Localizing MDGs A case study of Albania

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Localizing MDGs A case study of Albania

• Jaroslav Kling
• UNDP Regional Centre
• Bratislava
• (11 March 2006, Tashkent)

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Basic facts

• Weak democratic governing institutions
• Lack of FDIs
• Widespread criminal and black market economic
  activity
• Poor infrastructure
• High poverty rate (2 25)
• Regional disparities

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MDG history

• 2000 MDG Declaration
• 2002 first national MDG report for Albania
• Little involvement in and little ownership of
  development plans by national stakeholders and
  the public

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The reply (led by UNCT)

• Nationwide regional advocacy tour
• MDG Ambassadors (government officials, UNDP
  representatives, Albanian personalities
• Media coverage (later training for media how to
  inform about MDGs)
• Raising MDG awareness
• MDGs a strong commitment, including their
  integration into national strategies

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Sub-national MDG reports

• Two models of localizing MDGs
• baseline MDG reports - reports specifying local
  targets and indicators aiming to start dialogue
  and more advanced planning process
• MDG regional development strategies - more
  elaborate reports that provide not only the
  baseline information but specify new regional
  development goals and specific project plans.

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Baseline MDG report - process
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Baseline MDG report - product

• Baseline and target values

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Baseline MDG report
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MDG regional development strategy - process
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MDG regional development strategy product I

• Baseline and target values

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MDG regional development strategy product II

• Specification of the projects needed to achieve
  regional target and the estimates of the
  resources needed

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MDG regional development strategy links to
national strategies
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MDG regional development strategy
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Lessons learned

• Increasing local awareness of the MDGs through
  advocacy fosters engagement and may prompt demand
  for action
• Adaptation of the MDGs to national and local
  contexts is critical for ownership and
  development planning to achieve MDGs

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Lessons learned

• MDGs can help to link development frameworks at
  all levels and add value to each by concentrating
  efforts on a unified set of goals
• Sub-national MDG reports can bridge local and
  national development strategies

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Lessons learned

• Regional development strategy model requires more
  local capacity and time than a baseline model
• The participation of diverse constituencies helps
  to increase ownership and the demand for
  accountability, and strengthens the content of
  the reports

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Lessons learned

• Drafting sub-national MDG reports can be
  worthwhile even when data are incomplete
• The media has an irreplacable role in sharing
  information and encouraging debate

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Practical benefit

• Sub-national MDG reports and the development
  strategies that they underpin can help to attract
  donor funding to local development projects
• ABD program in the Kukes region funded by the EU

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References

• BRSP/MDGs Unit. Albania Case Study Advancing
  Development through Sub-national MDG Reports
• BRC. Localizing MDGs The Albanian Experience
• http//www.undp.org.al