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©Leonard Qylafi
Swiss Cooperation provides support for regional development in Albania in order to increase opportunities and balance the socio-economic conditions for less developed regions in the country. This support includes new strategic plans, infrastructure projects, and better coordination between various levels of governance, resulting in a broader access to funding. Aspects such as tourism, infrastructure and environment are of particular relevance for the regionald development programme. |
Since May 1997 the Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania has focused on strengthening democratic institutions, implementing decentralisation at local level, advancing the rural economy, increasing employment and renovating infrastructure. Particular emphasis has been given to gender equality and social inclusion of disadvantaged groups such as the Roma. Through bilateral cooperation and international programmes Switzerland has contributed to Albania with about 133 million Euro up to beginning 2010 - approximately 8 million Euro per year - in form of non-reimbursable grants only. Switzerland’s contribution to Albania is equally distributed between governmental and civil-society channels.
The overall goal for 2010-2013 is to support Albania in its efforts towards European integration by contributing to the improvement of Governance and Rule of Law and to the competitiveness of the Economy. Swiss development assistance in Albania operates in the domains of Democratisation and Rule of Law and Economic Development. Examples of work include enhancing capacities of local government, increasing citizens’ participation in decision-making, introducing regional development plans and policies, improving the social inclusion of Roma people and other disadvantaged groups, rehabilitating water and energy infrastructure, and supporting vocational education.
The Swiss Cooperation brings to Albania Switzerland’s comparative advantage and specific know-how in areas such as decentralisation, vocational educational training (due to its dual educational system), risk insurance and energy. Switzerland plays a leading role in the dialogue and cooperation between the Government of Albania and the international donor community and is recognized for its efforts to increase aid effectiveness.
Please click on menu items on the left for more detailed information about Swiss Cooperation’s programmes and projects in Albania.
The following article by Swiss journalist Gaby Ochsenbein appeared on the website swissinfo.ch - the official site of the International Service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. The Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania is not responsible for its contents. Land of contrasts
by Gaby Ochsenbein in Tirana, swissinfo.ch
June 3, 2013 - 11:00
Feature Story
Promoting Roma Values: Students Perform ‘Les Misèrables’
Every April events surrounding the Roma community become prominent and this emerging group becomes slightly more accepted and visible in the eyes of the Albanian public. It may have started with the 8th of April, the International Roma Day, but now it has expanded into a full week and month of activities and media reports that manage to shed a positive light into the public perception about this marginalized group.
This April (2013) saw a series of well-coordinated efforts and events during the Week for Promoting Roma Values between 8 and 12 of April. Backed by central and local government structures, and international and local organizations, including Swiss Cooperation, the week brought a unique mix of activities that included conferences, fairs, a public march, plays, shows, photo exhibitions and video documentaries.
 One of the events was the production and performance of Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’ by a group of young Roma students who initiated the idea and carried it over to a successful performance at the University of Arts. The ‘Help for Children’ Foundation, an Albanian NGO supported by Swiss Cooperation, coordinated the design and implementation of the play and provided logistical and financial support to the students’ group.
“We worked hard for a full month coordinating and ensuring that the show would be a success”, says Shpresa Spahiu, Director of ‘Help for Children’. The Foundation arranged for rehearsals, secured costumes from the National Theater, and organized the publicity around the event.
The show took place on the 11th of April at the University of Arts, in front of a full house. An audience of over 300 people including representatives of the EU, embassies, international and local organizations, and Roma community, applauded the young students performing the classic play with the confidence of professional actors. For two hours the Roma youngsters delivered an emotionally-laden performance that won the admiration of the public, as well as raving reviews in Shekulli newspaper and the national TVSh, the public broadcaster.
“Simple Roma students performing as professionals is not something we easily accept in our culture”, says Shpresa Spahiu. “Who would have thought that they would be so excellent on stage and perform so well?” adds the NGO Director. According to Ms. Spahiu, the main value of this show was the effect it made on those present and the acceptance it enabled. “If you saw the performance, you suddenly felt closeness to this community and their values become your values. The life of a country is enriched the more we accept the values of different communities, and this is what the show achieved”, concludes Ms. Spahiu.
It was the first time Roma values are promoted in an integrated and coordinated event such as this one. The same spirit accompanied the celebration of the diversity week in the districts of Korça, Elbasan and Berat. |
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