Read more about our main activities, publications, and the latest news from our work during April- July 2023, as well as future activities.
FINANCIAL AND SUPPORT SCHEMES
THE CALL IS OPEN FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE "NPO EXCHANGE PROGRAM"
Partners Albania has opened the second call for Albanian NPOs interested in participating in the "NPO Exchange Program".
During June, the first 12 participants of the program had the opportunity to see up close the work of renowned organizations and institutions. This allowed them to exchange valuable practices and insights on topics of shared concern, fostering connections and potential collaboration.
The second round of the program will take place on September 18-21, 2023.
CALL FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
APPLY AT SMILE.AL
SMILE.AL, the first Crowdfunding platform in Albania, which seeks to gather public funds to bring socially impactful projects to life, invites all non-profit organizations to submit their projects in the following areas:
➡️Social welfare and solidarity;
➡️Promotion of cultural heritage;
➡️Environment;
➡️Social entrepreneurship;
➡️Education and training;
➡️Sports activities;
➡️Innovative enterprise.
The deadline for the submission of projects is July 1 - September 30, 2023
On May 16-17, we held the Green Businesses Competition 2023, where 21 finalists selected from the received applications, competed to win financial support for their business ideas, or businesses in the first stages of development. The jury of the competition selected the following winners:
LOT 1: Business Ideas at Conceptual Stage ➡️ Marçela Tringaj with “Purteka. Gardening for children”
➡️ Leonida Palushaj with “Clay Play LAB”
Each of the winning ideas under this Lot will be financially supported up to the amount of 500,000 ALL.
LOT 2: Businesses in Pre-Seed Stage ➡️ Sentiljana Marku with “Mjedrat e Danjës”
➡️ Ornold Bazaj with “Reality Escapers Albania”
➡️ Marjana Jakini with “Trendy Traditë”
Each of the winning ideas under this Lot will be financially supported up to the amount of 800,000 ALL.
Three of the winners, namely “Purteka. Gardening for children”, “Mjedrat e Danjës” and “Reality Escapers Albania” will automatically become part of the regional Balkan Green Ideas Competition 2023, which will take place in October, in Montenegro.
GIVING CIRCLE ALBANIA 2023
Once again this year, the "Giving Circle 2023" Live crowdfunding event proved to be a thrilling occasion, surpassing expectations with remarkable success. The total sum raised, reaching 2,511,879 Lek, in support of three community initiatives, once more exceeded the initial target of 900,000 Lek. This outcome reaffirms the strong sense of civic awareness and unity toward communities in need. Donations from various individuals and institutions ranged from monetary contributions to offers of professional services and volunteer work. Real-time updates on the donation value were prominently displayed on the large screen. The three supported initiatives were:
➡️ Therapeutical services to 25 children with disabilities!
Implementing organization: Global Care Albania
➡️ "Let's enjoy nature"!
Implementing organization: SOEK-IN, Librazhd Youth Center
➡️ Rehabilitation of "Marigo Posio" Park!
Implementing organization: Celim Albania
The contributions continue in support of these causes. Read more here
PROJECTS UNDER IMPLEMENTATION
NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN ALBANIA
CIVIL SOCIETY WEEK 2023
One of the main initiatives of the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania during this period was Civil Society Week, a series of 120 activities dedicated to the sector and promoting its work and contribution, organized in cooperation with partner organizations from all over the country. Organized under the motto "Skills for all: To learn, work, engage", about 2500 participants, 75 CSOs, 50 schools and universities, and 25 public institutions were engaged in the week's activities. The week culminated with a national event organized in Elbasan.
MULTISTAKEHOLDER ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON AML / CTF ISSUES
We held in April 2023 a series of regional roundtables with representatives of NPOs, regional tax directorates, and financial institutions (banks and not-banks). The discussion focused on Recommendation 8 and the explanatory note "On non-profit organizations" of the FATF; The legal framework for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing that applies to the non-profit sector in the country; The terrorist financing risk assessment methodology for the NPO sector in Albania; as well as the NPO Code of Standards as a self-regulatory mechanism which aims to improve the effectiveness of the work of non-profit organizations, foster good governance, transparency and accountability.
MONITORING THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ALBANIA
About 40 representatives of NPOs and public institutions gathered at a cross-sectoral meeting to discuss and explore challenges and opportunities the organizations face in their activity, as presented in the findings of the Monitoring Matrix on the Enabling Environment for the Development of Civil Society, Report for Albania 2022.
The event was addressed by Mrs. Amanda Roberson, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Tirana, who emphasized the important role civil society plays in representing communities and holding elected officials accountable.
WISEs4YOUTH
On June 26, we organized the first study visit as part of the WISEs4Youth project, where we welcomed 17 young social entrepreneurs and representatives of partner organizations. The participants had the opportunity to learn about the development of the social enterprise ecosystem in Albania and visit three Albanian social enterprises "Te Xhoni" Cafe, Center for Culinary Education, and Funky Cabin-Glamping. They engaged in diverse discussions, exchanged ideas, and witnessed the positive impact of these social enterprises.
FAIR OF LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OF ALBANIAN SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
On June 7, in the Castle of Tirana, we organized The Future is Green, Let's Paint it Together! Fair! The winners of the Green Businesses Competition over the years, and other enterprises supported through our programs in the social entrepreneurship and innovation field, with their products and services in the tourism, agriculture, handicrafts, culinary, medicinal and aromatic plants sectors, welcomed visitors offering them to taste local products and learn more about local services. They had the opportunity to exchange practices, create networking and establish collaborations for their enthusiastic initiatives.
The fair was one of the partner events in the frame of #EUGreenWeek 2023.
CLOSING CONFERENCE OF "RISE-ALB, STRENGTHENING OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ALBANIA" PROJECT
Partners Albania was one of the implementing organizations of "RISE-ALB Strengthening of Social Entrepreneurship in Albania". In May was organized the closing event of the project, presenting its results among partners and beneficiaries.
In the span of three years, Rise-Alb has enabled professional training for people in need, the improvement of the effectiveness of policies in support of social entrepreneurship, and the reuse of confiscated assets.
Some of the project's achievements in numbers:
☑️ 2,162 direct beneficiaries;
☑️ 531 individuals benefiting from training;
☑️ 85 economically active individuals at the end of the project;
☑️ 39 individuals employed in the economic activities of Civil Society Organizations benefiting from the project.
☑️ Beneficiary Civil Society organizations have generated from the sales of goods and services about 109,000 euros, while the supported micro-enterprises have generated about 42,800 euros of income.
Partners Albania, as one of the implementing partners of the project, conducted a series of activities that contributed to:
☑️ Mapping, identifying challenges, and assessing the needs of new social enterprises - Two studies on the characteristics and challenges of social enterprises in Albania;
☑️ Developing the skills and capacities of NPOs that perform social entrepreneurship activity - 38 local NPOs have been trained in the management of social enterprises;
☑️ Building partnerships between social enterprises and businesses - 38 local NPOs and 30 private entities have participated in meetings for building partnerships (B2B), as a result of which 13 local NPOs have generated additional funding thanks to this activity;
☑️ Discussions and recommendations for improving the legal and practical framework for social enterprises - Two policy documents that provide concrete recommendations regarding the funding possibilities of social enterprises and the law on social enterprises.
YOUTH MOVEMENT – A NEW PAGE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
On May 26, at the Albanian Parliament, over 170 youngsters, high school students from all over Albania, shared with each other and with teachers and representatives of the local government, the achievements and challenges in the implementation of 28 community initiatives that contribute to the development of local democracy.
For four years, as part of the Youth Movement - A New Page for Local Communities, Partners Albania has organized 28 youth camps with the participation of 487 high school students from 17 cities of Albania.
The Youth Speaks! event was addressed by Mrs. Ermonela Felaj, Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, who congratulated the students for their initiatives, addressing them as "future parliamentarians and the driving force propelling the country towards progress."
MONITORING OF PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITY IN ALBANIA
As part of its work to promote philanthropic activity, Partners Albania has been monitoring it since 2015, based on the information gathered from media reports, and information published by public and non-public institutions. The findings highlight the main causes supported, the nature and value of donations, geographic coverage, and the nature of donors.
MONITORING MATRIX ON THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN ALBANIA, COUNTRY REPORT 2022
Among key recommendations, the Report states:
➡️ With the creation of the new electronic register on NPOs, expected to be functional by the end of 2023, the integration of state agencies’ systems should be ensured to avoid duplication of reporting by NPOs, and to provide a clear understanding of the size and economic value of the sector;
➡️ Reclassification of the NPO sector as “low risk” on AML/CFT issues, by amending the AML/CTF legal framework to this regard, based on the Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Methodology for the NPO Sector in Albania;
➡️ The government must seriously engage and take concrete actions to ensure the implementation of the measures of the Road Map for Drafting Policy and Measures for Enabling Environment for Civil Society 2019-2023, within its timelines.
CAPACITY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS IN ALBANIA
This assessment was conducted by the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania and aims to identify the current needs of organizations for capacity building in the field of organizational management, financial sustainability, participation in policy-making, and the European integration process.
The identified needs will serve as a basis for the development of future capacity-building programs of NRC for the sector. The findings can also help organizations, donors, and other institutions that work to support civil society organizations.
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Read here the 8th editon of DPI bulletin, April - June 2023: ➡️ In Albanian ➡️ In English
"PHILANTHROPY" MAGAZINE
#Philanthropy is the only magazine in Albania dedicated to the development of philanthropic activity in the country. This is a periodical publication prepared by Partners Albania since 2020, which brings to the attention of the public facts from the monitoring of philanthropic activity, interviews, promotion of philanthropic cases, studies and reports in this field, and more.
DOCUMENTARY ON THE "YOUTH MOVEMENT, A NEW PAGE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES"
Watch this documentary that shows the journey of the Youth Movement, a new page for local communities initiative.
✅4 years ✅487 youngsters involved ✅17 cities ✅28 community initiatives that contribute to the development of local democracy, implemented by youngsters!
IMPACT OF COUNTER-TERRORISM MEASURES ON CIVIL SOCIETY & CIVIC SPACE
Partners Albania, together with civil society colleagues from 13 countries from Central and Eastern Europe, provided its input in the regional civil society consultation on the impact of counter-terrorism measures on civil society and civic space in Central & Eastern Europe. Read here the Central & Eastern Europe Regional Outcome Document.
Global NPO Coalition on FATF, as part of the Private Sector Consultative Forum of FATF held in Vienna, on 8-9 May, had an insightful exchange on Recommendation 8 of FATF, focusing on some hot issues for the NPO sector such as de-risking, challenges in implementation and interpretation of beneficial owner law along with the importance of NPO participation in the mutual evaluation and training of assessors.
Mrs. Juliana Hoxha, Partners Albania Director, had the opportunity to contribute to the discussion with an overview of the de-risking trend observed in the Western Balkans including Albania. Unfortunately, it is the result of a complex set of factors ranging from the wrong implementation of recommendation 8 (lack of risk-based approach implementation), and stringent measures by FI regarding AML/CTF based on a misperception of risk coming from NPOs, but also their low financial interest.
Most importantly, she argued why the non-for-profit sector in Albania should not continue to be considered as high risk for TF by law. Albania has met all the needed requirements from MoneyVal and because of that Recommendation 8 is evaluated as largely compliant. It is time now for our institutions to reflect it in the AML/CTF law. This will lift a heavy burden the sector has been carrying in terms of reporting and business relations with the banking system. We hope that the Best Practices Paper of FATF that will be discussed at the FATF June plenary and shared for public consultation will address some of these concerns, especially with regard to public institutions and FI. Very happy to see that it will also include a Bad Practices part for the parties to clearly understand how Recommendation 8 should not be implemented.
OSCE MEDITERRANEAN PARTNERS FOR CO-OPERATION GROUP MEETING
Klotilda Tavani Kosta, Partners Albania Director of Programs, was a speaker at the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group meeting under the aegis of Finland’s MPCG Chairpersonship. She shared the Albanian experience with the social reuse of confiscated assets in the Thematic Session: Enforcing the Rule of Law and Combating Corruption through Asset Recovery.
Partners Albania started in 2018 C.A.U.S.E., the first initiative of its kind implemented in Albania and the Western Balkans which aimed to establish a model of sustainable re-use of confiscated assets from organized crime, by civil society organizations. Currently, Partners Albania is implementing the project TWIST, supporting the development of existing and new social enterprises, either in confiscated assets from organized crime for social reuse, and those social enterprises that address community needs.
RESILIENT CIVIL SOCIETY LEARNING AND NETWORKING SUMMIT
Partners Albania represented by Arjola Agolli, Manager of the National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania, and part of the experts team on Resiliency +, participated in the Resilient Civil Society Learning and Networking Summit, organized by Partners Global on July 25-27 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The event brought together representatives from civil society organisations, part of the global project on civil society strengthening and support, INSPIRES, implemented by Partners Global and other international organisations.
The summit created the opportunity for connection, exchange and multi-directional learning between civil society representatives, practitioners and experts working on strengthening the resilience and capacity for the impact of their organisations. The event aimed to enable the emergence of collective and innovative reflections and ideas on how to better support civil society and how to better connect with other sectors and stakeholders to promote peaceful, inclusive and prosperous societies.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON ALBANIA 2022
On 24 May 2023, European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted its report on the Commission's 2022 Albania report, which was adopted in the plenary session of the European Parliament in July (Resolution 2022/2199(INI)).
Among others, in the section Fundamental freedoms and human rights, the AFET report “Calls for the revision of provisions of the Law on Registration of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) undermining the freedom of expression and association; is particularly concerned by the highly disproportionate fines for administrative violations by NPOs; welcomes the self-regulatory Code of Standards for NPOs and suggests simplifying the electronic registration of civil society organisations” (paragraph 60, pg. 15).
Read the report here: ➡️ https://bit.ly/44MGVpG
PROMOTING THE SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
At its 66th plenary meeting, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution “Promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy for Sustainable Development”. The resolution provides an official definition for the Social and Solidarity Economy and acknowledges that it can contribute to the achievement and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is an historical moment for the Social and Solidarity Economy and its role in the 2030 Agenda.
