Transnational meetings, Albania, Feb.-Mar. 2016
Between 29 February to 4 March 2016 the second series of transnational meetings took place in Albania under the Project SGP15-09, EvALRO - Development Evaluation of equitable practices and incorporating cultural diversity Gender + perspectives in Albania and ROmania through transnational Cooperation ', that is implemented by RoSE of Romania in partnership with ASPE - Association of Albanian Evaluators. The purpose of the meetings was to transfer experience from ROSE to ASPE on the development of occupational framework and on good practice in the field of evaluation.
According to the plan, the first meeting was held on February 29, 2016 on ASPA Headquarters - School of Albanian Public Administration. Here, the Romanian team suggested to their Albanian colleagues’ effective ways to improve competences in monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs for public administration, that might bring positive impact on raising funds in the in the process of EU pre-accession. The presentation and the discussions have proved high interest in cooperation between ASPA and the professional associations of evaluators of both countries. In this respect, at the end of the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.
On March 1, 2014 a meeting was held with the leadership of Local Administration in Durres Municipality that investigated potential cooperation with the project partner professional associations for training and consulting in the field of evaluation. The hosts of the meeting appreciated the experience of Romania on EU fundraising and recognized their need for professional support. Therefore, both parties agreed to further investigate the possibilities for concrete cooperation.
The next meeting was held in the University of Economics of Elbasan, on March 2, 2016, where, in front of a large audience of teachers and students, RoSE representative delivered a lecture on the occupational framework concerning evaluation in Romania and related education approaches, followed by a session of questions and answers and an interview for local television. As a result of presentations the project partners were invited by the management of the University to prepare a Master Course in evaluation of projects based on Romanian experience, to be approved and introduced as Academic Program.
Following to the meeting with Academia, a Roundtable was organized with the Local Public Administration of Elbasan on fundraising, assessment of projects and local policies in the context of the new opportunities for pre-accession to the EU. The participants appreciated the need to improve evaluation competences in local administration based on the transfer of experience from Romania. In this regard, it was agreed to set up a joint working group at the level of local public administration in Elbasan and Durres, to work with ASPE, for initiating concrete actions for training and consulting in evaluation.
The meetings in Albania ended with the agreement of project partners on the content Code of Practice, which the two associations are going to adopt independently in their General Assemblies. The representatives of RoSE and ASPE appreciated that the project achievements are sustainable and provide a good basis for the implementation of the agreements signed.
RoSE thanked its partner from Albania and recognized its outstanding contribution and efforts to achieve the project objectives and the perspectives for an extended partnership.
The Code of Practice for RoSE, developed within the project can be downloaded here.
Images taken during the meetings in Albania: