EDEN Cent held 4 meetings for residents in the Municipality of Has, on 7 and 8 September 2021 regarding participatory budgeting. These meetings were organized in the administrative unit Krumë and Golaj regarding suggestions and comments of residents for the budget provided for the following year in 2022.

These meetings were attended by about 35 participants with whom were discussed 5 budget programs were selected from a total of 23. The selected budget programs were: Irrigation infrastructure management; Forest and pasture management; Rural road network; Waste management; Sewage management and sewerage

It should be noted that the budget of the Municipality of Has in 2020 was 450,277,495 ALL, of which 31% of this budget represents administrative expenditures, 48% are funds for social services and the rest are operational and reserve funds. Only 8% of the budget goes to investment in community development and the budget does not meet any need for investment in various sectors and categories of municipal services. The financial capacities of the Municipality of Has are the lowest at the county level.

The open discussion was referred to a) budget allocation according to the importance/priorities of the programs and the impact on the population and the territory; b) division according to the urban-rural area; c) the method of gathering preliminary information regarding budget requests.

Most of the residents present at the meeting did not have detailed information about participatory budgeting before starting this process and this was another opportunity to talk about the concerns and needs of the community. Suggestions focused mainly on improving the infrastructure to better connect the villages between them; for furthering the development of tourism by creating opportunities for cooperation with the surrounding areas; upgrading insulated school buildings to withstand cold winters; conversion of existing non-functional buildings accordingly to the needs of the population as centers with social services for women, youth, kindergartens, etc .; to plan funds in the sector of agriculture and food as well as forest service, including agricultural infrastructure; planning the creation of collection points of main agricultural products; agricultural and rural counseling; support farmers, etc. Residents said that although the municipality offers small opportunities, they are still underestimated and the area has opportunities for development in various sectors.

Participatory Budgeting is a comprehensive process, which enables the participation of citizens and all other local actors in decision-making on the preparation and distribution of the local budget.
Participatory budgeting is a process led by local government bodies (municipality and its council) in cooperation with the community. This process should ensure participation, information on the budget plan, including planned investments and services, and should enable the community to discuss and address important issues and priorities during the budget consultation. Finally, this process should ensure that funds planned for services and investments are consulted and community recommendations are considered for the approval of a local public budget in response to the needs and priorities of the community.

The second capacity development training in the frame of the EU funded “Green Cross – towards local green economies with smart investments”* project was held in Klina Municipality on 9-10 September 2021. The training broughttogether stakeholders from the municipality of Klina, the Municipality of Has, small business holders - entrepreneurs from both regions, farmers, representatives of the local governments, social activists and representatives of local CSO’s.
The aim of the training was to increase the capacity of the most important actors in the cross-border region, with a multiplier effect of diffusion to the larger public on green entrepreneurship and share good practices that can be replicated in both areas.

As such the most important principles of sustainability, entrepreneurship, conventional and innovative green entrepreneurship was presented and jointly discussed. What can the business sector do to transform themselves to green business, and what the policy makers can do to incentivize businesses to become green and sustainable was elaborated and were jointly discussed, including in group work. Further on, including the practical measures and inclusive growth that derives from these principles, including and inclusive economic growth with no social strata left behind were presented and discussed in a participatory fashion.
The training used theory to practice methods of information exchange including sharing of experiences of small entrepreneurs present, ideas, and practical recommendations. Also the importance and practicality, including the effects of larger institutional policy measures was elaborated, and how these measures aid in the development of green businesses and sustainability.
Externalities and health consequences were discussed in conventional business models, the transformation from conventional forms to innovative forms of green entrepreneurship and how this can be achieved. The importance of the value chain was discussed, inputs, outputs and innovation technology with a benefit both economically in reducing costs and increasing efficiency, reducing environmental footprint and increasing health outcomes. Creative ideas were discussed in good practices and adaptation with the trend of the new innovation and technology. Sector inter-linkage, between sustainable development, tourism agriculture was discussed and reflected upon with practical ideas and discussions.

Joint recommendation were drafted as a result of the group work, joint active discussion and the nature of participatory approach, will be included in the preparation of the guiding manuals as a practical capacity development tool as practical useful recommendations that can be included in the local policy making process to further aid in the sustainable local development.
The training focused also on increasing environmental awareness and using green, sustainable practices to enable the local development of the cross-border region in Albania and Kosovo, via strengthening the capacity of the local economic and policy sector.

*
The "GREEN CROSS – Towards Local Green Economies with Smart Investments" project is financially supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Albania through the cross-border program Albania-Kosovo under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) and implemented in Albania by the Center EDEN and Has Municipality and in Kosovo by Balkan Green Foundation and Klina Commune

Do you know that the decomposition of a plastic bag lasts 20 to 1000 years and plastic bags threats marine life and our food systems? In order to reduce plastic pollution and prevent its consequences, each one of us could give his/her significant contribution by using eco-bags (textile, reusable) instead of plastic bags.

EDEN Center is implementing a short-term campaign for the dissemination of eco-bags with the citizens in three different cities – Tirana, Berat, and Shkodër. The random citizens have participated in the public campaign by giving their thoughts and opinions for the usage of plastic bags and eventually they were equipped with eco-bags produced by EDEN Center in the frame of the “Green Economy for Advanced Region” project, supported by the European Union.

The public campaign for the dissemination of eco-bags with citizens came as part of the “Green Economy for an Advanced Region” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by FORS Montenegro in partnership with EDEN center from Albania, SMART Kolektiv from Serbia, Centre for support and development from B&H, EKO Svest from Macedonia and Association Slap from Croatia.

EDEN Center was present at the two-day regional conference held on 27-28 July 2021 "Development of Green Economy", organized by FORS Montenegro in Podgorica as part of the GEAR project which is being implemented in Albania by EDEN Center.
The conference brought together key actors at the regional level, such as representatives from state institutions, media, private sector and civil society organizations from countries in the region. In this conference EDEN Center, was represented by Mrs. Ermelinda Mahmutaj, Executive Director, who made a presentation of the situation in Albania, its commitment to the development of the Green Economy in political, social and economic level. In her presentation, Mrs. Mahmutaj, paid special attention to concrete examples at the local level that support the principles of Green Economy, such as the Municipality of Has, as one of the best models for promoting the concept of green and sustainable development in the framework of the cross bortder project Green Cross. Based on this, from the concrete actions that are being developed In Has Municipality which aim to assess the natural values of the municipality, the creation of savings in the municipal budget and the creation of environmental benefits we can mention: the investment of efficient street LED lightening,  development of action plan “Ecosystem services and intelligent investments in the Municipality of Has; incentive schemes etc.
The conference can be followed on the youtube channel by clicking here, at the minute 04:08:25 - 04:24:00 (Presentation of Mrs. Ermelinda Mahmutaj)

*
The "GREEN CROSS – Towards Local Green Economies with Smart Investments" project is financially supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Albania through the cross-border program Albania-Kosovo under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) and implemented in Albania by the Center EDEN and Has Municipality and in Kosovo by Balkan Green Foundation and Klina Commune