Better Planning for Albania's Government

Progetto concluso
Meeting of the Government of Albania.
Meeting of the Government of Albania. © Blerta Kambo

Albania’s economy, public finance, and debt remain areas of concern as the government tries to keep positive growth and stability in a challenging context. Although capacities for policy and financial planning have improved, there still is a need for better performance, monitoring and integrated planning. Since 2005 a group of donors including Switzerland introduced the Integrated Planning System, a tool that aids the government in strategy planning while observing budget constraints.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Albania
Impiego & sviluppo economico
Governance
Financial policy
Decentralizzazione
Politica commerciale & sistema de mercato
01.01.2012 - 31.12.2020
CHF  1’375’000

Finalising the National Strategy for Development and Integration 2015-2020

The National Strategy for Development and Integration is Albania’s vision for social and economic development and EU integration. This is now updated and finalized including costing for the period 2015-2020. Thanks to the project’s funding and expertise, this important national strategy is now more coherent.  

Strengthening Medium Term Budget Processes (MTBPs)

MTBPs are macro-fiscal tools that guide ministries into three-year plans matching objectives with expenditures. With coordination from the Ministry of Finance other ministries can now prioritise, budget and report on each sector. Medium Term Budget Processes include also improvement of public investment management and the coordination of international assistance.  

Harmonising Budget and International Aid

The project has enabled the Government of Albania to coordinate donor inputs, harmonise budgets and align international aid to agreed-upon priorities.  As a result there is more coherence and linkages between government’s initiatives and donor resources.

Establishing a Delivery Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office

Support was given for the establishment of the Delivery Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office, with the objective of monitoring and facilitating the progress on the government’s top priorities. This also includes increasing capacities to ensure that government institutions deliver on major citizen-centric promises.

Revising Public Finance Legislation

The finance legislation needs updates. It must reflect recent and current reforms. Therefore the project supports the Government in revising important public finance laws: budgetary system management, financial management and control, debt, inspection and auditing.

Analysing Input Cost

The project provides new methods of defining and analysing input costs to the Ministry of Finance staff. This enables the budget department to use funds more effectively and efficiently, foresee how laws impact finance, and increase fiscal transparency.

Developing Financial Management Information Systems

Through funding and technical assistance, project experts prepared specifications for the management information systems to be used by Ministry of Finance, coordinating units at Prime Minister’s office, and the Department of Public Administration. This includes cost estimates, timeline, and bidding procedures for implementing the software solutions. Once implemented, the new management information systems will greatly enhance the government’s capacity to integrate objectives with budgets and to manage public finances, external assistance and human resources.