people in this situation.

PROJECT GOAL

To implement and contribute to the standardization of tele therapy in Albania as a professional intervention in times of crisis and for remote services.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

100 children with special needs received adapted therapy services throughout the crisis. The Jonathan Centre, in collaboration with a group of professionals, piloted and standardized manual for tele-therapy in Albania. This manual provides a reference base of tele-therapy application, indicators and models (speech therapy, development and counselling). More than 100 children with special needs, mainly Down syndrome, received tele therapy based on this multi-disciplinary newly developed model. During the implementation of the project, 550 therapy sessions were conducted to follow-up closely these children. In addition, the Jonathan Centre offered 200 counselling sessions per month, accompanied by videos for parents with all the necessary information for the further development and monitoring of their children. Different organizations from Albania and the region approached the Jonathan Centre to request more information and assistance so they could use the model and replicate it with their specific target groups. This implied an extension of services throughout Albania but not only. Thanks to the outreach of the manual, 45 Albanian children living in Macedonia, France, Greece, USA received tele therapy and teleconsultation with their parents.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 55 Type: Organization Together Implementation period: 18-05-2020 - 18-02-2021 Albania Implementation area: National project

Name of the project: Online psychological support in dealing with the pandemic

BACKGROUND

One of the most pressing needs during the lock-down period and throughout the months that followed was mental health. Together Albania noticed that from March 2020 onwards requests and support needs had been increasing considerably for people suffering from anxiety, fear, stress and uncertainty due to social isolation and due to the spread of COVID-19 in Albania. They applied to LevizAlbania through the Rapid Response Instrument proposing scheme for online counselling to timely respond to the crisis.

PROJECT GOAL

To contribute to alleviate mental health consequences of the emergency situation and to prevent subsequent psychological effects which if not addressed in time can escalate negatively in the near future, and further, by provide free professional online psychological support.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

More than 5,000 young people received free online counselling through the platform nukjevetem.al. In order to mitigate the mental health consequences of COVID-19, a multidisciplinary team formed by psychologists and other mental health professionals provided free online counselling to youth facing different mental health struggles related to COVID-19. This team provided an average of 20 hours/week of direct psychological counselling. In addition, a policy brief analysing the main trends in the overall state of mental health based on the usage of the platform was produced and shared with deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. In addition this practice has been shared with the Mental Health Europe platform as an innovative form to support young people.

56 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Shoqata Kombëtare Implementation period: 18-05-2020 - 18-11-2021 Shqiptare e Njerëzve Implementation area: 25 municipalities që Nuk Dëgjojnë

Name of the project: Access to information in Albanian sign language for the deaf during the pandemic

BACKGROUND

In the early days of the pandemic, most citizens accessed information on the state of emergency, the different measures implemented and the general progression of the pandemic through different media. However, this information was not being provided in an accessible way for people with disabilities, in particularly for those with a hearing impairment. The majority of deaf people do not have the ability to read either. ANAD decided to undertake an initiative to change this situation and applied to the Rapid Response instrument of LevizAlbania.

PROJECT GOAL

To establish effective models of interpretation service for the deaf through video.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Deaf people in Albania could become aware of what was happening during the lock-down period. By providing information in Albanian sign language, the Albanian National Association of the Deaf (ANAD) raised awareness of deaf people and provided them with accessible services to access information. 25 mediators provided interpretation services in the municipalities of Tirana, Kamëz, Elbasan, Librazhd, Fier, Vlora, Gjirokastër, Korçë, Maliq, Devoll, Gramsh, Lushnje, Krujë, Shkodër, Tropojë, Saranda and Delvinë. In addition, 100 informative and awareness videos for the deaf were published to communicate on different issues such as a daily update of COVID-19 situation, services available through e-Albania, prevention of COVID-19, postal services, benefits and special offers for deaf people by Vodafone. ANAD conducted 140 video calls to ensure that 128 persons received food support from the respective municipalities, 94 people were assisted in using the e-Albania application, 80 people were assisted in receiving the telephone package dedicated to deaf people from Vodafone Albania, 78 persons were assisted in completing the documentation for receiving the economic aid package, and 70 people were assisted by services for family doctor, pregnant women and child health care. Through the compilation and submission of lists identifying deaf people in need in each target municipality, municipalities verified the economic situation of each person in the list in order to be able to meet their needs.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 57 Type: Individual Dea Buza Implementation period: 18-05-2020 - 18-12-2021 Implementation area: National project

Name of the project: Face Shield Masks Albania

BACKGROUND

Dea Buza launched the initiative “FaceShield Masks Albania” voluntarily during the lockdown period when the COVID-19 pandemic reached Albania in March 2020. At that moment there was a serious concern about the availability of medical protective equipment for health front-line workers in Albania. Dea applied to the Rapid Response instrument with the innovative idea to produce masks for the medical teams of local health centres, as well as plastic handles for the doors of public institutions, in order to reduce the transmission of the virus.

PROJECT GOAL

To support medical staff of local health centres with protective equipment produced through 3D printing technology and to contribute to increase the capacities of the Medical University in Tirana in the field of 3D printing.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

1000 Face Shields for health personnel in local health centres. The protective masks made with 3D printers were donated to Health Care Operators. The masks were distributed by the Health Care operator to public health institutions at local level, such as Health Centres and Regional Hospitals. 900 masks were donated and distributed to public health institutions at local level, 50 masks donated to Sauk Health Centre and plastic door handles were donated to the 9-year school “Sandër Prosi” in Sauk, Tirana during the Leviz Democracy Week 2020. 50 masks, 460 plastic handles and one 3D printer donated to the Medical University of Tirana with the purpose to increase the capacity of medical students to implement innovative practices such as 3D printing for future needs.

58 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Qendra Sociale në Implementation period: 02-06-2020 - 30-11-2021 Ndihmë të Njerëzve Implementation area: Municipality of Fushë-Arrëz në Nevojë

Name of the project: Volunteering in action in Fushë-Arrëz for the Covid-19 emergency

BACKGROUND

The movement restrictions and the distancing measures imposed on the population during the months that followed the establishment of the state of emergency put the most vulnerable groups in a difficult position to meet their most basic needs, especially in remote isolated areas. The Social Centre to Help People in Need (QSNNN) decided to apply to LevizAlbania’s Rapid Response Call in order to promote volunteerism and solidarity towards the poorest families and vulnerable groups in the municipality of Fushë-Arrëz.

PROJECT GOAL

To promote volunteerism and a sense of human solidarity, to come to the aid of families in need in the Municipality of Fushë-Arrëz during (and after) the crisis created by the Covid-19 emergency.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

118 families in need, 17 retirees living alone and 8 people with disabilities were delivered basic products at home, supporting them through difficult times.

More than 6,500 people were reached by a communication campaign to promote solidarity towards the most vulnerable, through several channels: i) Meetings with the Heads of the Administrative Units and the village elders, ii) Posters posted in the Administrative Units iii) An awareness-raising video in the media and networks social protection for the project, protection measures against COVID-19 and services available. This intervention reduced the need of movement of vulnerable groups by mobilizing a network of 28 volunteers to distribute basic products like food, medicines, hygienic products in close collaboration with rural Administrative Units and the Social Services in the municipality of Fushë-Arrëz. A crowdfunding campaign reached out to 250 different donors gathering a total of 650,000 ALL. Funds collected were used to help the poorest and more vulnerable families in the municipality.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 59 Type: Organization Mendime dhe Implementation period: 01-06-2020 - 30-09-2021 Iniciativa të Lira Implementation area: Municipality of Lushnje

Name of the project: No one should be left behind due to COVID-19

BACKGROUND

The difficult economic situation caused by the pandemic motivated many to give their contributions in different ways to help those in need. The Centre “Free thoughts and initiatives” (MIL) noticed that groups of youngsters in the municipality of Lushnje were willing to voluntarily contribute to make a difference. They decided to apply to the Rapid Response instrument to get support from Leviz Albania in their initiative to organize youth, mobilize and act for people in need.

PROJECT GOAL

To provide a civic contribution as well as with concrete actions for readiness, impact measurement, awareness, prevention aimed at reducing the consequences of COVID-19 in the most vulnerable groups of the Municipality of Lushnje. Through the group of young people to collect situation data in the administrative units in the field, to identify cases, to specify problems, to delegate them to the relevant institutions and to carry out in coordination with the institutions voluntary actions to help services, purchases, supplies or coordination opportunities with institutions.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

Families in need supported by 100 youngsters who contributed voluntarily.

100 young people in collaboration with local media, identified cases of families in need for support in the Municipality of Lushnje. MIL acted as an intermediator between civil society, businesses, farmers and relevant institutions to collaborate during the state of emergency to support the most vulnerable. As a result of the project a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Municipality and CSOS, media, and local business in order to create e network with the aim to respond in time in disaster situations such as Covid-19 and earthquake.

60 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy Type: Organization Qendra Implementation period: 01-06-2020 - 30-11-2021 Implementation area: Municipalities of Tirana, T’Reja Elbasan and Pogradec

Name of the project: Support for all

BACKGROUND

The “Support for All” project was proposed by New Centres (Qendra T’Reja) as a necessary intervention in three municipalities, Tirana, Elbasan and Pogradec in order to encourage local authorities to provide support for the category of families in need and small business as groups affected by the consequences of the pandemic.

PROJECT GOAL

To encourage the municipalities of Pogradec, Elbasan and Tirana to review the budget in order to determine a special fund to provide support to families and small business excluded from Decision of Council of Ministers no.230 dated 19.03.2020.

MAIN PROJECT OUTCOMES AND IMPACT

500 families in Elbasan, over 500 in Pogradec, 3000 small business entities in Tirana and over 1500 small business entities in Elbasan benefitted from measures implemented by Municipalities.

As a result of the advocacy work conducted the municipality of Elbasan distributed 500 food packages for families in need during the period March-December 2020. The municipality of Pogradec distributed food packages and medicines to 584 families in need. About 70 street vendors exempted from paying the tax for the use of public space in the municipality of Elbasan. About 3,000 small business benefited from fiscal incentives defined in Local Council Decisions no.28 and no.60 approved by the municipality of Tirana.

#LevizAlbania #LevizPerDemokracinëVendore #DedikuarDemokracisëVendore 61 rrotulloje për versionin shqip

62 #LevizAlbania #LevizForLocalDemocracy #DedicatedToLocalDemocracy