LGA, a platform and a tool for change

The Kosovo Local Government Institute held its annual conference and the launch ceremony of the programme “Local Governance Academy (LGA) – Sixth Generation”. The event was also part of the KLGI Institute’s engagement aimed at encouraging and promoting developments towards new objectives at the local level.

The Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Mr Besnik Tahiri, congratulating the participants of this generation, stressed that KLGI will remain committed, together with its partners, to promoting and further advancing the sustainable development of municipalities, as the only path to democratic consolidation and progress towards European integration.

In his speech he shared two observations as a message to municipalities and officials without exception: ‘only strong local governance can increase the credentials of a functional and democratic state’ and ‘the aspiration to join the European family cannot be achieved without building strong foundations at the local level,’ Tahiri stressed.

Mr Tahiri then presented the challenges and successes of local governance in 2016, as well as the outlook for 2017, drawn from the KLGI Institute’s programme and work. He then turned to the key areas of local governance: legislation; good governance; local finance; municipal performance; strategic planning; democratisation; integration of municipalities; and reform.

The main speakers at the event were the Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Mr Besnik Tahiri; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Mr Per Strand Sjaastad; the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Arsim Bajrami; and the Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr Bajram Gecaj.

In addition to the presentation of the LGA programme, the conference addressed the following topics: the Norwegian model of professional education and the lessons Kosovo should follow; professional education as a response to practical challenges; and the role of the MLGA in professional advancement in relation to the reform process.

Also present at the event were KLGI partners, mayors, representatives of line ministries, representatives of international organisations, LGA alumni, the media and local governance researchers.

A documentary also presented the advanced training programme for local-level officials, as a way of familiarising the sixth generation with the activities, goals and impact of the LGA programme.

The LGA is the largest network of municipal officials, an advanced training programme that includes lectures, training sessions, exchanges of experience, workshops and discussions in the interest of local actors.