Administrative reform, a precondition for the integration and sustainable development of municipalities

The Kosovo Local Government Institute, with the support of the Norwegian Embassy, has launched a new phase of focused sectoral engagement through the LGA – Empower programme, which aims to strengthen the academy network and provide direct support to Kosovo’s municipalities.

The first meeting of the thematic group “Administration and Reform” was held today (Friday), 30 September 2016, at the KLGI Institute’s premises, where the objectives and common agenda were set, including the approach to be followed during work in the thematic groups.

The Executive Director of the Kosovo Local Government Institute – KLGI, Mr Besnik Tahiri, stressed that Kosovo needs to rethink and review its system of local government and that members of the thematic group should be directly involved in identifying the needs and challenges of local government. There is therefore a need to produce suggestions and recommendations for key institutions such as the Ministry of Local Government Administration and Parliament.

The meeting set out the objectives to be achieved through these working groups, which are: reducing legal ambiguities; standardising services, procedures and policies (a map of procedures and documentation); contracting of services and inter-municipal cooperation; coordination of training programmes between local and international institutions and organisations; regional practices and innovation.

In a general discussion of aspects related to administration and reform, it was stressed that we have a large body of civil servants and that capacities continue to fall short. Another problem remains the complexity of procedures and legal ambiguities, while evaluation and control are still very weak.

Staff overload was also discussed, as a consequence of which municipal budgets and capital investment are being badly damaged. Nevertheless, it was said that the reform process itself must be careful, bearing in mind the socio-economic situation.

In its first phase, through the thematic groups, the LGA – Empower programme aims to engage in focused discussions, advocacy and policy work and sustainable sectoral programmes, in advancing functional policies, and in providing recommendations and options for actors working at local level. The next phase concerns facilitating experts for the thematic groups in drafting sustainable policies and programmes for the local level.

The LGA – Empower programme is an offshoot of the LGA programme, and aims to directly engage municipal leaders and officials, experts, representatives of the central level and civil society in building sustainable programmes and policies for the local level.