1. SALSTAT - Strong Albanian Local Statistics
Benjamin Rothen and Vjollca Simoni
MGSC – Luxembourg – 13 April 2018

2. Content SDC Project “Bashki të Forta” - Overview on the main project ;
SALSTAT – Overview;
Background / territorial administrative reform (TAR);
Main objectives and scope of the project;
Contribution of SALSTAT;
Activities carried out and next step

3. SDC Project «Bashki të Forta»
Focus on local development;
Supporting decentralization and local governance;
Three main pillars:
Municipal administrations fulfil their functions and duties in an efficient, effective and inclusive manner, based on improved data collection and analysis according to Eurostat standards;
Municipal councils strengthen their representation and oversight function over local administrations and fulfil their role as key institutions of local democracy;
Citizens from urban and rural areas co-determine, use and contribute to more and better municipal services.

4. SALSTAT - Overview
Good governance, decentralization and democratization;
SALSTAT aims to build-up and provide statistical information for municipalities and regions (local and regional level).
FSO and INSTAT are responsible for carrying out the subproject.
Timeline:
Inception phase 2017/2018;
Some components of the current inception phase:
Assessing the availability of the data for municipalities and regions;
Exploring the data needs as well as training needs on the local and regional level;
Identification of key partners and supporters at the national level among Ministries and Agencies.
Implementation phase 2018 – 2022.

5. Background of SALSTAT
Territorial and Administrative Reform in Albania:
Before the TAR Albania: 36 districts, 65 municipalities, and communes;
12 regions established and 36 districts abolished
TAR in July 2014:
61 municipalities in 12 regions (qark);
4 administrative regions (AZHR);
New municipalities are empowered, taking new
competencies and functions;
This reform created the need for official statistics in
local level;
Currently INSTAT conduct 25 surveys and has 58
Administrative Sources.
Administrative division of Albania
61 municipalities
12 regions (qarks)

6. Main objectives
Objective 1: Key statistical data and indicators are available for municipalities and regions;
Objective 2: Key elements for a harmonised, register-based system of population/household and building/dwelling statistics are in place
Objective 3: The organizational structure and the tools of INSTAT support effectively the nationwide statistical system;
Objective 4: Key elements of a harmonised modern data collection system are in place.

7. Contribution of SALSTAT
SALSTAT project will increase the institutional capacity and strengthen of cooperation with administrative data providers.
Will contribute to the reinforcement of INSTAT position in local level and in NSS.
Will optimize the data collection through an efficient and effective mode guaranteeing a data collection according to harmonized statistical standards.
Will contribute for INSTAT being a sustainable and learning Institution.

8. Activities carried out and next steps
April First mission of FSO with the goal to initialize the inception phase of SALSTAT project.
November Workshop on administrative data
January Launch of the Questionnaire to 61 Municipalities
March - Kick of Meeting with CENSUS experts and 1st Steering Committee of
SALSTAT
April - Launch of the Questionnaire to governmental institution.
15th of May Launch of the SALSTAT Project in Albania