Empowered Municipalities, Liveable Cities, European Future
EU4Municipalities is a flagship initiative funded by the European Union (€10 million) and the German Government (€1 million), implemented by GIZ in partnership with NALAS, NAMA and KDZ. It aligns with the EU’s priorities and Albania’s strategic objectives for local governance, particularly in the context of the country’s EU accession process. Working closely with national institutions and the Local Self – Government Units, the project supports municipalities in becoming stronger drivers of sustainable local socio-economic development and trusted partners in the EU accession process.
Through a combination of grant financing, technical assistance and digital innovation, EU4Municipalities improves the quality, accessibility and inclusiveness of municipal infrastructure and services while enhancing municipalities’ capacities to plan, finance and implement development initiatives aligned with EU standards, especially Cohesion Policy Principles. The project will support municipal investments benefiting at least half of Albania’s municipalities, strengthen capacities for EU fund absorption, integrated local economic development and multi-level governance, while supporting the digital transformation of local governments.
Guided by the principles of stakeholder engagement, citizen participation and place-based development, EU4M promotes collaborative, innovative and evidence-based solutions that empower municipalities to build more liveable, resilient and competitive communities on Albania’s path towards EU membership.
