Sustaining and Advancing Local Governance Reform

Support for the Multi-Donor STAR3 Programme:Co-funded with other development partners and implemented by UNDP, the STAR3 initiative aimed at strengthening local governance, consolidating progress from previous phases to enhance municipal services and capacities.It was a strategic initiative aimed at consolidating the achievements of Albania’s decentralization reforms. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and key development partners, STAR3 continueed the legacy of its predecessors, STAR 1 and STAR2, while introducing new elements to support Albania’s ongoing decentralization process.

The STAR3 project reflected the Albanian government’s renewed commitment to advancing local governance reforms. Developed in close consultation with the Ministry of Interior, the project was in alignment with Albania’s National Crosscutting Strategy for Decentralization and Local Governance (NCSDLG), responding to the evolving context of development assistance in the country. STAR3 aims to build upon the foundations of STAR2, consolidating previous gains while introducing innovations and enhanced practices to further strengthen the governance capacities of municipalities.

The project focused on improving the efficiency and accountability of local governments through systems consolidation, innovation in service delivery, and best practices adoption, with a strong emphasis on gender equity and social inclusion.The overall objective was supported by three specific objectives:

1. Participatory Governance:establishing participatory governance mechanisms that engage citizens, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in local decision-making processes. The aim was to foster civic engagement and ensure accountability to both women and men.
2. Improved Municipal Performance:enhancing municipal systems and standards to improve service delivery, focusing on the expansion and consolidation of performance management frameworks.
3. Capacity Building for Decentralization:strengthening the capacity of institutions responsible for decentralization, particularly in policy development, coordination, and monitoring. This aimed to ensure that municipal governance reforms are effectively implemented and sustained over time.

The STAR3 project emphasizedpartnership, complementarity, and coordination across various levels of government and development actors. The Ministry of Interior served as the primary counterpart, ensuring alignment with national decentralization policies. Partners of the project included:

• Albanian Municipalities, as the main beneficiaries, playing a critical role in absorbing and implementing project interventions.Their commitment and absorption capacities were critical for the successful implementation of the activities as well as for the sustainability of the interventions envisaged by the project.
• Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), to facilitate participatory governance and social inclusion initiatives.
• Development Partners: ensuringsynergies and alignment with other donor-funded initiatives, maximizing the impact of reforms in areas such as local finance management, democratic governance, and administrative capacity building.

STAR3 integratedcross-cutting Issues, such as gender mainstreaming social inclusion,and environmental sustainability throughout its activities whichwere considered as central to the activities of the project while supporting local government to improve systems for service delivery and its democracy.

More details about the project can be found at the EU Projects website.

More information about the project can also be found at the UNDP Albania website – STAR3 Project on UNDP Albania.