TIRANA, May 18, 2012     Today, USAID launched a new five-year project “Planning and Local Governance” in Albania” (PLGP) which will work in close cooperation with the Government of Albania and local governments to disseminate and institutionalize practical and effective methods for municipal management and to further support decentralized governance in Albania. At the ceremony mayors of 15 local governance units signed Memorandums of Understanding with USAID’s project to lay out the project’s five year assistance program.

Attendees included:  the US Ambassador Alexander Arvizu, the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha,  and the Mayors of Berat, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Kamza, Kashar, Korça, Kuçova, Lushnja, Paskuqan, Patos, Saranda, Tirana, Vlora and Vora.

In addition, USAID signed a MOU with the National Territorial Planning Agency (NTPA), which outlines support USAID will provide to help the agency better plan and manage urban and regional growth strategies.

The selection of the fifteen participating municipalities and communes was done through transparent and participatory process.  Selection was based on the municipalities’ fiscal capacity, level of interest, and their commitment to improving public service delivery, planning and information technology and citizen participation in local government decision-making.