In this newsletter you will be reading about the important topics our Network is tackling – from provision of high-quality local services, social inclusion, gender equality, to capacity development, advocating for the role of local governments, and much more.

The ‘EU for Municipalities’ Project has opened the second call for applications for grants. All Albanian municipalities can apply until 10 June 2022.

NALAS e-Academy has been enriched with a new e-learning course on Capital infrastructure investment projects in the water and sanitation sector.

The Regional Networking Meeting: How to establish and manage an impactful training centre?, organised by NALAS within RCDN took place on 1 April 2022.

A strong network relies on the capacities of its members. Rising together, from 23-25 March 2022, in Durres, Albania, NALAS organised training in Training Management Cycle, strengthening training centres of LGAs and APUCs within RCDN.

"Bringing together the expertise of our Network and Uul Darkhan, we will jointly create a new vision, develop new solutions for the common development challenges and create bridges for future partnerships beyond this project".

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.