20 YEARs OF pARTnERsHIpINSPECIALINITIATIVES

InTEGRATInG InFORMATIOn And cOMMUnIcATIOn TEcHnOLOGIEs AcROss sEcTORs

USAID is helping Albania utilize information and communication technology (ICT) to improve government transparency, modernize healthcare, and build opportunities for farmers and businesses.

• USAID,inpartnershipwithCarnegieMellonUniversity’sSoftwareEngineeringInstitute,isbuildingAlbania’sabilitytodefendagainstcyber-securityincidentsthatcouldharmthecountry’sbanks,businesses,andgovernmentinstitutions.

• In2010,USAIDplayedakeyroleinestablishingtaxadministrationofficesthatenablebusinessestofileandpaytaxeselectronically–thusimprovinggovernmenttransparencyandservicestocitizens.

• Inthehealthsector,USAIDishelpingAlbaniauseICTtoimprovetheperformanceofmedicalinstitutionsandAlbania’shealthinsurancesystem,strengthenthequalityofmedicaleducation,andspeedupdoctors’accesstomedicalinformationfromaroundtheworld.

• Inagriculture,USAIDhashelpedfarmersandagriculturalindustriesutilizethelatestcomputerandtelephonetechnologiestogrowbusinessesthrough,forexample,obtaininginformationoncommoditypricesandimprovingaccesstoforeignmarkets.

IMpROvE OppORTUnITIEs In REnEWABLE EnERGY

USAID is implementing a Clean Energy Program to improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through the program, USAID is playing a key role to:

• HelpthenationalNaturalResourceAgencyupgradeAlbania’snationalenergydatabase,establishregionaloffices,anddeveloppilotprojectsonenergyefficiency.

• Expandmunicipalities’accesstolocalbankfinancing-tofundcleanenergysolutionsforstreetlighting,municipalwatersupplies,schools,elderlyhousing,andmunicipalbuildings.

• AlbaniaisalsopartofUSAID’sregionalcleanenergyprogramthatwilldevelopapolicyanalysistoguidetheregion’sinvestmentsinwindandhydroprojectsthrough2030.

THEDIRECTORSOFTHEFOURNGOSHELTERSINALBANIASIGNAMEMORANDUMOFUNDERSTANDINGTHATFORMALIzESCOOPERATIONTOASSISTVICTIMSOFTRAFFICKING.

ALBANIA’SNATIONALAGENCYFORTHEINFORMATIONSOCIETY(NAIS)WASINAUGURATEDINMAY2008,INACEREMONYHELDINTHEAGENCY’SMODERNNEWOFFICES,REFURBISHEDBYTHEUSGOVERNMENT.THEAGENCYCOORDINATESALLTHEE-GOVERNMENTSERVICESDEVELOPEDBYTHEMILLENNIUMCHALLENGEALBANIAPROJECT,SUCHASE-REGISTRATIONOFBUSINESSES,E-PROCUREMENTANDTAXE-FILING.

ALBANIAHASENORMOUSPOTENTIALTOUTILIzERENEWABLEENERGY.ITISIDEALLYSUITEDFORDEVELOPINGWIND,HYDRO,ANDSOLARPOWER,ANDTHEREISPOTENTIALASWELLTOMAKEUSEOFGEOTHERMALANDBIOMASSENERGY.

2011ANDBEYONDTHE2000sTHE1990s

pROJEcTs 2000-2010• PropertyRestitutionandCompensationLaw(2004-2006)• RegistrationOrganizationalImprovement(2002-2004)• Protection,Shelter,andReintegrationforAbusedandTraffickedWomen(2002-2004)• TransnationalActionAgainstChildTrafficking(TACT)(2003-2009)withTerredesHommes• TheAlbanianInitiative:CoordinatedActionAgainstHumanTrafficking(CAAHT)(2003-

2009)• CommunitiesEngagedinSocial&EconomicDevelopment(CESEDA)(2003-2005)• FosteringReligiousHarmonyinAlbania(2004-2006)• RegionalEnergyRestoration(2000-2003)• EnergyRestorationandRestructuringProgram(ERRP)(2000-2007)• RegionalInfrastructureSupportProject(2000-2002)• ParticipantTrainingProgram(START)(2001-2005)• EastCentralEuropeScholarshipProgram(ECESP)(2006-2008)• WildfiresAssistance(July-August2007)• GerdecExplosionDisasterRelief(March-May2008)• EmergencysupportforFloodVictimsinNorthernAlbania(January2009,andDecember2010)

pROJEcTs 1991-1999• FirstRegistrationofImmovableProperty(1993-2001)• AlbaniaRefugeeCommunityReliefProgram(1999-2002)• CenterforStreetChildreninTirana(1993-1995)• ParticipantTrainingProjectinEurope(PTPE/PIET)(1992-1996)• TRANSIT(GlobalTrainingforDevelopment(GTD)(1996-2001)• EntrepreneurialManagementandExecutiveDevelopment(EMED)program(1996-2001)

pROJEcTs 2011 And BEYOnd• CleanEnergyinAlbaniaProgram(2010-2013)• SupportforAlbania’sNationalShelterCoalition(2009-2012)• AlbaniaDistributionPrivatizationProgram(2007-2011)• ForecastProgram(2005-2011)

(C)1999,THEWASHINGTONPOST.REFUGEECAMPINKUKES,ALBANIA-3MAY,1999

THEALBANIATRANSITIONINITIATIVEHELPEDLOCALCITIzENSREBUILDTHEKUCOVACOMMUNITYHEALTHCARECENTER.

FRAGMENTATIONOFAGRICULTURALLANDSIMPEDEDTHEDEVELOPMENTOFALBANIA’SAGRICULTURALSECTOR.

USFEDERALANDALBANIANREGULATORSMETINMARCH2010TODISCUSSOVERSIGHTANDMANAGEMENTOFTHENATURALGASSECTOR.

pROpERTY REGIsTRATIOn And LAnd AdMInIsTRATIOn

In the 1990’s, USAID helped the Government of Albania develop its legal framework for land rights and land administration.

• ThroughthehelpofUSAID’spropertyregistrationprograms(1994-2004),over2millionpropertiesoutofatotalestimated4millionpropertyunitswereregisteredinAlbania.Theprogramcompletedregistrationsin2,299cadastralzonesoutofatotalof3,064cadastralzoneswhichrepresents78%ofallcadastralzonesinAlbania.From1994to2001,USAIDfocusedonregistrationsinruralareasandwassuccessfulinregistering2,263ruralcadastralzones.Italsohelpedestablishtheresponsibleagencyforthefirstregistration,theProjectManagementUnit,afterAlbaniapassedthe1992landreformlaw.

• In2002,USAIDfocusedonregistrationforpriorityeconomiczonesincludingthoseareaswherenationalelectrictransmissionlineswereplannedandintourismdevelopmentareas.Theprojectbeganforthefirsttimetheregistrationin16cadastralzones,includingTiranaandothermajorcities.

• In1995,USAIDsupportedthedevelopmentofcommunity-basedforestmanagementthatincreasedruralhouseholdincomesandreducedforestdegradation.Theprogramhelpedcommunitiesestablishforestusergroupsandprepareforestmanagementplans.

REspOnsE TO KOsOvO REFUGEEs

The Kosovo refugee crisis was one in a series of human and political catastrophes to affect Albania in 1990s. USAID’s Albania Transition Initiative was designed to alleviate the impact of the Kosovo refugee crisis on Albanian host communities.

• TheMunicipalInfrastructureSupportProgramandtheSocialServicesRehabilitationProgramhelpedimproveroads,libraries,schools,andhealthclinicsin18communitiesthatacceptedrefugees.

• AWeaponsinExchangeforDevelopmentProgram,incollaborationwithUNDP,supportedcommunityimprovementprojectsintheElbasanDistrict.

• USAIDprovided$12millionofbudgetsupportfortheGovernment’sworktorehabilitateschoolsandsupportneighborhooddevelopment.

HELpInG sTOp TRAFFIcKInG In pERsOns

USAID works with Albanian government and non-governmental counterparts to help the country bring itself into compliance with the standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

• Incooperationwithlocalmunicipalities,USAID’schildanti-traffickingprogramformedChildProtectionUnitsandaChildProtectionSafetyNetprogramthathasbeenintegraltoAlbania’soverallanti-traffickingstrategy.

• USAIDwasactiveinincreasingadvocacyandawarenessaroundthe“OlympicGamesEmergency”in2004.USAIDandTerredeshommesassistedtheGOA’sWorkingGroupAgainstChildTraffickingtodraftaMemorandumofUnderstandingthatwasofficiallysignedwithGreecein2006.

• In2007,USAIDhelpedestablishtheNationalCoalitionofAnti-traffickingShelters.USAIDhelpedNGOsheltersprovideservicestoassistandreintegratevictimsoftrafficking.

• USAID’swomen’santi-traffickingprogramhelpedover740victimsoftraffickingreceiveassistanceandre-integrationservices,morethan2,800vulnerablewomenandchildrenreceivepreventionservices,andover59,000citizensparticipateinawarenessraisingactivities.Theprogramalsotrainedover2,100governmentand210civilsocietyactorsinanti-traffickingmanagement.

REsTRUcTURInG THE EnERGY sEcTOR

Since 2000, USAID has helped bring affordable energy to Albania by improving energy legislation and strengthening the performance of such institutions as the Albanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, and Albania’s power utility company, KESH. Activities have included:

• USAIDhelpeddraftAlbania’sNationalPowerSectorPolicyin2002thatlaidthefoundationfortheprivatizationofAlbania’sstate-ownedpowercorporation,KESH.USAIDplayedanintegralrolethroughouttheprivatization,whichwassuccessfullycompletedin2008.

• WithUSAIDsupport,theGovernmentdevelopedaNationalEnergyStrategyin2003thatdefinedinthelong-termhowAlbaniawilladdressenergysecurity,efficiency,andaffordabilityforcitizens.

• USAIDhelpeddraftboththePowerSectorLaw(2003)thatestablishedtheindependenceoftheEREandtheEnergyEfficiencyLaw(2005)thatestablishedtheinstitutionalframeworkonenergyefficiency.USAIDiscurrentlyhelpingrevisethelawtoensurethatAlbaniameetEUstandardsandhelpsensureasustainablesupplyofaffordableenergyforallcitizens.