Itinerary of the Public Money – Youth Reports – Newsroom Club #2

Empowering Youth Through Local Governance

During our recent group meeting at the H.A.N.A Youth Center, we hosted an insightful presentation on local governance. The session aimed to raise awareness and deepen the knowledge of young participants about the roles and functions of this vital structure.

The presentation focused on understanding the legal framework of local governance in Albania, including key laws such as the Constitution of Albania and Law No. 139/2015 “On Local Self-Governance.”

Key discussion points included:

• The Importance of Local Governance:
  Exploring citizen representation, public service management, and the role of local governance in fostering economic and social development.
• Functions and Structure:
  Clarifying exclusive and shared functions of local governance, including territorial administration, healthcare, and basic education.
• Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement:
  Addressing issues such as limited finances and low transparency while proposing solutions like capacity building and public-private partnerships.

In the final part of the meeting, participants engaged in a practical activity. Divided into groups, they selected topics for articles from a set of proposed themes, including:

• Investments in local education.
• Urban waste management.
• Support for youth entrepreneurship.
• Community involvement in decision-making.

The meeting concluded with interactive discussions and reflections on the covered concepts. The expert emphasized the importance of citizen journalism and its impact on raising awareness about local issues. Participants were encouraged to actively engage in upcoming sessions and begin drafting their first articles.

This intervention is supported by the BAT Monitor Program (Budget Accountability and Transparency), implemented by the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and funded by the European Union .