Support to Parliament and Civic Education (PACEP)


The Albanian Parliament will improve its performance both, operationally and politically. Elections will be managed more transparently and efficiently. The system of checks and balances between the parliament, the government and independent institutions will be strengthened. Citizens will contribute and benefit from increased representation in parliament, responsible law making and stronger oversight. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Albania
Governance
Democratic participation and civil society
Elections
Public sector policy
01.01.2023 - 01.06.2028
CHF  9’500’000
Background
  • Albania needs representative and responsive institutions to consolidate its democracy and succeed in the European Union (EU) accession
  • The parliament is challenged in performing its legislative, representational and oversight role due to partisan conflict and institutional capacity deficits
  • Elections of 2021 were administered better; however, vote buying, misuse of state resources and manipulation remain widespread. A deep electoral reform is recommended by ODHIR
  • Implementation of oversight institution’s recommendations is low due to lack of institutional capacities and political will
  • Citizens are insufficiently aware on the role and work of parliament
Objectives The Parliament of Albania improves its representative, legislative and oversight functions through improved electoral processes, use of evidence in law making, strengthened cooperation with oversight institutions and active contribution of civil society in oversight.
Target groups

Direct target group: Parliament (140 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 200 administration staff), Central Elections Commissioner, Oversight Institutions (up to 3), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)/ Interest Groups and citizens, including diaspora.

Indirect target group: Albanian population

Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: The legal and institutional framework in election related processes is improved

Outcome 2: Parliament conducts evidence–based deliberation and law making

Outcome 3: Parliament has a strong oversight function due to stronger oversight institutions, better coordinating mechanism and increased engagement of citizens

Results

Expected results:  

Output 1: Election laws, bylaws and policies are reviewed and amended based on ODHIR and civil society recommendations.

Output 2: Central Elections Commission (CEC) administers elections with efficiency and accountability by improving internal systems.

Output 3: Parliamentary Institute provides timely, high quality evidence for members of parliament and informs citizens on parliamentary work.

Output 4: Parliamentary committees improve cooperation with oversight institutions and civil society to ensure implementation of policy recommendations.


Results from previous phases:  

  • The Strategic Development Plan 2021 - 2025 of the Parliament paves the way to fully assume its functions
  • The Parliamentary Institute (PI) is established with support from all political actors represented in the Parliament
  • Parliament’s transparency is improved through the use of digital systems
  • Parliament has diversified instruments to citizen outreach and increased interaction
  • Citizens are capacitated and submitting to parliament legal initiatives
  • Promoting gender sensitive lawmaking – “towards a gender sensitive parliament” framework approved


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Other International Organization
Private sector
Foreign state institution
Swiss state institution
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Central State of South East
  • National State Institute SWISS
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Other OI
  • Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Foreign private sector North
  • OSCE Presence Albania (Outcome 1); Albanian Central Elections Commission (Outcome 1); National Democratic Institute (NDI) (Outcome 2); To be defined through a tender process (Outcome 3)


Coordination with other projects and actors
  • Synergies among Swiss funded projects on support local government and civil society
  • There is regular exchange with development actors engaged in supporting the Parliament and the electoral reform (EU, United Kingdom, Austria) to ensure coordination and complementarity
  • The experience of Swiss Parliamentary Services will be harvested
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’398’240
Project phases Phase 2 01.01.2023 - 01.06.2028   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.01.2018 - 31.12.2024   (Current phase)