Innovations in the Public Administration Reform: experience of Albania

1. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING GROWTH 29 November 2013 Budapest, Hungary Innovations in the Public Administration Reform: experience of Albania Eralda (Methasani) Çani, Prof.Asoc. Counsellor to the Prime Minister for Public Law 

2. Background • 2013 elections – governmental programmed: • efficient and transparent governance • An innovative and creative approach adopted: • reduce the size of government ministries • increase efficiency by modernization • Increase efficiency and accountability by transparency • progress towards EU candidacy and integration

3. Innovations introduced in the public administration • Aim: ensure a robust and forward-thinking government: • Strengthened the EU integration dimension and absorbing capacities for each ministry • Strengthened the ministry for European Integration - increase in staff numbers • Introduced the results financing approach and made strategic planning/management a core function of each ministry

4. Innovations introduced in the public administration • Established an Anti-corruption National Network, with Prevention Measures and System Modernisation Coordinator in each Ministry, and leaded from one of the state ministers in the Prime Minister’s Office • Adopted ‘delivery units’ (concept from Great Britain, 2001/T.Blair) in each ministry and in the Prime Minister's Office: • introduced a Delivery Unit Network, to ensure constant focus priorities results on performance management and results

5. Delivery Units • “…a small number of dedicated people exclusively focusing on the impact assessment and results improvements….” • Barber et. al. OpCit. pg. 33 • Aim: - needed for Albania as well! • Not to confront the risk of having a disequilibrium between the center and local government as well as the risk of departmentalization of the political system

6. Delivery Units – key functioning elements • Determine the directions • Teams established • Parameters adopted to measure the performance • Realistic plans and budgets are adopted • Monitors the ongoing • Remunerates the success • Lessons learned from failure

7. Innovations; increase of transparency and accountability • Introduced a Network of Chief Information and Innovation Officer: • create strategic technology • Create innovation plans and • modernize the system • CiO’s established in each Ministry will be coordinated/leaded by a National Coordinator, the Minister for Innovation and Public Administration

8. Innovations: internal concerns • Language patrimony preservation and enrichment as one of the strong an identity element (others addressed through a ministry of culture): • created language control platform with language corrector officers • Also aims at a clear and correct communication with citizens: clear writing and augmenting – a key element of the legality of public administrative actions

9. Innovations introduced in second layers of governance as well • Subordinated structures / agencies • Non-policy making structures: decided by law • Adopt as much as possible innovations of the first layer: • strategic planning function • advisor on technology • Review: • out of date structures • overlapping : functional review • Strengthen priority agencies

10. Thank you ! Innovations in the Public Administration Reform: experience of Albania