Twenty-five representatives from the municipalities of Berat, Lushnja, Dibra and Memaliaj got together in Lushnja and Berat on 17 and 18 June 2026 to exchange experiences and explore practical responses to local environmental and development challenges.
The study visit is part of a Peer-to-Peer initiative by the OSCE Presence in Albania under which Lushnja and Berat act as mentors to Memaliaj and Dibra respectively. The pairings were established through an open call and a structured evaluation process that considered both institutional capacities and the compatibility between local needs and transferable practices.
Opening the event in Lushnja, Ambassador Michel Tarran, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, highlighted the importance of peer learning and practical co-operation among municipalities. "Local governments are increasingly at the forefront of addressing issues related to environmental governance, local service delivery and sustainable development. Municipalities often learn best from the experiences of other municipalities facing similar challenges," he said.
In Lushnja, participants learned about the municipality's experience in rural development, agricultural support and Joint Agricultural Association initiatives. Technical staff from the Municipality of Lushnja presented agricultural governance models, private funding mechanisms and lessons learned from implementation. The discussions were followed by field visits that allowed participants to observe practical examples and explore opportunities for adapting similar approaches in their own municipalities.
"Municipalities are stronger when they learn from each other, share their experiences and build together citizens-centred approaches," said Adelina Farrici, Executive Director of National Association of Albanian Municipalities.
The second day in Berat focused on environmental governance and municipal waste management. Participants were introduced to the municipality's experience in waste separation at source and visited recycling facilities and operational sites involved in the collection and management of recyclable waste. Discussions focused on institutional arrangements, service delivery models, public awareness efforts and the practical steps required for implementation.
"Recycling is not merely a service we provide; it is a new culture that we are building together with the citizens of Berat. Every piece of plastic diverted to recycling is a concrete step towards a cleaner city and a circular economy aligned with European standards," said Ermal Ceca, Mayor of Berat.
Throughout the activity, municipal representatives worked together to identify elements that could be transferred and adapted to local contexts and initiated the preparation of follow-up actions tailored to the needs of Dibër and Memaliaj. The exchange also contributed to strengthening professional networks among municipal staff and establishing a foundation for longer-term co-operation.
Lessons learned from this pilot phase will contribute to the development of a structured and replicable model of municipal peer co-operation in Albania and support future engagement with European municipal networks.
The OSCE Presence organized the visit in co-operation with the Municipalities of Lushnja, Berat, Dibra and Memaliaj, the Agency for Support to Local Self-Government, the Albanian Association of Municipalities and the Association of Elected Local Officials. This activity is part of the Presence's project "Strengthening local government capacities and improving environmental governance in Albania - Phase II. It builds on the OSCE's long-standing support for strengthening local governance, environmental management and sustainable development at the local level.
