PLANNING AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT IN Women, Peace & Security (WPS) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE): Community Mapping Assessment of the of Kamza

JUNE 2019

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Tetra Tech.

PREPARED FOR THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, USAID CONTRACT NUMBER AID-182-C-12-00001, ALBANIA PLANNING AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT (PLGP)

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PLANNING AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT IN ALBANIA WOMEN, PEACE & SECURITY (WPS) AND PREVENTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM (PVE): Community Mapping Assessment of the Municipality of Kamza

DISCLAIMER This report is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of Tetra Tech and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii INTRODUCTION 1

GENERAL PROFILE 3

COMMUNITY PROFILE 6

ECONOMIC PROFILE 10 EDUCATION 13 HEALTH 15

MUNICIPAL PROFILE 16

LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFILE 19

RELIGIOUS PROFILE 21

SUMMARY OF FACTORS AFFECTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM 23

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Community Mapping Assessment (hereafter referred to as ‘the assessment’) aims to understand opportunities, challenges, and power dynamics related to Women, Peace & Security (WPS) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) themes in the municipality of Kamza1. In addition to analyses on the social and economic resources available (or lack thereof), this assessment focuses on gender needs/strengths, women’s access to services, and risks affecting women in the community. The assessment also identifies and explores the key factors affecting radicalization, recruitment, and violent extremism in Kamza including the enabling environment, pull and push factors together with the socioeconomic, political, and cultural drivers based on USAID’s Guide to the Drivers of Violent Extremism.2

The assessment aims to better understand the local context, build relationships and credibility with local actors, and help to calibrate and adjust Planning and Local Government Project (PLGP’s) proposed Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) and Women, Peace & Security (WPS) activities while leveraging our expertise and on-the-ground knowledge of local governance in Albania. PLGP’s local-level activities have distinct but complementary goals: reduce the likelihood of women becoming participants in, or vulnerable to, VE activity; and increase women’s contributions to making communities more resilient to the VE risk. We focus on understanding the challenges and priorities of citizens, municipal officials, police, and other stakeholders in Kamza.

This assessment was conducted over a three-month period between April - June 2019 and utilizes a variety of tools and methodologies including desk research, face-to-face interviews, meetings, and focus groups organized at the central and local levels. PLGP interviewers and facilitators prompted respondents to discuss the same issues: community, civil society organizations (CSOs), local authorities, local institutions, including religious and police relations and interactions, and known factors that drive radicalization, recruitment, and violent extremism like relative deprivation3, disenfranchisement, crime, violence, and religious opportunism.

1 Municipality of Kamza was selected by the National CVE Coordinator and USAID based on knowledge gathered of the violent extremism problem in Albania by law enforcement, think tanks, journalists, and the donor community. 2 USAID Guide to the Drivers of Violent Extremism, February 2009. 3 Relative deprivation emphasizes the individual experience of discontent when being deprived of something to which one believes oneself to be entitled. (Source: Wikipedia). Relative depravation and frustrated expectations are powerful drivers towards VE activity (Source: USAID Development Assistance and Counter-Extremism: A Guide to Programming, http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf docs/PNADT987.pdf).

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA ii INTRODUCTION

USAID’s ‘Planning and Local Governance Project’ in Albania worked at both the national policy level and at the local level since 2012 to promote decentralized governance, territorial administrative reform, and to disseminate and institutionalize practical and effective methods and techniques for municipal management. PLGP is designed to contribute to USAID/Albania’s Development Objective #1 (DO#1), Strengthened Rule of Law and Improved Governance, as elaborated in the Albania Country Development Cooperation Strategy: 2011–2015. DO#1 supports the strengthening of democratic institutions in Albania by improving the judiciary and governance of health care, deepening the decentralization process, and rooting out corruption, with the goal of advancing democracy in the country while meeting key criteria for Albania’s accession to the European Union.

On November 2018, the Project was extended to focus on Women, Peace, & Security (WPS) activities which fall under our current Component 3: Strengthen civic engagement to prevent violent extremism. Our Women, Peace, & Security (WPS) activities at the local-levels aim to reduce the likelihood of women becoming participants in, or vulnerable to, VE activity; and increase women’s contributions to making communities more resilient to the VE risk.

Activities under our P/CVE and WPS Component are meant to bolster the positive effects of PLGP’s other components with an explicit focus on increasing awareness of and resilience to the drivers of radicalization in Albania, as analyzed and presented in 2015’s “Albanian National Strategy-Countering Violent Extremism” (hereafter referred to as ‘the Strategy’). Activities are designed to prevent violent extremism (PVE) focused at the local level, where the Government of Albania is shifting its strategy to reflect the prevention needs. In late 2018, a National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security was finalized in Albania. PLGP’s experience in preventing and addressing drivers of violent extremism (VE) in our partner will support this action plan and the CVE Coordination Center in three major areas of assistance: community resiliency, women’s empowerment, and youth engagement.

PLGP supports the GoA’s National Coordinator on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in implementing the National Strategy-Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) promoting civic participation and empowering civil society to build community resilience. We work collaboratively with the Center and focus our efforts in the municipalities of Bulqiza, Cerrik, Diber, Kamza, Librazhd, and Pogradec - selected by the National CVE Coordinator and USAID based on knowledge gathered by law enforcement, think tanks, journalists, and the donor community. In close cooperation with the Office of National CVE Coordinator, the PLGP will support the implementation of the Strategy and National Action Plan for WPS, with activities focused at the local level. PLGP will help advance the Strategy and WPS Action Plan by piloting activities, learning from outcomes, and documenting lessons learned at the local level.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 1 PLGP applied a variety of tools and methodologies to complete this assessment using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Included methodologies are: desk research, interviews, meetings, and focus groups organized at the central and local levels. The data collection methods are listed as follows:

● Review and analysis of international and Albanian legal frameworks on WPS and P/CVE and available literature of the field. ● Review and analyses of national and local documents and strategies, including the Kamza Operational Plan for Local Development (2016), Municipality of Kamza Draft Social Plan, Kamza Mapping Assessment for Local Governance 2016 (prepared by STAR2), municipal annual and mid-term budget, data from Education Office, INSTAT statistics, data from Regional Employment Office and municipal tax department. ● Forty-five face-to-face interviews with a total of (20 women) local and national stakeholders. The respondents were mainly based in Kamza. Additional interviews were conducted in (Programs and CSO focused in Kamza) (representatives of the Albanian Muslim Community). Participants in the face-to-face interviews represent a broad spectrum of community actors such as the Mayor and municipal staff, religious leaders, local and national CSOs, local and regional police, local businesses, regional deconcentrated agencies (education and health) and Peace Corps Volunteers. ● Two focus groups with 22 participants for each session were organized with teachers, women, civil society organizations, head of administrative units, municipal staff, and men in . The document is organized into eight profiles: general profile, community profile, economic profile, education profile, health profile, municipal profile, law enforcement profile, religious profile, and a summary of factors affecting VE.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 2 GENERAL PROFILE

The Municipality of Kamza (hereafter referred to as simply “Kamza” unless otherwise stated) is bordered to the north, east, and south by the Municipality of Tirana, in the northwest by the Municipality of Kruja, and in the west by the Municipality of Vora. Kamza consists of two administrative units, Kamza and , and 14 villages.

The economic center of the new municipality is Kamza. The villages that belong to Kamëz administrative unit are: Bathore, , , Frutikulture, Bulçesh, and Zallmern; while Paskuqan administrative unit encompasses Paskuqan, Qëndër, Kodër e Kuqe, , Fushë e Kërçikëve, Kodër-Babrru, Paskuqan Fushë, and Paskuqan Kodër.

The Municipality of Kamza is part of Tirana Region. Its land area is 37.18 km2, and according to the 2011 Census, the population was 104,190 inhabitants. As per the Civil Registry, the Municipality today counts 136,094 inhabitants out of which 65,467 (48 percent) are women, and 70,627 (52 percent) are men.

From the municipal information, the total number of families registered is 36,510. Based on the Civil Registry data, the population density is 3,660 inhabitants/km2 which is 100 times higher than the national average.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 3 As illustrated in the table, the population has changed significantly from 1991-2019. Compared with the autochthonous population of 1991, the population increased by 60 percent in 1992, more than tripled in 1996, increased seven- fold by 2011, and in 2019 has increased by a staggering 11 times. The population is also relatively young with a median age of 27. The percentage of the population between 15-64 years of age is 62 percent, those over 65 years old is 8 percent, and children ages 0-14 is 30 percent, while the national average is 20 percent.4

The mine of Valias was the main employment sector and the stimulating factor of migration during the period from 1975-1991. Agriculture and horticulture were important sectors of local economy as well during that time. The total surface of agricultural land was 40,375 km with horticulture occupying 8,2 km (Source, Kamza Municipality).

The municipality is 7 km away from Tirana and is part of the strategic triangle between Tirana (Capital City), Rinas Airport, and Durrës Port, with a big potential for development.

4 http://www.kamza.gov.al/

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 4

CROSS ROAD IN KAMZA

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 5 COMMUNITY PROFILE

The community of Kamza is very heterogeneous. The population is primarily made up of migrants from the rural areas in the north and south of Albania. The high level of population density along with the large number of different cultural and economic situations, brings problems and disorder in Kamza Community. Lack of urban planning, uncontrolled construction, informal settlements, sporadic or lack of access to basic infrastructure (water, canalization, electricity, etc.) are indicators of low quality of life.

According to an estimation by NGOs operating in informal settlements, the total number of unregistered citizens in the civil registry is 2,000. Official data on the actual number of citizens belonging to Roma-Egyptian communities is not available, except for Roma and Egyptian children registered in educational institutions. The municipality is striving to register all citizens, including those currently living in informal settlements. The number of unregistered citizens has decreased year by year. They have access to many municipal services such as drinking water supply, sewerage system, and green and clean. For the services related to civil registry such as certificates they go to their place of origin.

Kamza reports as a very poor municipality from an economic perspective with an average unemployment rate of 50 percent. It is estimated that the level is 55 percent for women (the average at the national level is 31.4 percent) and 63 percent for youth (who nationally average 53 percent). High rates of both women and youth unemployment indicate structural problems and have resulted in economic and social hardship among Kamza’s population. These indicators inform policies for employment and support the development of market-oriented vocational educational systems.5

From interviews with municipal staff and local actors, women’s unemployment is systemic and highly correlated with both lower education level and a SIDEWALK IN KAMZA repressive mentality. For those who do find work, bad working conditions and limited enforcement of safety rules in the private sectors are a common experience. Women tend to be underpaid and encounter significant health problems working in big companies, or entrepreneurships at local levels. A recently observed trend is that they prefer to fall under the social aid scheme rather than having a job. Based on the

5 Local Economic Operational Plan/ Kamza Municipality March 2016

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 6 legislation, the municipality doesn’t have competencies to police the standards of operation and working environments of companies.

Another factor that contributes to the high rate of unemployment is the fact that the labor office that serves Kamza is in Tirana, and not in Kamza. The office is distant from job seekers and difficult to access for some, especially women who are restricted in their mobility. Initially, the labor office was operating in Kamza; however, following a decision of the National Social Service, the office was relocated to Tirana. According to the interview with the inspector of Kamza Labor Office, since the move the number of registered job seekers from Kamza has decreased.

The municipal staff responsible for gender issues/gender-based violence/child protection, informed our project that gender-based violence is the most prevalent violation in the area. Many women experience domestic violence from their husbands, but they prefer to be silent, resulting in significant underreporting. During 2018, there were 85 registered cases of violence against women (spousal abuse). The child protection unit has identified 131 children in need of social protection and 16 cases were identified with a high rate of risks. There are individual plans compiled in the municipality on how to support different categories of children.

The municipal Referral Mechanism for Domestic Violence was established in April 2018 and is very functional in the area. The Center “Human Rights in Democracy” has contributed to establishing the mechanism and they are providing technical assistance to strengthen it, utilizing UN Women funding. Other organizations such as World Vision, Global Care, and ‘’Të ndryshëm, por të Barabartë’’ (Different but equal) collaborate on the delivery of services for women.

Because of the intense and unstructured influx of migrants from rural areas all over Albania and concomitant gaps in urban planning and service delivery, after 1991, the area has attracted a host of civil society organizations, which implement a range of donor-supported anti-poverty and social programs.

However, the assistance provided in the various administrative units is fragmented and program interventions lack coordination. As a result, it’s difficult to obtain a clear picture and there is no database of types or focuses of engagement dealing with vulnerable groups or beneficiaries served across the municipality.

There are about 16 organizations and a wide range of active programs focused on the following topics: charity, preventing domestic and gender-based violence, reintegration for children, human rights, democracy, disability, and youth. World Vision is one of the most active organizations operating in Bathore with a focus on disability and youth. GIZ supports Vocational Education and Training in collaboration with the Vocational School of Kamza, and in this framework runs a social project aimed at the economic and social inclusion of girls and

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 7 boys. GIZ is also implementing a project, Social Participation of Marginalized Youth and Minorities, as part of ProSEED program. They provide small grants for CSOs targeting youth in the Kamza Municipality. Thematic intervention are life skills, self-employment, and startup ideas.

Other organizations such as humanitarian organizations include, “Olivia for Charity”, “Hand by Hand”, “Fondacioni Humanitar Shqiptar”, and “Fondacioni International Children’s Mission”. Albanian Caritas and ARSIS support Roma-Egyptian children. “Misioni i Mundshëm” and “Shpresa” focus on youth. “Qendra e Zhvillimit AMURT” provides services for adults and children with disabilities. The organization “Act for Society” has implemented a project on how to prevent violent extremism working with youth of high school age in Bathore training them on soft skills, gender-based violence, and the concept of gender equity. The youth serve as a core group for sharing information.

A Cultural Center is located near the municipality building. It’s a big space with a capacity of 1,000 people, intended for organizing activities for youth and community interaction, in collaboration with other institutions. From the interview with the Director of the Cultural Center, the calendar comprises the following activities: a) three festivals of primary education, secondary education, and a multicultural festival; b) promotional activities for new publications and writers; and c) collaborative activities (concerts) at the regional level with Tuzi () Tetovo Concert of Cultural Associations. The women attend the activities and participate, especially during multicultural festivals, with traditional clothing from their places of origin.

FOLKLORIC FESTIVAL IN CULTURAL CENTER The center is also used by the municipality for activities with women and youth, such as information sessions and awareness-building campaigns. Based on the information from the municipality, the youth groups are active under donor projects and

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 8 religious community interventions. The Football Club “Kamza” is a consolidated sport club, founded on 10 September 1936, and promoted to the Albanian Superliga in 2011. The club will play in the Albanian Second Division in 2019. Apart from football, there is a basketball team of talented youth “Kamza” with a high quality of performance who aim to compete at the national level.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 9 ECONOMIC PROFILE

The local economy of Kamza is characterized by a high level of informal employment. It is mainly based on services, construction, and the food-processing industry. Based on the information from the municipal tax office, the total number of businesses is 5,071 (3,121 active) and is divided in the following categories: 1,579 services (32 percent), 301 transportation (6 percent), 188 free-lance (4 percent), 340 production (7 percent), and 2,663 in retail sector (52 percent).

Based on the government standards, 4,225 (83 percent) are classified as big businesses and 846 (17 percent) as small businesses.

The total number of businesses administered by women are 659 (21.1 percent), out of which 58 are production businesses (9 percent), 391 are commerce (59 percent), 191 are services (29 percent), and 19 (3 percent) free-professions. In recent years the garment and shoe industries have experienced continuous expansion and growth, being the main employment sector for women in the area, with a total number of 44 active entrepreneurships of this kind.

The main employment sector in Kamza is the service sector with 57 percent share of the total, followed by industry with 37.5

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 10 percent, and agriculture with 5.3 percent. The indicators present a trend of local economy from a formerly rural one, transitioning to an urban economy.6

Women are mostly employed in the garment and shoe industries. Based on tax office information, there are about 23 businesses that are considered the biggest employers of women in the area. They are focused on the garment industry (production of t-shirts). FITAL Shpk is listed as a leading company in women’s employment, with a total number of 1,420 women employees. The rest of the businesses vary from 14 to 428.

Before 1991, Kamza was an agricultural community; however, since then they have experienced a significant decline in agriculture and livestock production and have been reduced to the level of family consumption (subsistence agriculture). An intensive urban development and land transformation towards home and building construction resulted in a reduction in arable land. Decline in agricultural activity is also related to structural changes in the economy towards services and hence low interest for agriculture and livestock activities. The agriculture activities are limited to land surfaces of 1-3 hectares, but a small percentage of families possess agriculture land.

While Labor Office staff is committed to support them, finding gainful employment poses a significant challenge.

The total number of job seekers registered in the Labor Office were recorded as 1,900 in 2019 out of which 42 percent are women. Most registered job seekers (67.2 percent) have a primary education level, often staying on the list for long periods of time without result. 24.5 percent have a secondary education and 8.2 percent have a university degree. The data disaggregated by age presents the following picture: 1,197 (63 percent) are from 20 to 50 years old and 703 (37 percent) are over 50 years old. 7

A draft Social Plan has been developed, based on the sporadic data provided (with a notable absence of gender disaggregated data) as the main source for social analyses.

The municipality provides social aid to 533 families, or 4,529 individuals (3.32 percent of total percent of the total population). 94 women heads of household benefit (18 percent of total families) along with 1998 individuals with disabilities (44 percent of total beneficiaries), out of which 886 (44 percent of those with disabilities) are women. The total number of beneficiaries ages 65 or older is 26 (0.6 percent of total beneficiaries) and 18 are abused women (0.4 percent of total beneficiaries). Compared with the level of poverty and very dense population, the number of beneficiaries from social aid is very low. The new system of social aid applied is not considered effective, and many poor families didn’t fall under the beneficiaries’ category.

The Vocational Educational School of Kamza is trying to match labor market demand with supply. It is the first technical school which includes girls, with a total number of 1,800 students,

6 Local Economic Operational Plan/ Kamza Municipality March 2016 7 Source/ Kamza Labor Office

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 11 35 percent of whom are girls. The schools apply the agreement approach with the businesses for internship and employment. Based on tracer studies conducted by the Pro-Seed /VET (Vocational Educational Trainings) project funded by GIZ, in 2018, 30 percent of students found employment upon graduation.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 12 EDUCATION

The Education system in Kamza encompasses all levels of education. The Agriculture University of Tirana has been located in the municipality since November 1951. It serves as a qualification institution for agriculture and livestock standards in Albania. Located in Kamza, the university doesn’t play an important role for the youth in the location. It was an attraction especially for the students from rural areas all over the Albania.

Based on the information from the Education Office in Kamza, the schools are overpopulated. The standards as defined by the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth define a number of 25 students/class. In Kamza the number is 30-35 per class, and as a result they frequent the schools in two

tours. IBRAHIM RUGOVA HIGH SCHOOL The Municipality of Kamza has secondary education schools frequented by 14,311 pupils. There are 31 kindergartens in total for children from 3-6 years old. The total number of children in kindergartens is 5,582, and there is pronounced gender imbalance in attendance, with only 1,404 girls (25 percent) attending. There are 260 teachers (all women). There is no childcare center for children below the age of 3 in the municipality, another factor that reduces women’s opportunities in the labor market in Kamza. The total number of primary schools is 19, with a total number of 14,311 students, out of which 117 (0.9 percent) are students with disabilities, 222 (1.5 percent) are Roma, 238 (1.6 percent) are Egyptian, and 29 (0.2 percent) returnees from emigration.

The total number of teachers is 948, broken down as 737 in primary education schools and 211 in secondary education schools. There are 6 secondary education schools in the Municipality of Kamza, and a total of 5,232 students out of which 2,452 (47 percent) are girls. One of the most important education institutions is the Vocational School of Kamza as the first technical school that trains girls. There, 1,800 students and 35 percent are girls. The main specialization courses offered are attended in line with societal expectations and gender stereotypes: nursing (children and the elderly) and agriculture and fruit culture are predominantly frequented by girls, whereas boys tend to specialize in ICT and mechanics. Based on tracer studies conducted by the Pro-

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 13 Seed /VET (Vocational Educational Trainings) project funded by GIZ, in 2018, 30 percent of students found employment upon graduation.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 14 HEALTH

Currently, the health care service in the entire territory of Kamza Municipality is covered by 20 health care centers, 31 doctors, out of which 20 (64.5 percent) are women. The total number of nurses is 48, of which 45 (93.7 percent) are women. Based on the municipal data, doctors are present every day in the remote areas.

The figures below indicate one doctor for 5,161 inhabitants which far exceeds the national standards of a maximum level as one doctor for 3,000 inhabitants (adults) and for age 0-14 there is one doctor for 1,500 inhabitants. One nurse serves to 3,513 inhabitants in the municipal area, whilst the number of inhabitants per one nurse is 600-900, as per national standards. HEALTHCARE CENTER IN KAMZA

Table 2. Health care service in Kamza

Valias i Vjeter/& Kamza Frutikulture Zall Mner Laknas New Valias

Male 7 2 0 1 1

Doctors Female 14 2 2 0 2

Total 21 4 2 1 3

Male 3 0 0 0 0

Female 34 2 2 2 5 Nurses Total 37 2 2 2 5

Source: Municipality of Kamza 2019

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 15 MUNICIPAL PROFILE

The Municipality of Kamza, continues to offer services to its citizens, as specified in the Organic Law 135/2015. The citizens and especially women largely don’t participate at the Municipal Council meetings to ensure transparency and accountability in decision- making because of the mentality and pessimistic expectations regarding change. There is a lack of TOWN HALL women’s organization, also illustrated by the absence of respective structures, such as an Alliance of Women Councilors, which has been established in several municipalities across the country. A Gender Action Plan was drafted in 2011, but since then, no similar engagement has occurred.

Based on the Human Resource Office, the Municipality of Kamza has 180 employees, 48 (26.6 percent) of which are women and 132 (73.4 percent) are men. The municipal structure is comprised of fifteen departments, one inspectorate, and two integrated administrative units, operating in the rural areas. The majority of municipal departments and sectors are run by men. There are only two departments run by women: Human Resources and Finance. The Municipal Council is composed of 41 members; 14 (34 percent) are women.

There are 9 commissions which are currently functional.8

1. Commission of Mandate 2. Commission of Voting 3. Commission of Construction and Development

8 http://www.kamza.gov.al/

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 16 4. Commission of Services and Housing 5. Commission of Finance and Budget 6. Legal Commission and Order 7. Commission of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport 8. Commission of Economy, Land and Social Aid 9. Commission of Health Hygiene and Environment 10. Commission of Foreign Affairs

The issues of women and youth are addressed by the Commission of Economy, Land, and Social Aid, but there are no detailed specifications and plans for women, girls, or young men with regard to economic inclusion. The municipality tries to stimulate inclusion using the schemes of social houses or rent payment for single mothers and scholarships for students of vulnerable families.

The Council has 8 representatives from the Left Coalition and 33 representatives from Right Coalition and Independent Party.

The Municipality undertakes participatory budgeting processes on an annual basis, as required by the Law on Local Self Governance, but has not engaged in gender-responsive budgeting processes at this point.

Kamza has benefited from previous PLGP/USAID programs on services and tax system improvement. The municipality does not have a General Local Territorial Plan (GLTP). Based on the interviews with the municipal staff, lack of plan development has had a negative impact in the territory and the overall economic development.

The Municipality offers services based on its own and transferred competencies. While childcare centers, child protection, and domestic violence services are a responsibility of local governments, there is lack of all of those institutions in the area. The gender focal point is concurrently responsible for gender-based violence and child protection. Victims of gender- based violence are referred to the National Center for Domestic Violence (for women and children), located in Kamza, or to shelters, operated by local NGOs. The National Center for Domestic Violence in Kamza9 offers residential services for women (and their children) from all over Albania after they obtain the protection order.

Polyvalent Daily Center offers activities and social-psychological assistance for about 20 elderly community members (8 women and 12 men). Based on the Council of Ministers’ decision, the Center was transferred to the municipality in terms of administration and services to be provided there. However, the Center continues to be administered by the State Social Service. There are some endeavors currently ongoing from the municipality to have the Center under its administration. Based on the information of stated need, 20 beneficiaries are a very limited

9 As a national institution, it is not under the municipality administration.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 17 number. If the Center were under municipal administration, it would provide services for women, youths, and the elderly. The Ministry of Finance is the institution responsible to execute the DCM and transfer the competency to the Municipality of Kamza.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 18 LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFILE

There is a Police Commissariat in Kamza in charge of maintaining law and order at the territory of the municipality. Local police are a part of the regional police structure located in Tirana and has 174 staff, 21 of whom (roughly 12 percent), are police women. The Deputy Regional Director and the head of the local police describe the city as problematic. Per the Deputy Regional Director, Kamza has the lowest law and order indicators in the region. The heterogeneity (many newcomers from different areas of the country), social problems, and poverty, have reduced the quality of life of citizens and have increased criminality in general and domestic violence notably.

According to police report, in 2018 there were 121 reported cases of domestic violence and 62 people were arrested. Compared with 2017 (94 cases and 45 arrested) there is an increase in reporting which, according to the police, comes as the result of increased police performance, better interagency cooperation, and CSOs work and awareness campaigns. Around 90 percent of domestic violence victims are women. There also a few cases when women have committed crimes against men as result of the constant physical and sexual abuse they suffered. Three police officers, two of whom are women, are trained and appointed to deal exclusively with domestic violence matters. The team intervenes when domestic violence is reported in the territory of the municipality, including throughout the administrative units.

The cooperation of the State Police with the municipality is ongoing satisfactorily. However, police are critical about the performance of the municipal police, which does not respond to the needs of citizens regarding road safety, markets, etc. The fact that the national road traverses the town puts inhabitants in immediate danger to include pedestrians, especially children and youth attending schools. Due to legal shortcomings and significant influx of internal migrants, the rate of crime against property is higher as well. Another concern of the police is the asylum seekers’ center located around the municipality. Coming mainly from conflict areas such as Syria or Iraq, a segment of them are involved in thefts and other petty crimes, victimizing the community. The Local Safety Council in Kamza has not yet been established.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 19

POLICE COMMISSARIAT

There are four key security actors in the area: The Deputy Regional Police Director, the local Chief of police, the Chief of crime, and the Chief of public order, none of whom are knowledgeable on P/CVE matters. They also do not possess any information regarding the radicalized citizens in the area, including those who took part as fighters in Syria/Iraq or who have returned from the fights. However, the police are aware of the fact that last year two girls were not allowed to attend the school for religious reasons. At the regional level a database is maintained in relation to the people with mental health problems, and according to the Deputy Regional Police Director, the police know where they live and who takes care of them.

Police are involved in crime prevention campaigns at schools, especially advising youth on the risks of substance abuse of drug/alcohol/tobacco. There is an MoU signed with the Ministry of Education and two police officers, one of whom is a woman, to continuously attend schools and teach classes. This team, as well as other police officers, in collaboration with civil society organizations, take part to carry out extracurricular school activities to increase students’ awareness on issues such as bullying, domestic violence, peaceful resolution of conflicts, etc.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 20 RELIGIOUS PROFILE

NEW MOSQUE LOCATED NEXT TO THE CITY STADIUM

15 mosques of the Kamza Municipality area are part of Tirana Mufti Assembly. All imams (15) are appointed by the Albanian Muslim Community. Half of them are educated in local madrasas, and the rest have studied abroad. The imam of Kamza, Mr. Kujtim Hasani, was educated in Saudi Arabia for theology and has served for about 15 years within the local Muslim community, which (according to him) accounts for about 60 percent of the total number of worshippers. Mr. Hasani says that due to the support of some foundations (Miresia (Benevolence), Ardhmeria (Future) dhe Mirenjohja (Gratitude)), 200 poor families are provided with food, clothing, and blankets. In the field of education, the mosque supports a group of 30 children who receive religious and Arabic language education. The same kind of education is offered to 50 Muslim women and the role of educator is carried out by the imam's wife.

Regarding P/CVE, the imam said that in the period of 2012-2017, in cooperation with WAMY (World Assembly of Muslim Youth), several local and regional activities took place involving some 250 local youngsters (50 for each year). Mr. Hasani says that no citizens from Kamza joined the fighting in Syria/Iraq and in his opinion the Muslim community is unjustly blamed as a source of VE. Talking about the woman's role in preventing VE, he says that women can do

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 21 almost nothing in relation to their husband, while as mothers they can do a lot. Referring to a Hadith, the mother should be listened to and respected 3 times more than the father.

As a general consideration the messages received during the interview with the imam do not provide the full assurance that the local Muslim leadership is immaculate regarding extremist ideologies, nor that the language of hate doesn’t have any place in this community. The municipality of Kamza is one of the national hotspots in terms of religious extremism. Some individuals from the area (no official data available) used to take part in the fighting in Syria/Iraq, and this is an indicator that worshippers have received distorted messages from their preachers. Data regarding the returnees from the fighting are also absent. In a visual perspective, one can moderately notice (in the rural areas especially) women dressed differently from the local traditional Muslim attire (i.e., Burqas).

In the territory of Kamza Municipality there are two parishes (Kamza and Bathore), which serve approximately 21,000 (1,200 families) Catholic worshippers. Almost all of them have come in recent years from the northern areas of the country (Puke, Tropoja, and Mirdite). The parishes of Kamza are part of 15 parishes belonging to the diocese of Tirana and Durres, which is one of six dioceses of the Albanian Catholic Community. According to the parish priest, Laureano Del Otero, interreligious relationships in the area are good enough and the spirit of harmony prevails. Despite religious affiliations, many young girls and boys celebrate Catholic or Muslim events together. The parishes provide social and educational contributions to the community. A center for children (13-25 years) with disabilities, including those with mental disability, is managed by the church. The parish is also involved in awareness campaigns and education with youth on issues such as environment protection, domestic violence, promotion of human values, etc. While there is a sense of community-based harmony, it does not seem to be the case on inter-institutional cooperation. Mr. Otero has been in Kamza for almost 5 years, and he has never met the imam of the town, despite the mosque being a mere few meters away. This fact is admitted by the imam as well. The priest is also critical regarding cooperation with the municipality. Due to some recent infrastructure improvements the municipality has made in town, cars do not have access to the church, which hampers some religious activities, especially funeral ceremonies.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 22 SUMMARY OF FACTORS AFFECTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FACTORS Poorly governed Due to the heterogeneity (a lot of newcomers from different areas of areas the country), social problems and poverty, Kamza has the lowest law and order indicators in the region of Tirana and almost the highest level of domestic violence countrywide. The interagency cooperation faces difficulties and frictions due to the political belonging (the Mayor is DP figure). Pro-active religious There are cases when girls were not allowed to attend schools for agendas religious reasons, meanwhile several women are dressed differently (Burqa) from the local traditional attire. PULL FACTORS Existence of VE The presence of religious extremists and individuals who exert groups with pressure on religious believers to join extremist causes has been attractive objectives confirmed in Kamza (the IDM Study), also the tendency to favor radical actions or other extremist narratives. Existence of radical Not typically, but the imam does not provide the full assurance that institutions or the local Muslim leadership represent the traditional soft Islam, nor venues that he is immaculate from the language of hatred. Social networks and The municipality of Kamza is one of the national hotspots in terms of group dynamics religious radicalization. Some individuals from the area (no official data available) used to take part in the fights in Syria/Iraq, which implicate religious preachers, among others. Data regarding the returnees from the fights are also absent. Provision of services Local socioeconomic problems, the poverty, insecurity, lack of justice, (responding to etc., may be exploited by VE groups. unmet expectations and needs)

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 23 PUSH FACTORS Socioeconomic The heterogeneity (different mentalities and traditions) and the high Drivers: Social level of the population density are two of the factors fueling the low exclusion and living standards of the Kamza communities. marginality The number of unregistered inhabitants (it is reported 2,000 but is believed to be higher) is worrisome. The access to services for unregistered population is difficult. The unemployment level of women (55 percent) and youth (63 percent) are indicators of social exclusion and marginality. The employment institution (the Labor office located in Tirana) being distant from job seekers, especially for women who are restricted in their mobility, fosters social exclusion factor of vulnerable communities. The local governance budget orientation mainly to infrastructure doesn’t address marginalized groups’ conditions and economic inclusion. Socioeconomic There are shortcomings regarding social services facilities such as Drivers: Societal community centers and centers for domestic violence victims. There discrimination is also an unproportionate ratio of inhabitant’s vs doctors/nurses. Most of the women who encounter gender-based violence hesitate to denounce it because of economic conditions. Roma- Egyptians communities lack the access to education institutions and children from this community frequently drop out of schools. Political Drivers: The perception of the local officials and stakeholders is that the Denial of political municipality of Kamza is not treated fairly by the central government. rights and civil This influences the local development and wellbeing. liberties Political Drivers: Living in extreme poverty and informality the citizens of Kamza are Endemic corruption far away from the concept of participation, transparency and and impunity for accountability. The commissions and structures promoting citizens well-connected elites participations are not at all inclusive. Cultural Drivers: The representative of the Muslim community interviewed got Islam under siege defensive when religious radicalization topic was approached, especially stating that there is no need for P/CVE trainings or interventions. In the IDM Study, Kamza appears for the relatively high percentage (34 percent) of responders who believe that that ‘Islam under siege’ and that the West is constantly attacking Islam.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 24 PUSH FACTORS Cultural Drivers: Broader religious support, including financial aid and education, might Broader cultural influence local individuals to embrace radicalization ideologies. Also, threats current socio-political situation might be an indirect threat to the community wellbeing, values and cohesion.

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 25

U.S. Agency for International Development PLANNING AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROJECT IN ALBANIA

RR. DERVISH HIMA 3 KULLAT PRAPA STAD. QEMAL STAFA KULLA 1, APT. 91, KATI 10 TIRANA, ALBANIA

www.plgp.al facebook.com/Albania.USAID

ALBANIA PLGP - COMMUNITY MAPPING ASSESSMENT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZA 26