Local governance in Albania is continuously strengthening, becoming increasingly results-oriented and focused on delivering quality services to citizens. In this context, the trainings for the Performance Measurement System (PMS) have concluded, bringing tangible improvements in how municipalities collect and report data, thereby enhancing accountability and the quality of services provided to the communities they serve.

The trainings were organized on July 7-8 and included five groups covering the regions of  Tirana – Durrës – Dibër, Vlorë – Gjirokastër, Shkodër – Lezhë – Kukës, Berat – Fier, and Elbasan – Korçë. They created a space where municipal representatives discussed common challenges, shared experiences, and deepened their knowledge of PMS indicators closely linked to national priorities.

This year, the PMS has been enriched with new indicators that measure progress toward EU standards, directly influencing the Performance-Based Grant, which allocates additional funds to municipalities with better results. For the first time, European integration has been treated as a distinct area, with indicators that assess municipalities’ involvement in projects and their preparedness to absorb EU funds. Moreover, improvements have been made in the area of gender equality, introducing new indicators on representation and gender-responsive budgeting, as well as in good governance, by promoting transparency, public consultations, and the publication of strategic documents.

The importance of local plans was also emphasized in areas such as waste management, social services, education, gender equality, integrity, and migration and diaspora strategies, as elements that ensure sustainable development and long-term planning. Additionally, other changes were presented, including a new indicator on pre-university education infrastructure, one on the functionality of irrigation channels in agriculture, as well as new indicators addressing domestic violence and support for persons with disabilities within social services.

This process is supported by a new methodology for data quality assurance, developed by the Agency for the Support of Local Self-Government with the assistance of the “Strong Municipalities” project, enabling municipalities to report qualitative, comparable, and verifiable data. The full manual can be found at the link below:

Link to: Data Quality Assurance Manual for the Performance Measurement System (PMS) 2024

Finally, it was highlighted that the PMS remains a key mechanism for improving the quality and efficiency of public services, strengthening accountability, and enabling nationwide comparison of municipal performance, thereby fostering positive competition and the dissemination of best practices.