On 24 February 2022, NALAS within the Regional Capacity Development Network for water and sanitation services (RCDN) organised a Training on EU Funding Sources. 30 participants had the opportunity to learn about funding opportunities from different EU programmes and instruments.

The webinar supported RCDN partner associations in the implementation their Advocacy Strategies.

Now that the idea for the Covenant of Mayors for our region finally becomes a reality, after lagging behind the rest of Europe for more than a decade, NALAS member LGAs urge the Network to mobilise and operationalise the CoM supporting structure with no delay.

Although the last two years have been very challenging, both at personal and at organisational level, the associations of local governments and the associations of public utility companies have succeeded to adjust swiftly, meet their members’ needs, innovate, do more and reach out to more people than usual.

Hard work always pays off, has been proved in the case of Moldovan municipalities. In reputable research commissioned recently by IRI, citizens ranked local authorities on the top, before the President’s office, Moldovan Mitropoly, Primer Minister’s office and the education system. 60% of the respondents said that they have a positive opinion for the local authorities.

“This joint initiative is very important for our region, and thus also for our Network. It brings together the global knowledge of the UN Agencies and NALAS’ expertise coming from the national Local Government Associations, as knowledge hubs for local governments”, said Mr. Kelmend Zajazi, NALAS Executive Director,

Almost 100 participants and 15 speakers took part in the Forum, discussing the Local Public Administration Reform in the EaP and EU, the renew EU-EaP Agenda - how to make it more local oriented and the EU support to Local Public Administration Reform in Neighbourhood East.

The ‘EU for Municipalities’ Project Albania has opened the first call for applications for grants. All Albanian municipalities can apply until January 17, 2022.

The High-Level Forum titled “Evidence based policy making at local and national level on the basis of LNOB (Leave No One Behind) social mapping” took place from 24-25 November 2021 in Pristina. It gathered 75 participants from central and local government entities, CSOs, media and international donor community representatives.

The Regional Capacity Development Network for Water and Sanitation Services brought together Focal Points face to face in Montenegro over 18-19 November 2021, aiming to strengthen the capacities of RCDN partner associations to apply Quality Management processes in context of RCDN CD Product delivery and to effectively use RCDN Association Development Services.