Women work on both sides of the ballot box and participate in the political process (Photo USAID).
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USAID's work to strengthen democracy in Albania focuses on increasing civil society involvement in political processes and decision making, training activists and parliamentarians in democratic principles and practices, and promoting transparency in governance. The program also supports increasing the participation of women in politics and advancing legal rights for women.
Political Party Building and Civil Society Development
Implemented by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), this activity improves the constituency outreach skills of young political leaders and educates citizens in the basic principles, privileges, and responsibilities of democratic citizenship. With USAID support, NDI has trained over 10,000 activists through its political party leadership development program (ZHUP is its Albanian acronym). In its all-women's training program, over 500 women benefited from skills training that facilitated their increased involvement in the political process. NDI also conducts a Civic Forum program in over 40 communities outside Tirana, the capital city, in which citizens, many of them women, develop the skills and are provided with opportunities to interact with local and central government officials. Progress with this grassroots effort has been significant in that elected officials are now routinely facing the demands of the citizenry, until recently an uncommon practice
Women's Legal Rights
In collaboration with USAID's Office of Women in Development (WID),
international donors, Albanian government agencies, and civil society
organizations, the USAID/Albania Mission coordinates its efforts with
the Women's Legal Rights Initiative (WLR). The WLR promotes women's
legal rights by training judges and lawyers on the provisions of the
existing legal code and the application of current laws that protect
women; providing technical assistance for drafting a domestic violence
law; and developing a "bench book" that serves as a reference and procedural
manual to improve adjudication of trafficking cases. The WLR program
also works with NGOs to improve their research skills and increase
their ability to raise public awareness about women's legal rights
and obligations, domestic violence, and inequities in property laws
affecting women.
Conflict Management/NGO Support
Implemented by Partners for Democratic Change, this activity promotes civil society participation in addressing social issues by supporting training and technical and financial assistance to Albanian NGOs. The activity helps local NGOs more effectively address the issue of human trafficking and its effect on minority women and children. It also strengthens NGO skills in providing social services, and generating employment for under-represented groups, including women.
A Women’s Leadership component of the activity enabled women and women’s groups to develop leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Training focused on building women’s skills in conflict management, negotiation, partnership development and collaboration, advocacy, and networking. Participants’ skills as trainers also were developed among women leaders. The year-long activity, which concluded in March 2004, also facilitated the creation of a network that fosters communication, support, and collaboration among women throughout the country.
Albania's Program Objectives
Economic Growth
Democracy
Rule of Law
Health
Anti-Trafficking
Participant Training
SELECTED ACTIVITIES:
Servicing Micro-Entrepreneurs in Albania
Albania Livestock Service Centers
Political Party Building and Civil Society Development
Women's Legal Rights
Conflict Management/NGO Support
Increasing Access to Quality Reproductive Health Services
Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT)
Anti-trafficking Shelters
Participant Training
Visit USAID/Albania link
to the Mission
Global Snapshots: Albania
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