Institutional Capacity
Helvetas Albania supports the professionalization of local administrations through this G2G Matra Programme, by fostering partnerships between Albanian and Dutch institutions. Central to this effort is the Training Academy of Local Government of Albania (TALGA). The programme supports the institutional development of the Training Academy for Local Governance in Albania (TALGA), which is being established as a national platform for strengthening the capacities of local governments and municipal administrations.
During the inception phase, the project focused on stakeholder alignment, institutional coordination, and the establishment of cooperation mechanisms between Albanian and Dutch partners. A Steering Committee was established, pilot municipalities were selected, and thematic priorities were identified in close consultation with national and local stakeholders.
The programme currently works with four pilot municipalities:
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Elbasan – Digital Governance
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Korçë – Integrity and Anti-Corruption
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Shkodër – Local Economic Development
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Kavajë – Inclusive Service Delivery and Gender Equality
Through cooperation with Dutch municipalities and institutional partners, the project aims to support practice-oriented learning, municipal reform initiatives, and long-term institutional capacity development.
Accountability & Participation
The programme applies a participatory and partnership-based approach throughout its implementation. During the inception phase, extensive consultations were conducted with municipalities, national institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners to identify priorities and ensure local ownership.
Workshops, consultations, and municipal exchanges contribute to strengthening dialogue between national and local levels, while supporting more accountable and responsive local governance practices. The programme also promotes inclusive participation by encouraging the involvement of women, youth, and civil society actors in municipal reform processes.
Policy Development
The programme contributes to Albania’s decentralisation and public administration reform agenda by supporting institutional capacity development, local governance reform, and professional training systems for municipalities.
Through support to TALGA and cooperation with national institutions, the programme seeks to strengthen local governance practices aligned with EU integration priorities, including transparency, accountability, integrity, inclusive service delivery, and citizen-oriented administration.
Technical Assistance
The programme provides technical assistance through institutional support, thematic cooperation, and knowledge exchange between Albanian and Dutch partners.
During the inception phase, activities focused on:
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stakeholder consultations,
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thematic assessments,
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pilot municipality selection,
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establishment of municipal partnerships,
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coordination with national institutions and development partners.
Once TALGA becomes fully operational, future phases of the programme will support:
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training of trainers,
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curriculum development,
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municipal training programmes,
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peer-to-peer exchanges,
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action learning initiatives.
Impact & Metrics
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Four pilot municipalities selected: Elbasan, Korçë, Shkodër, and Kavajë
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Steering Committee established during the inception phase
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Municipal partnerships initiated between Albanian and Dutch municipalities
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Stakeholder consultations conducted with municipalities, ministries, associations, civil society organisations, and development partners
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TALGA institutional establishment and operationalisation process ongoing
Partnerships & Sustainability
The programme is implemented through a partnership between The Hague Academy for Local Governance, Helvetas Albania, and VNG International, in cooperation with Albanian and Dutch institutional partners.
The project promotes long-term sustainability through institutional ownership, stakeholder coordination, and integration within Albania’s local governance reform agenda. Coordination with development partners, including Switzerland (SDC), Sweden (Sida), and other local governance initiatives, supports complementarity and avoids duplication of efforts, and strengthens synergy..
The long-term objective is to support TALGA’s development as a sustainable national platform for local government capacity development and peer learning.
Human Dimension
The programme places strong emphasis on local ownership and inclusive governance. Municipal representatives, local stakeholders, and civil society organisations are engaged throughout the design and implementation process to ensure that activities respond to practical local needs.
By supporting thematic cooperation in areas such as integrity, digital governance, local economic development, and inclusive service delivery, the programme seeks to strengthen municipal capacities and contribute to more transparent, responsive, and citizen-oriented local governance practices.
Project Facts
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Name: Towards Democratic Local Governance
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Duration: February 2025 – December 2028
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Funding: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, through the MATRA G2G programme, implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
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Implementing partners: The Hague Academy for Local Governance, VNG International, Helvetas Albania
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Local partners: Albanian Agency for the Support of Local Self-Government (AMVV), National Association of Municipalities of Albania (NAMA)
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Project Name