USAID signed a cooperative agreement with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) to implement a $475, 000 project “Promoting Transparency in Political Financing in Albania.” Reducing corruption in politics begins with political party financing. NDI will assist political parties in strengthening sustainable practices in financial management, accountability, and transparency, and to engage parties and civil society in building collective action on transparency and accountability in party finance. These measures can contribute to building political commitment that is responsive to growing public interest for systematic party finance reform.

This is a 24-month program, will center on the Democratic Party (DP), Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), and Socialist Party (SP), although it will also support smaller parties that express interest and/or are represented in parliament. The project will simultaneously target civil society and media activists to promote effective monitoring and public awareness, coupling grassroots demand for transparency with parties’ “supply-side” efforts at reform. The project will work with the Central Election Commission and other international actors to ensure transparency and accountability in party finance.

Expected Results:

• Political parties strengthen and sustain internal practices for financial accountability and transparency.
• Advance party finance reform through cross-party dialogue and independent monitoring.
• Civil society and media develop capacities and strategies to monitor and raise public awareness about party finance.