Drenas, an example to follow in the equal inclusion of women in governance

As part of its visits to municipalities and joint engagements, representatives of the KLGI Institute visited the Municipality of Drenas, where they had the opportunity to meet the mayor, Mr Ramiz Lladrovci, to discuss prospects for strengthening the local level.

Mayor Lladrovci thanked Mr Tahiri for the visit and at the same time expressed his full readiness to deepen cooperation. On this occasion, Lladrovci presented developments in the municipality, with a particular focus on investments aimed at improving the quality of administrative and public services, sustainable development and increased welfare. The Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Besnik Tahiri, informed Mayor Lladrovci about the launch of the three-year project ‘Support for Stronger and Sustainable Municipalities’ (SSSM), a programme supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Tahiri stressed that the Municipality of Drenas is one of the municipalities that will benefit from this project, through a series of joint engagements. The project spans three key dimensions: the first dimension concerns an effort to ensure inclusiveness in the drafting of policies and legislation, and to strengthen coordination and inter-municipal cooperation, as an opportunity and an effort towards reforms and the reduction of legal ambiguities. The second dimension relates to capacity building through advanced training programmes and professional and technical assistance. The third dimension aims to support civic and social actors, more specifically civil society and young professionals at the local level, who at the same time increase the potential for supporting the municipality while, on the other hand, ensuring mechanisms that increase demands for transparency and effective accountability.

The meeting also discussed the efforts the KLGI Institute, together with institutional and public actors, is making in reform processes, opening new paths for municipalities to become, as far as possible, foundations of democratisation and at the same time generators of development. On this occasion, Tahiri referred to the Municipality of Drenas as a pioneer in empowering society by including women equally in governance. This example should be followed by other municipalities as well, ensuring that inclusiveness guarantees safe progress towards development.