1. “Urban integration of informal settlements”
Sukth Municipality. Albania
Pilot Candidate

2. General description Geographical position ; Former state farm
-Appendix to Tirana - Durres highway,
-This area nearly 70% of national industrial production
-Almost ½ of the Albania population live here
Former state farm
-With 5902 families growing fruit ,vegetables ,wheat etc.
-In 20 years time the population doubled, now people
-Total area 5069 ha. Land for construction 50,4 ha

3. Construction structure
What level construction.
-Self declared ,1467 informal constructions
-Nearly 40% of the families are of very low income , 35% of medium level and 25% of relatively higher.
Place of origin of the people:
-Nearly 65% from northern part of Albania Dibra Tropoja Kukesi ,Mati etc. Natives nearly 20%, others 15%
Land conflicts.
-Former owners and those favoured by law
-The process of registration undergoing

4. Reasons why informal People forced to move from poor remote places
The government could not respond to the housing demands.
The government failed to enforce law and order to stop the phenomena.
The government could not offer construction permision according to certain plans
People in a hurry to occupy a piece of land as considered without any private owner.

5. Prone to hazards Flooding Poorly constructed houses
-A river (Erzeni) running close by;
-Drainage system is out of function
Poorly constructed houses
-Built without construction design project
-Easily demolished
( earthquakes)

6. Municipality structure
There is an organizational structure of ten offices.Some of the main offices:
-Territory managment office
-Finance office, budget 1.5 mil. Euro/per year
-Tax office; small income ; property tax very low
-Informal settlement office
-Legal office
Staff ,42 with very little training.
Offices poorly equipped

7. Infrastructure
Almost without a seweage sistem; only a part of it works normally
Main water supply pipe passing through, lack of secondary lines to the houses.
An asphalted road runs through , no pavement at all;muddy secondary streets
Chaos with the power supply; the secondary network broken.
Chaos in telephone lines.

8. Bussiness Big bussiness
-20 entrepreneurs, mainly agriculture production
Leather processing, shoe factory
Small bussiness
-Trade and service shops, total 233
Main saurce of income
-Most of the families engaged on agriculture production

9. Construction permission Problems
Land Ownership
-Two or more owners for the same piece of land
Land destination change
-Construction predominant on agriculture land
Insufficient planning capacity
-Staff not with the right qualification
-Lack of financial means
-Absence of the necessary equipment

10. Education and Health service
Two Middle schools
-Many students in a class
Three nine- year schools
-One and the same road (without sidewalk)for people cars, trucks, buses etc
Three kindergardens
-Poorly furnished
Five nursery centers
-Hospitals in Durres or Tirana

11. Leisure time No sports activities. No playgrounds.
Only school activities
Watching Tv programs,.
Evenings, in bars and playing billiards

12. Some figures of low income
220 persons classified work invalids
227 families paid by legal medical commisions
50 persons vulnerable
40 persons total blind
58 persons live on municipal social assistance

13. ALUIZNI An office established Two specialists employed
Files are being processed
No informatization
Willing to collaborate

14. Items to improve Legal framework Institutional collaboration
Local regional and central relationship
Staff qualification
Community awareness and responsibility
Proper urban plans

15. Closing words Mayor’s words of wellcome:
“Come to Sukth and enjoy our hospitability. We need a “pilot” to take off our plane and land it to “GTZ airport”.Give us that chance.
Thank you”