RCE middle Albania Evaluation and strategy RCE Albania evaluation is done based on interviews of RCE Albania Partner organizations. In order for RCE Albania, to surpass the stage of establishment and act as a leading actor for the region in the field of Education for Sustainable Development, a strategy for the network partners is proposed, based on the evaluation process. The initial program is channelized in a narrow focus in order to be in line with development priorities, in national and international scale and to increase the interest of partners. The self-evaluation of RCE Albania based on appreciative enquiry to the partners of the network, is used as a framework for strategy proposal. The purpose of RCE middle Albania network is to act as a platform for exchange of information, knowledge transfer and innovation. With the aim to influencing policies related to Sustainable Development, improving education formal and non-formal, and strengthening the organization performance in this field. The program is focused on 7 areas: 1. Sustainable Architecture, 2. Research and Education on ESD, 3. Eco-Tourism, 4. Organizational Capacity Building, 5. Inter-Regional Cooperation, 6. Innovation, and 7. Balkan and International Cooperation. The evaluation of RCE middle Albania is done with the purpose to identify strong points for a strategy of action, challenges and requirements of the partners according to their focus of interest. A questionnaire form and interviews are based on the Appreciative enquiry, which focuses on the positive experiences of the RCE members in realizing goals by the RCE. Although the base is appreciative enquiry, this evaluation can be considered a hybrid form because of the elements of strategic evaluation used for the RCE middle Albania evaluation and strategy reformulation and change according to that. Partners of RCE Albania were interviewed based on the following questions: - When and why have you joined RCE Albania? - Your relation with Education for Sustainable Development, and which specific area - What changes have been in your organization or activities since your collaboration with RCE Albania? - Have you benefited by networking with the other partners of RCE Albania? - What benefits have or you expect to have by being member of RCE Albania network? (and RCE-s global network) - How do you evaluate the progress of RCE Albania since 2012? - How do you consider the effectiveness of RCE Albania in the middle Albania region development? - In what sectors do you think RCE Albania have to extend activities, - Do you think the RCE platform is a innovation for the region? - Challenges or critical issues for RCE - How do you see the future of RCE Albania? - Your suggestion for organization structure of RCE, fields of activities, and funding scheme? Are you encouraged to support RCE Albania for the commitment to the Global Action Plan for UNESCO after the decade 2014? From 23 partners, 12 were available for interviews and filling the questionnaire. According to their answers, generally their awareness for the sustainability is increased after their commitment to be part of the network of RCE Albania. Sustainability is core business of only 3 of them, a part of their work of 7 members and 2 were not involved by now in this field. Critical points are considered, specific structure, not affiliated to any of the partners institutions, (although it has elements of a single units of an organization it is not a typical organization, but network of organizations); Short time of establishment, since 2012; No initial funding were allocated for the set up of RCE, apart from resources contributions from the Partners Regarding the issue of innovation which might be difficult to define, from most of the Partners, RCE is considered an innovation in itself, putting into agenda issues that were not raised before, through gathering different actors, with new approach that no other organization have done before. Its long term success still remains a challenge, but overall is considered a positive initiative for the region. It is appreciated the fact that new connection are possible to establish, through RCE with other partners and actors of the region, with the same interests, for exchanging of experience and joint activities. Some of the partners consider it a good opportunity to promote their work though RCE. The main beneficial point remains in the level of coordination. All of the Partners agree that the role of RCE should increase, in order to be a major player in ESD for Albania, by extending its activity, network and region expansion, inclusion of important players for the region. RCE Albania progress is considered very good, steady in the conditions of lack of funds, limited resources and low engagement of some of the partners. According to the evaluation results, recommendations for change to be included in the strategy specifically consist of: RCE Albania Region expansion, in the light of country new administrative reform; The Region of RCE Albania comprise, middle Albania, Tirana Durres and Elbasan, within the administrative boundaries of three Regional Councils. A new administrative division took place recently in the country, which have changed the structure of local government units, bringing up the necessity to revise the geographical borders of RCE and the actors of Local Government Units, on these regions. This is a good opportunity to expand the collaboration with rural areas, due to the fact that their reorganization will require support and new collaborations. Narrowing areas of concentration and focus on: Green Economy, Energy, and Training The seven components of RCE Albania program consist on: 1. Sustainable Architecture and Green Building; 2. Research and Transformative Education; 3. Inter-regional Cooperation; 4. Eco-Tourism; 5. Organizational Capacity Strengthening; 6. Innovation; and 7. Balkan Cooperation. Legally registration on the country as an Association network; the ambiguity status of the network that does not have to be legally registered in the country have its advantages and disadvantages. It fosters cooperation and responsibility of the partners, when applying for projects, using the partner legal coordination data. It also contains the risk of project ownership and potential conflicts about the degree of involvement of RCE and the Partner for the specific project. It raises the issue of Trust between partners and review of the relation of the Partner with the RCE. Capacity strengthening program for the partners; Although, Sustainability is in the agenda of most of the actors, introducing programs for the staff and for the leaders is necessary to raise their awareness and deepen knowledge with the advanced practices in the field. Introducing the Leadership programme on ESD will be on the program of RCE Albania for the coming years. Permanent representative offices, in the three regions Tirana Durres Elbasan; RCE-s not necessary be a physical centre, but instead should act as a mechanism that facilitates collaboration between pre-existing local and regional stakeholders, creating a capacity for sustainable development (Fadeeva and Mochizuki 2008). No physical office exists for RCE Albania. The office and facilities of partners are used for organizing meeting and events. The need for contact points in the three regions can be satisfied by affiliating the contact points and each region representatives in one of the partner organizations, who are more active and agree to play that role. For example the Regional Council of Elbasan has offered to act as coordination point of actors of Elbasan, by appointing one employee to work permanently. Application with other universities in Europe for EU funded projects The connection with High Educational Institutions in Europe, partners with RCE-s in Europe has already started with Graz University, where a Tempus project was successful. Although passive benefits might be for the network, the collaboration is between the Universities, which is the direct beneficial. More interaction with European partners in this aspect will strengthen the relation of RCE with partners form Education sector. It is stressed in the RCE-s community the need to collaborate with Education Institutions, which will contribute to the objectives of knowledge transfer to other sectors of the network partners. The same approach can be followed for other sectors, but the Universities have already a tradition and experience in attracting these funds, in the case of other partners, assisting and facilitating the application process have to be done by RCE Albania. Implement project based on existing regional strategies Not only innovation and incentives to be introduced by RCE Albania to the partners, but continuing their work in sustainability and advancing their agenda is this respect, is a requirement form the partners. Coordinating Regional strategies that are already approved and implementing elements of their action plan that are in accordance with Education for Sustainable Development; have to be done by RCE Albania core team. Current challenges and achievements RCE Albania has used annual exhibitions events, each year with a specific topic, as a form for enforcing the network, increasing the visibility and attracting new partners. There is a steady continuity of the network since its creation (23 partner, no withdraw from the network, 3 new partners, 5 not active). No affiliation to any of partner organizations makes it more fluid. Partners are represented in the core team, by their main contacts, usually leaders, directors, and administrators. One one hand this is very useful for decision making, but on the other hand is difficult to commit them for executive work. Their staffs usually, have not the required knowledge or are not involved in the RCE issues, so delegating is not achieved yet. The links remain in personal connections, thus the need to institutionalize the connection has became emergent in the current status. Lack of executive staff, It can be organized by officially appointed staff permanently for RCE, at least from three main partners in each region. For more one permanent coordinator and secretary for the RCE core team. Still many RCE-s relay in voluntary work, and student outsource, which is one of the features of the network as well. Contribution in human resources from partners remains crucial. Lack of funds, no initial funds available for the establishment of RCE, up to now, this was covered by voluntary work and small contributions from the partners. Broad program that requires more resources than are currently available The ideal situation on long term, it will be to secure investments for each component. Launch of initial funds for each of the 7 components and preparation of budgets estimations for each component it requires a big investment in terms of money and resources. The focus on energy and green economy appears to be in line with interest of many of the partners. The program has to be adapted according to that, without excluding the other areas when opportunity appears. Other critical points are; Lack of visibility and no interest from Donors, low awareness on sustainability. 2. Management and Fundraising strategy proposal for RCE middle Albania Apart from the evaluation recommendations, key issues with multi-stakeholders collaboration, equal partnership, trust, relation with High Educational Institution, identity, leadership and lines of communication, are considered in the proposed program for RCE Albania and partner organizations. The strategy is in line with objective to strengthen partner organization performance, and regional cooperation. Although RCE Albania is supposed to maintain an external entity, keeping the balance between the actors, being affiliated by a single institution can create stability in terms of funding and infrastructure provision. Affiliation with one of the partners for each region to serve as coordination point is important in order to increase the institutional presence. For more it will continue to be in line with the Core elements of an RCE, that as defined from United Nations University in Japan, are: Governance 2. Collaboration - 3. Research and development - addressing the role of research and its inclusion in RCE activities, as well as contributing to the design of strategies for collaborative activities, including those with other RCE 4. Transformative education - The strategy will be relied in the following elements: 1) Financial stability of RCE Albania; 2) Creation of identity and streaming the program with focus on Energy and green economy 3. Capacity building and 4) International cooperation 1. Financial stability and fundraising is related to Financial engagement of the partners, Donors program, Project applications Donors and International organization, foreign embassies in the country Identification of donors with similar field of action, preparation of the program of meetings and coordination of activities, opening of the exhibitions for visualization of the program, will be done in the coming months. List of some of appropriate Donors, international organization and foreign embassies in Albania that have in their focus sustainability: Swedish international Development Agency in Tirana; Chamber de Commerce France –Albania; One UN office in Albania; Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Albania; ADA - Austrian Development Agency (Albania); Delegation of the European Commission (Albania); SDC (Albania) - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; PUM Netherlands Segion Experts Program; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH albania; Nuffic Tailored made training program Financial engagement of Partners To increase the responsibility, annual fees will be available from partners, to cover the meetings and administrative expenses. It will require the legal registration of the affiliation to any of the partners, in order to manage a separate budget for the RCE. Although informality of the network is one of its advantages, and no legal registration in the country is required from the Membership in the Global RCE-s network. In order not to compromise the unique nature of the network, an alternative solution can be creation and registration as a foundation. It will not be the RCE, but one of the partners dealing with the administrative issues. Among the above options, and according to the orientation of the program of RCE, and the role that RCE can play as an, inter-regional agency, businesses association, alliances of NGO-s, and coordination of some activities of education Institutions it is proposed to be registered as Association. Another contribution from partners can be including at least one elements of the RCE program, in their financial plans. Encouraging different type of business financing similar activities will be a continuous initiative of RCE. Some of the partners form business sectors have already financed initiatives of RCE. Assistance on Applications for project financing in open call sources Although it can be time consuming, successful applications are the main sources of funding for many RCE-s. The actual staff of RCE cannot cover the preparation process. It can identify the appropriate calls and can coordinate the application parties (including partners from international organization). Thus in order to increase the number of applications per year, and increase the quality of proposals has to consider: Contracting staff for proposal preparation; Partnership with international institutions specialized in proposal preparation; use the existing office of projects of the partners. Application for funds will be searched in different programs which support capacity building, and training support. 2. Creation of RCE Identity and specification of the program Promoting the RCE-s Unique selling points, it will requires also the justification with Flagship projects and innovation brought by RCE Albania in the Region. The streaming of the program to specific issues of Green Economy and Energy, it will be combined by learning process of vocational trainings (ex. the green constructors for the operation of sustainable construction elements in the building) and will create conditions for innovation in this relatively new field. The coordination of Energy efficiency with learning practices will be a new approach and support for the few institutes that deal with this field. Involvement on the increasing donors programs in this field will lead to the implementation of the Energy Chapter of Action Plan on ESD for Albania. (ex. Netherlands Senior Experts program, Pum, as an assistance to the public institutions for Energy Efficiency). Program in increasing awareness in energy for community and leadership program in Energy Climate change and global issues, Staff trainings will be part of capacity strengthening, linking this way the priorities with each other. The major part of the program will be adapted to the specific issues of energy and green economy, which is in line with the overall framework on education for sustainable development. Review of individual program with each partner, in this aspect will be done, and facilitated by further screen of sustainability performance of each partner. The innovative approach for a specific focus of the program is based on combination of actions on technology, learning and education, policy and economic development. It will be done through a multi-stakeholder approach and based emerging priorities. Prioritizing the program in line with the Global emerging issues, and applicable in the specifics of the country, for example Alternative Energy is the priority of the European Union for the Next 20 years, UN millennium Development Goal for the next Decade, Priority of main European Countries ex. Germany Energiewende, and the priority of the New Government of Albania for the next four years. 3. Programs for capacity strengthening ( leaders program ) Although leadership issue in its first meaning as hierarchical nature appear contradictor with the network and the horizontal governance that it contains, leadership for the network is really important. The suscces of RCE depends mainly on Leader of organization partners commitment and support. In the role as coordinator, RCE have to encourage their leadership with global emerging issues in specific topics e.x environment and climate change, to encourage Leadership in the network structures and Leadership behaviours in non-hierarchical structures. Although there are difficulties in keeping the network partners interested and active, as partners have their main obligation as being responsible or leaders for their organizations, they have time constrains. Leadership can play a role considering it in two dimensions: in the local dimension, by turning it in an important factor for regional development and international dimension, to playing a role and contribute on the international network Collaborations and partnerships stop existing because of the wrong leadership influences. Leaders should contribute with increase the networks of RCE Albania with important actors and individual. 4. RCE collaboration with other RCE-s, European RCE-s in continental level and Global RCE-s centre Partner to Partner Approach; will consist on creating connection between member partners of RCE Albania and Member Partners of other RCE-s which will bring the long term benefits of regional cooperation. And it will contribute to strengthening of partner organizations, where not only of the core team of RCE-s is involved. For more it will increase the visibility of the network. Increase collaboration with other RCE-s for joint projects, mainly by collaboration with their partners Universities is the most possible manner due to the existing programs from European Union which encourage the partnerships and cooperation of Universities in Europe including countries that are not part of the European Union, sometimes with some restrictions. Partner to Partner approach will be used also with other sectors as partners on Eco-tourism, which is faster to create connection due the mobility, industry etc. Collaboration with other RCE-s for nexhange of research of Education for Sustainable Development Approaching European Union as a group of European RCE, for support Network of European Foundations and European Foundation Office, in Brussels, can be a start for group initiatives of European RCE-s. Proposal for collective support will be elaborated in cooperation with other RCE-s in Europe, and coordinator of European RCE-s. Presence and representation in Brussels; although the global RCE network is concerned with United Nations Issues in global level, European RCE-s, due to their continental characteristic should be more present to the institutions of European Union and involved the EU policies, which concern future of Europe. As the Brussels can be considered the world capital of lobbying for local and regional authorities, opportunity of an represenation office in Brussles will be a good start for increaisng the visisbility of RCE-s and influencing policies in continental level. Other posibility can be connection with region Region Representative that already exist in Brussels, which play a role of information, networking, promotion of their regions, connections with their own governments outside their countries. Not every region of RCE-s is presented in Brussels, thus a more collective approach would be more effective. This will required that RCE-s in Europe to be presented apart from their affilication institutions. Collaboration with Global RCE coordination centre at UNU-IAS Importance is givenr recently to the Individual and collective role of the Global RCE network in furthering ESD agenda beyond 2014 with reference to UNESCO’s proposal for a Global Action Programme (UNESCO, 2013) on ESD. The draft Global Action Programme (GAP) identifies five priority areas on: i) policy support, ii) whole-institution approaches, iii) educators, iv) youth and v) local communities as key leverage points to advance ESD agenda beyond 2014. The five priority areas are already part of the programs of many RCE-s. The experience gathered so far can be a valuable contributing and the potential that RCE-s structure offers can be channelized in the specific areas, but not changing the broader approach that RCE-s cover. Depending on the specific of each region priority can be given more to a certain area. RCE middle Albania, has officially registered to UNESCO as on organization that will support the implementation of GAP. Albania Action Plan on ESD that is in preparation process by RCE Albania, starting with the Energy chapter, will be in line with this initiative. It will require the engagement of more actors that are not part of the network. From the RCE Albania evaluation it resulted, that partners of RCE Albania will support the commitment to implement the GAP. It will be a clear example of including global policies to local communities’ initiative. It is necessary the connection with UNESCO representatives in the country to follow up the process. Conclusions Combination of fundraising with a flexible strategy for development can secure financial stability and long term continuation of the networks. The second phase of establishment of RCE Albania, proposed strategy has adopted according to the global challenges and requirements of the RCE Albania partner organizations. From RCE Albania evaluation process it became clear, the need for increasing institutionalization of the network, expanding the networks with more influential actors, reviewing local government partners and boundaries, in the framework of country administrative reform. Although it is important at this stage to narrow the focus of the activities concentrating in emerging issues as Energy, green economy, there is a need for capacity strengthen of the partners in the field of sustainability, and facilitation of assistance for new connection with international partners as well. Benefits of RCE Albania, by being part of the international network, stays in the fact that the region of middle Albania can act as an independent player on the country and leader actor on ESD, in implementing global objectives, as a bottom up approach, and voluntary initiative, influencing the field of development for the region on sustainability in accordance with a bigger framework, not related to the limits of the country institutions approaches. It is not the purpose to add another organization in the region but to coordinate and try increasing the performance of existing organizations. The overall effects of partnerships for sustainable development, and assessment of the influence of partnerships in global sustainability governance and how the role and relevance of this new type of global governance remains contested, it is argued sometimes as: The overall effects of partnerships for sustainable development, are more more smoke than fire. (Frank Biermann, Sander Chan, Aysem Mert and Philip Pattberg 2009) Importance should be given as well to the “Europe of the Regions“approach. The various groups of interests that try to influence EU institutions, participating in this way in a multi-level governance, even not institutionalized, can be applied by European RCE-s, to be present in influencing EU policies. List of interview s of RCE middle Albania Partners 1 Blendi Himci Lecturer, Faculty of Economy, University Aleksander Xhuvani, Elbasan 2 Marinela Sota Executive Director, Refraction association 3 Ergis Sefa Executive director, SEDA, Institute for Social Economic Development Alternatives 4 Alma Fataj Architect, AD-in Studio Architecture, Design, Interior 5 Roland Palushi Director, Eco-tour Albania 6 Jean-Luc Emery Administrator, 3A Koncept & Zhvillim 7 Helidon Nauni Manager, Research and Development Chipstar 8 Suela Dragovoja Deputy Director, “A&I Design” 9 Skender Bedalli Administrator, Consulting and Management Albania, C&MA 10 Mira Abazaj Civil Engineer, Energy efficiency expert 11 Albana Drenogllava Former President/Rotary Club Elbasan 12 Hasan Drazhi, Director of Project and Development Office, Regional Council of Elbasan 13 Bleriana Bino Excecutive Director, UET Centre, European University of Tirana 1