734-i. Albania and Montenegro Capacity Development

The World Bank supported Albania and Montenegro in capacity development for SEA in a combined programme for the two countries in 2005 and 2006. The World Bank requested the NCEA’s assistance based on its expertise and services in SEA.

Significant details

Started: 2005

Completed: 2006

Process and activities

The NCEA's activities in the programme were:

  1. Support to the governments of Albania and Montenegro in setting up multi-annual SEA introductory programmes, based on a gap assessment in both countries;
  2. A training for the SEA taskforce and other stakeholders of both countries, and a training for the Albanian reviewing committee;
  3. Guidance for implementation of pilot SEAs, consisting of advice on SEA process design and report contents, and a quality review of the final SEA report. The pilot in Albania concerned a coastal development plan. In Montenegro a pilot was conducted on the national spatial development plan.

These activities took place in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration in Albania, and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment in Montenegro.

Results

Feedback from trainings as well as the NCEA's observations indicate an increased level of understanding of SEA among participants. Effects of the pilot in Albania could not be assessed since the planning process had been stalled. In Montenegro, however, the pilot led to some inprovement in the National Spatial Plan. It also greatly increased transparency and public debate on the plan.

Follow-up

This programme has been further developed into a 5-year strategy for capacity development in Montenegro, in cooperation with the relevant Ministry.

Parties involved

Members of the working group

Technical secretary: Bobbi Schijf

Further details

Country: Albania; Montenegro


Last modified: 06 May 2019