partners - albania programs

MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE STORIES
Albanian Disability Rights Foundation in Tirana and a member of the “National Forum
of Disabled People” set up by Handicap International. Because of these memberships, the
PRDP has been able to increase the impact of its efforts to protect the rights of disabled
people. The most important contributions of the NPO, as part of these coalitions and
forums, have been:
Approval of the Social Services Law for Disabled People (to improve the provision of
Socio-economic aid for disabled people);
Improvement of Life Standards for Disabled People;
Drafting the National Strategy for Disabled People in Albania.
In December 2004, Handicap International gave an award to the Center as “The most
successful daily center in Albania that has contributed in improvement of the education
system for disabled children”. This was because of the NPO’s success in reviewing the
legal framework and giving recommendations on the following laws:
• Law of Education for Disabled People
• Improvement on the Law of Accessibility for Disabled People
• Drafting the National Law of Antidiscrimination of Disabled People.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
PRDP’s Director, Zela Kola, reports that the most significant change that occurred in their
organization over the past two years is that they have become more sustainable due to a
better relationship between the NPO and local government institutions. During these years,
PRDP has made significant efforts to become involved in local decision-making processes.
Local government is now an important stakeholder and partner in the implementation
of different initiatives and projects of the Center. The Center has implemented several
joint projects with the Municipality of Librazhd and other local institutions. The PRDP
Center collaborates with local governmental and non-governmental institutions in order
to improve the infrastructure for disabled people. Zela Kola attributes a great part of the
improved relationship with local government to the participation of Center staff members
in the training programs delivered by Partners-Albania. She sent 11 of her staff members
to participate in the advanced training programs in “Advocacy and Lobbying,” “ Coalition
Building and Networking,” “Role of Civil Society in Fighting Corruption,” “Conflict
Management,” and “Participatory Governance.” Mr. Kola reports that the training
programs have really helped the Center successfully implement projects and initiatives in
collaboration with local government, as well as improving the organization’s sustainability.
Thanks to the updated training methodologies used during Partners-Albania’s trainings,
the Center’s staff members have learned how to successfully advocate and lobby for the
rights of the people with disabilities in coalition with other organizations. They have
been informed on the “Law on Freedom of Information” and their right to participate in
municipal open meetings, to create and be member of citizens’ advisory commissions and
to use other participating techniques in governance.
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