Localizing MDG: Planning and Implementation of Kukes RDS

1. Localizing MDG: Planning and Implementation of Kukes RDS Kalyan Pandey, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP-Local Governance Programme, Albania Presented in the workshop on Decentralization and Local Self-Government in Albania held in Tirana on 3-4 February 2006

2. Linking Global, National and Sub-national Priorities – Entry Points for MDG Sub-national: MDG RDS formulation and approval in 12 regions, LG platform to support MDGRDS implementation and monitoring at the sub-national levels National: Signed the Millennium Declaration, Parliament passed a Resolution on the MDGs, Albanian Response to MDG launched, NSSED incorporates MDGS Global: Millennium Declaration, donor countries active in Albania are signatories

3. MDG at sub-national level for local development in Albania Objectives: • To showcase the usefulness of localizing Millennium Development Goals at the sub-national levels in providing an engine for comprehensive regional and local development. Expected outputs; • Regional development Strategies aligned with MDG and prepared in a participatory way and its implementation.

4. 1. Preparatory meetings held with local government, other officials/organizations and stakeholders (CSOs, CBOs etc) to develop MDG RDS formulation plan. 10. Formal approval of the MDG RDS by the Regional Council and launching of the document. 2. Led by the Regional Council, a steering committee and working groups formed (one per MDG) to undertake the situation analysis and gather data on the different sectors. 9. Review of the MDG RDS by UN agencies, local and international NGOs and relevant government ministries and departments. Incorporation of feedback approved by the Regional Council. 3. Capacity development training provided for stakeholders, Regional Council and other members of the local government on the localization of MDG goals, formulation of targets, and setting of indicators 8. Regional Council facilitates (with support of UNDP) consultative sessions in all districts of the Region on the semi-final text and programmes, projects, and indicators. 4. Regional Council facilitates (with support of UNDP) consultative sessions in all districts of the Region on the participatory prioritization of the regions development needs, selection of relevant MDG goals, and formulation of targets and indicators. 5. UNDP provides technical assistance with relevant local experts on refining the indicators in line with the NSSED and EU SAp. 7. UNDP provides technical assistance with relevant local experts on refining the MDG projects and linking them to NSSED & EU priorities. 6. Regional council and stakeholders develop MDG programmes and projects to achieve selected targets.

5. Output of the RDS process in Kukes Regional Development Strategies with: • Public awareness on MDG at the sub-national levels • Situation analysis of the region • Long term Vision and Goal • Identification of MDG priorities ( five) for the regional development in Kukes • Specification of baseline and targeted indicators for short and long term and alignment of targets with NSSED. • Specification of Programme to be focused to achieve the target of each regional MDG • Tentative cost estimation • Action Plan

6. RDS Implementation Process and Result in Kukes • In 2005, the European Commission CARDS Programme and UNDP Albania formally agreed to focus efforts on regional development in Albania’s northern region of Kukes with the initiation of the Kukes Regional Development Initiative (KRDI). • an investment of about 2.74 million Euro (2.5 million Euro from EC and 0.24 million from UNDP funds) for a period of two years.

7. Kukes Regional Development Implementation Initiative focused on • Community Involvement in Planning and Prioritization of Projects in all 15 Communes and Kukes Municipality • Formulation of Commune and Municipal Development Plans aligned with MDGs and Kukes Regional Development Strategy. • Capacity Development of the authorities at the Commune, Municipal and Regional Council Level • Implementation of Infrastructure projects and assessing its impact on the peoples lives. • Developing a system for RDS-MDG monitoring and Progress reporting by Regional Council

8. Progress in One Year period of Implementation of KRDI • 158 Community groups have been formed involving over 4,000 people - among which 840 (21%) are women in community projects identification. • 48 training sessions organized for approximately 1,058 people related to CBO formation and operation and development planning to community leaders and local government authorities • 21 infrastructure Projects amounting $ 1 million implemented of which 14 are completed, and 7 are on-going. • Local government contributed 10% cash of the total costs of the project • 64.8% or 49, 151 of the Kukes district population benefited from the infrastructure projects related to education, health, irrigation, cleaning and greening and road. • 48% of the population benefited from education projects; 19% irrigation; 16% health; 9% from road improvements; and 8% for environment projects. • 14 commune plans plus 1 Municipal Plan have been completed • All communes established Development unit for the continuation of the process. • An assessment was undertaken on the impact of the project in peoples lives

9. Future Direction • Continue working in Kukes till the end 2007 and covering all communes and Municipalities of Kukes regions ( all three districts) • Institutionalizing the RDS-MDG monitoring and progress reporting system in Regional Council. • Institutionalizing the community participation in planning process within the project development department of each commune. • Continuing capacity development initiatives of the local government authorities at all three levels. • Search for funding partners to initiate the RDS implementation process in other regions of Albania.