Albanian citizens are likely to continue to emigrate for employment, which will have a major impact on the country's development. Therefore, it is important to provide valid alternatives of employment in the country, especially in those areas experiencing a considerable tourism inflow in the recent years.

In August 2024, IOM Albania started the implementation of the project “Strengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albania” funded by the UK Government. The aim of this project is to contribute to enabling local governments to effectively manage migration and diaspora matters. This includes a focus on promoting employment for internal migrants, reintegrating returned migrants, and encouraging diaspora investments, while strengthening inter-institutional coordination and migration stakeholders' engagement, all the while reshaping the narrative on migration.

The project will support central and local institutions in Albania to develop, strengthen capacities, and pilot the legal, administrative, and operational procedures for internal migration, return and reintegration, and diaspora engagement aiming to increase employment opportunities for the Albanian workforce. This will be done in tandem with supporting the inter-institutional cooperation of local and central government agencies, both vertical and horizontal coordination. In addition, the project aims to change the narrative on migration targeting the public at large with a special focus on youth and their self-improvement/empowerment. 

This includes: 

• Consolidating the national regulatory framework by drafting new guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on internal migration, return and reintegration of Albanian emigrants, diaspora engagement in local development, and developing inter-agency cooperation protocols followed by trainings, and capacity building of public officials at local level to effectively apply, test and pilot the improved framework.
• Exploring and supporting cooperation opportunities and mechanisms between local government, business community representatives, local communities, and other stakeholders to encourage internal migration aiming to increase employment opportunities for Albanian workforce. Additionally strengthening the horizonal and vertical cooperation between the two governance levels and other related stakeholders, including a fully-fledged communication campaign targeting all segments of society, with a focus on youth and women. This will be achieved through designing and implementing Inter-Municipal Pacts for Employment (IMPEs) between Municipalities, business community representatives and the public employment/VET services. Selected Municipalities in North Albania (most affected by emigration) and South/coastal municipalities (most affected by considerable seasonal tourism) will participate in the design and piloting of the IMPEs.

The project will also ensure gender mainstreaming and inclusion of minority groups, promoting inclusivity and diversity in the relevant practices. In summary, the project will help Albania develop more effective and inclusive opportunities for its residents, with a focus on strengthening local capacities.

Law No. 38/2019 "ON SOME ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO LAW NO. 139/2015 "FOR LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT", introduced amendments related to diaspora and migration within the framework of local self-governance. It mandates municipalities to establish a Diaspora and Migration Structure to (hereinafter MDS), encourage communication with the Albanian community abroad, provide assistance and information to potential migrants, return migrants, diaspora and foreigners residing in Albania, as well as coordinate with relevant ministries. 

The success of the project “Strengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albania” supported by UK will rely on the cooperation of IOM Tirana with the national authorities -Municipalities of Albania, State Minister for Local Governance (SMLSG), the Agency for the Support of Local Self-Government (ASLG), Association for Local Autonomy of Albania (ALAA) and other related government institutions and other stakeholders.

The project will provide support for the formulation of legal, administrative, and operational procedures applicable in central and local level institutions tasked related to the functioning of the MDSs. This includes the consolidation of the central and local level regulatory framework, including drafting of new legal documents, related regulations, implementing guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SoP's), and the establishment of inter-agency cooperation protocols. The SOPs will include services to the following target-groups: internal migrants, return migrants and diaspora. Additionally, public officials at both central and local levels will be enabled to effectively implement the improved framework through the validation of the legal and operational documents and other capacity building activities. Enhanced support will be provided for effectively offering the envisaged information and orientation services in 7 pilot Municipalities.

This will be achieved through the engagement from IOM of a Local Consultant in the Municipality of Saranda. The engagement of the local consultant will take place for 11 months.

The IOM consultant will assist the Municipality of Saranda in the use of guidance materials, manuals, and information guides, in the implementation of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP’s) and facilitate capacity-building endeavours.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing to the successful implementation of the project “Strengthening Local Institutional Capacities on Migration in Albania”.