Formal Launch of the Planning and Local Governance Project (PLGP)

On May 18th the PLGP was officially kicked off with great fanfare. 150 people including the Albanian Prime Minister, the US Ambassador and top USAID officials from DC were in attendance. All went well. Remarkable, given the political tensions and widely divergent opinions concerning the funding of local governments in Albania. The crux of the PLGP is to promote democratic decentralized local governance. We will be working with 15 of the largest municipalities in the country. In a nut shell we will attempt to build consensus on how best to transfer resources to local governments so they can carry out their responsibilities (like picking up the garbage). In a place where development, particularly on the coastline is out of control, we will also be assisting cities in urban planning. I am the only US citizen on the project but am supported by a great Albanian staff of 15.
Now the work begins! It should be interesting particularly with a national election within the next year.

Mayor Peter dangerous in front of a mic again

Left to right...Mayor of Korce, US Ambassador & Prime Minister