POP 2021 – Social Contract as a tool to strengthen state - society relationships

Title of the project: Social Contract as a tool to strengthen state-society relationships.
Duration:  January 2021- December 2021
Donor: Olof Palme International Center, with funds of the Swedish Embassy in Albania and National Endowment for Democracy 

The overall goal of POP 2021: Strengthen CSOs to monitor and advocate with municipalities for the implementation of the legal framework and the fulfillment of social contract priorities.

POP-2021 specific objectives:
SO1: Strengthen the POP network by extending with other organizations covering other municipalities, make POP more visible.
SO2: Strengthen the relationship between POP citizens and other actors in society.
SO3: Monitor, report and hold accountable the duty bearers at the local level to complete social contract prepare by POP members in each municipality.

The project is being developed under the lead of the Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) in Tirana. 

POP Network members: 
-Gender Alliance for Development Center, Tirana 
-Civil Society Development Center (CSDC), Durres
-Vlora Youth Center
-Association for Integration of Informal Areas (AIIA), Kamëz
-Youth Center “New Epoch”, Fier
-Young Intellectuals, Hope (IRSH), Shkodër
-Youth Movement for Democracy Center, Pukë
-Center for Youth Progress (CYP), Kukës
-Youth For Integration, Activation, and Awareness (YIAA), Progradec
-Another Vision, Elbasan
-Light Steps, Vau I Dejes 
-Women in Development, Korçë

Key Achievements of the POP Network in 2021
Network Expansion: Three new organizations joined the POP Network, extending its reach to Elbasan, Vau i Dejës, and Korça.
Social Contracts: Successfully implemented and signed three new Social Contracts in the newly included municipalities.
Municipal Oversight: Monitored 12 Municipal Council meetings and the implementation of Social Contract priorities, with 50% of commitments fully or partially addressed across all municipalities.
Citizen Engagement: Conducted 48 focus groups, 7 public forums, and reached over 150,000 people through digital platforms and advocacy campaigns.
Participatory Budgeting: Facilitated public participation in budget planning in three municipalities (Vlora, Durrës, Fier).
Advocacy & Transparency: Launched campaigns influencing local government decisions and fostering dialogue between citizens and policymakers.
National Recognition: Strengthened legitimacy at the national level through two major conferences and strategic cooperation with regional partners.

Strengthening Civic Engagement and Institutional Transparency: Key Conferences and Public Forums Organized by the POP Network in 2021
National Conference: “Citizens’ Participation and Engagement at Local Level” (June 22, 2021) – Organized in partnership with POP Network members, discussing civil participation, engagement, and presenting the Study Report on Citizen Participation. The event gathered representatives from key institutions, agencies, and municipalities. Click here to learn more about the event
National Conference: “Fostering Integrity at the Local Level in Albania” (December 6, 2021) – Held in Vlora with 120 participants (both in-person and online). The event was supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana and the Olof Palme International Center, focusing on local integrity, transparency, and accountability. Click here to learn more about the event
POP Strategic Plan Development Workshop – A three-day workshop in Velipoja to develop the Strategic Plan for the POP Network, aligning long-term objectives and expansion strategies.
Regional Workshop with Democracy Plus (Kosovo) and Organizations from North Macedonia (October 26, 2021) – A regional exchange of best practices on organizing election-related activities and networking for future collaborations.
Integrity Week Activities (December 1-10, 2021) – Included multiple sessions featuring mayors and deputy mayors discussing their commitments to the Social Contract. Click here to watch the video summary.
Public Forums with Political Candidates – 7 hybrid public forums were held before the April 2021 elections in Tirana, Durrës, Kukës, Fier, Shkodra, Vlora, and Korça, focusing on commitments to the Social Contract.

Please follow https://popnetwork.al/ for more details.