Technical assistance

Technical assistance

Technical assistance

Support to IPA Management

Since February 2019, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is being supported by the Technical Assistance project “IPA 2017-Support to IPA Management”. The overall objective of this 18-month technical assistance project, financed by the European Union with EUR 950,000, is to support the effective and efficient use of EU assistance, in order to better prepare Albania for EU membership, whilst the specific objective is to strengthen the capacity of the National IPA Coordinator (NIPAC)/the Directorate for the Coordination of National and Regional IPA Programmes in its role as NIPAC Support Office and other Albanian stakeholders and institutions to plan, programme, implement, monitor and evaluate EU assistance in the context of preparation for EU membership.

The Project started on 27 February 2019. In the context of the activities carried out in the first 12 months, 427 civil servants and public employees have been trained in programming, monitoring and reporting IPA Assistance, support has been provided for the organisation of 13 Sectoral Monitoring Committees and for the preparation of Annual Implementation Reports on IPA Assistance and mentoring work is in course on IPA III programming and the drafting of 9 sectoral analyses in preparation for the submission of the Strategic Response of Albania for the 2021-2027 financing period.

Strengthening the capacity of Albanian Institutions with respect to Union Programmes

Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is the national overall coordinator for Union Programmes in Albania (currently Albania participates in 9 Union Programmes). The Directorate for the Coordination of National and Regional IPA Programmes is the unit responsible for Union Programmes within MEFA. Furthermore, each Union Programme is coordinated by a responsible institution (signatory of the memorandum/agreement with the European Commission) and National Contact Point (s), which act as coordinators for specific programmes.

Starting from March 2019, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs benefits from the assistance for the Strengthening of the capacity of Albanian Institutions with respect to Union Programmes, which will last for 3 years. The objective of this assistance is to support the institutionalization of the Union Programs and the development of the capacities and sustainability of the MEFA, National Coordinators/ National Contact Points and other relevant Albanian structures. The assistance aims to increase the number of potential applicants for Union Programmes, increase partnerships between Albanian and foreign applicants, increase the visibility of Union Programmes and increase the number beneficiaries in Albania.

Technical Assistance for Territorial Cooperation Programmes

Based on the Article 72 of the Framework Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Republic of Albania and European Commission on IPA II Assistance Instrument and specific Regulations of each Territorial Coperation Programme, the amount of IPA II assistance to be allocated to technical assistance shall be limited to 10% of the total amount allocated to the cross-border cooperation programme.

Technical Assistance Project – IPA CBC Albania - Kosovo Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2022.

The overall objective of this Technical Assistance is to support the National Authorities of Albania and Kosovo in ensuring the efficient set-up and management of the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Albania – Kosovo under the instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II).

The specific objectives of the project aims to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the CBC programme increasing the capacities of the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS), Operating Structures (OSs), the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) and those of the potential and actual beneficiaries of EU funding. TA will support and monitor the CBC projects, and prepare the CBC potential applicants for the upcomer Calls for Proposals (CfPs) through info days, networking and partner search forums in Albania and Kosovo.

Technical Assistance Project – IPA CBC North Macedonia – Albania Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 24 July 2019 until 25 July 2022.

The overall objective is to support the national authorities of the two beneficiary countries in ensuring the effective deployment and management of the Cross-Border Cooperation Program between Northern Macedonia and Albania 2014-2020. Improving the capacity of Operating Structures and Joint Management Structures (Joint Monitoring Committee, Joint Technical Secretariat and Office of its Antenna) to effectively and timely manage and implement activities within the program; Preparation and dissemination of program information to national authorities, the general public and program beneficiaries. Also improving the capacity of grant beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries to prepare and then implement high quality projects

The specific objectives aim to ensure efficient, effective, transparent and timely implementation of the program; Increasing and raising awareness of the program to the national, regional and local community as well as the population in the permitted area of ​​the program in general as well as strengthening the administrative skills of the authorities and beneficiaries implementing the program in order to improve project outcomes.

Technical Assistance Project – IPA CBC Montenegro - Albania

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 16 December 2019 until 15 December 2022.

The overall objective of the Technical Assistance project is to support the national authorities of Montenegro where the Contracting Authority is located and Albania in ensuring the efficient set-up and management of the Cross-border Cooperation Programmes Montenegro – Albania.

The specific objectives of this project aim to ensure the efficient, effective, transparent and timely implementation of the cross-border cooperation programme, to raise awareness of the programme amongst national, regional and local communities and, in general, the population in the eligible programme area and to supports awareness-raising activities at country level in order to inform citizens in both beneficiary countries.

Additionally, the technical assistance allocation will be used to support the work of the national Operating Structures and of the Joint Monitoring Committee in ensuring the efficient set-up, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme as well as an optimal use of resources.

Technical Assistance Project – Interreg IPA CBC Greece – Albania Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 1 March 2016 until 31 December 2023.

The overall objective of the project is to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the management and implementation of the programme, in order to achieve the key objective for smart growth, sustainable development and inclusive growth.

The specific objectives aim to improve the capacity of National Structure (Operating Structure) and Joint Management Structures (Joint Monitoring Committee, Joint Technical Secretariat, Joint Steering Committe), potential applicants/grant beneficiaries to manage and implement efficiently and timely the cross-border programmes’ tasks and activities and prepare and disseminate programme information to national authorities, the general public and programme beneficiaries and improve the capacity of grant beneficiaries to implement high quality cross border projects.

Technical Assitance Project – Interreg IPA CBC Itali – Albania – Montengro Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 5 September 2017 until 30 June 2023.

The overall objective of Technical Assistance project aims to increase in efficiency and effectiveness the management and implementation of the Programme, improving and streamlining administrative procedures, as well as supporting beneficiaries in order to increase their performances.

The specific objectives of the Technical Assistance regards actions to support Programme structure with a sound management of the cooperation programme in terms of efficiency and effectiveness with a sound management of the cooperation programme is the pre-condition for its effective implementation. It aims to improve and streamline the administrative procedures for a faster and more efficient implementation of the programme and an improvement of the support to beneficiaries so that they can apply in better conditions and submit more targeted and better quality projects. A National Information Point (NIP) has been established to support and assist beneficiaries.

Technical Assistance Project – Interreg IPA BalkanMed

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract starting from 1 January 2015 until 31 December 2023.

The overall objective of this Technical Assistance project is the strengthening of the Interreg IPA Balkanmed programme’s implementation mechanism in timely and efficient manner.

The specific objectives of this Technical Assistance project aim at prompt establishment of all relevant management bodies and in particular the Monitoring Committee, the Joint Secretariat, the control and audit bodies installation of a computerized system in compliance with respective regulatory requirements for management, monitoring, audit and control, establishment of a system to perform an on‐the‐spot control checks programme, preparation of a communication plan covering all programme’s implementation phases and the preparation the programme’s evaluation plan, etc.

Technical Assistance Project – Interreg ADRION Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract, starting from 14 July 2016 to 13 July 2021.

The overall objective of the Technical Assistance project is to strengthen the mechanism for implementing the Interreg ADRION program in a timely and efficient manner.

The specific objectives of the Technical Assistance Project are to build a successful partnership as one of the key features of a good transnational cooperation project. Partner characteristics can make a difference in project implementation, efficiency, and effectiveness. As a minimum requirement, partners must come from at least three partner countries and at least one of them must be located in one of the EU partner countries. Projects should not only meet the needs of a limited number of partners, but they should contribute to better living conditions in the Adriatic and Ionian regions. The project should identify its general and specific objectives in relation to territorial needs, design a work plan and determine its outcomes, which can be clearly related to the outcomes of the program.

Tecnical Assistance Project – Interreg MED Programme

The Technical Assistance project is financed through a grant contract starting from 1 January 2014 until 31 October 2023.

The overall objective of Technical Assistance is to support actions for preparation, management, monitoring, evaluation, information and communication, networking, complaint resolution and control and audit of the Programme. Technical Assistance also supports actions to reduce the administrative burden on beneficiaries.

The specific objectives of the Technical Assistance aim to effectively implement the cooperation programme also to support applicants and beneficiaries and to strengthen the involvement of relevant partners in the programme implementation. These activities are performed at transnational level by the MA/JS, the CA and/or the participating States.

Technical Assistance project – PANORAMED

Projekti PANORAMED 2014-2020 i financuar nga Bashkimi Europian, për të plotësuar tre prioritetet tematike – Inovacionin, Energjinë dhe Mjedisin ka integruar në arkitekturën e tij një aks ndërsektorial që trajton në mënyrë specifike proceset e qeverisjes në Rajonin e Mesdheut: Aksin 4 “Përmirësimi i Qeverisjes së Mesdheut. Konkretisht, kjo do të arrihet përmes një platforme të autoriteteve kombëtare dhe rajonale, projekti Panoramed. Kohëzgjatja e përgjithshme e projektit është 5 vjet, ka filluar në Mars 2017 dhe se do të zgjasë deri në fund të Marsit 2022.

The overall objective of Technical Assistance is to increase the impact of the program on national and regional policies, through capitalization and consolidation of results obtained from implementation of projects. This priority envisages the establishment of a platform for promoting good governance in the Mediterranean area, as well as the coordination of various activities that will affect the development and protection of this area by improving institutional capacity.