Modern and effective human resource management is a cornerstone in building good governance at local level. The Commissioner for Oversight of the Civil Service in Albania wants to empower local HRM managers to promote uniform practices and sustainable structures at local level as means of improving service delivery to citizens.

Public Administration and Territorial Administrative Reforms have changed the face of public administration in Albania in recent years. The Council of Europe, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, teamed up the Commissioner for Oversight of the Civil Service to invite over 100 representatives of local authorities to discuss how to develop effective organisational structures, adopt standardised job descriptions, promote open and transparent recruitment procedures and ensure harmonised interpretation of the Civil Servants Law.

All participants recognised that effective use of human resources at local level is the first step in ensuring respect for the 12 Principles of Good Governance. An open and transparent HRM policy, responsive to citizen needs and respectful of the rule of law can contribute to the sustainability and long term orientation of local authorities, delivering efficient and innovative public services by competent and accountable officials.

This seminar (Tirana, 7 June 2018) was organised in the context of the Strengthening Local Government Structures in Albania project implemented by the Centre of Expertise of the Council of Europe with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation. As a follow-up to this activity, the Council of Europe will support the Commissioner in developing new HRM tools in pilot municipalities that can be replicated by all and transposed onto an interoperable public administration portal being developed to support HRM at the local level.