Q: Why was the Country Roadmap analysis performed? What will USAID do with the information?
A: Worldwide, USAID is reorienting its development vision towards strengthening its partner countries’ “self-reliance” – that is, each country’s ability to plan, finance, and implement solutions aimed at addressing its own development challenges.
 
To help USAID better understand each country’s progress towards self-reliance, USAID developed the Country Roadmap tool - drawing on 17 public, third party indicators that reflect a country’s “Commitment” and “Capacity” to plan, finance, and manage its own development journey: 

• “Commitment” is the degree to which laws, policies, actions, and informal governance mechanisms support a country’s progress towards self-reliance.
• “Capacity” is how far a country has progressed in its ability to plan, finance, and manage its own development journey across the dimensions of political, social and economic development, including the ability to work collaboratively across these sectors.

As USAID is examining its partnerships relative to the entire developing world, the Roadmap analysis was conducted for all 136 low- and middle-income countries. In the Balkans region, in addition to Albania, Country Roadmaps were developed for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Serbia (locations with a USAID presence), as well as Bulgaria, Montenegro and Romania (countries without a USAID presence).

 NOTE: All Country Roadmaps will be made publicly available worldwide on an online portal on October 2, 2018. USAID developed Roadmaps for all low and middle income countries.

Q:  Based on the Roadmap, what will happen to USAID/Albania? Will USAID still have a presence in Albania?
A: USAID’s work in Albania will continue.

When USAID sees a country with a relatively strong self-reliance profile, the Agency will explore whether the current nature of the partnership makes sense, or if the agency should transition to a partnership more reflective of a country with a relatively advanced level of self-reliance, and the remaining areas of challenge.
 
Albania is one of USAID’s most self-reliant partners, though the country still faces challenges in spheres like open government and rule-of-law. As a result, looking forward, USAID programs will likely look to address these and related challenges, and support Albania’s further integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. This examination is ongoing.
  
Q. What is USAID currently doing in Albania?
A: Since 1992, USAID has delivered more than $500 million in foreign aid to support Albania’s development, stability, and EU integration.
 
USAID’s current work in Albania focuses on two sectors: Democracy and Governance and Economic Growth.
 
To support Democracy and Governance, USAID/Albania’s programs assist policy reform; enhance citizen oversight and transparency; empower civil society; strengthen rule of law; prevent violent extremism; and improve performance and management capabilities in local governments and in the judicial system. 
 
USAID Economic Growth programs work with the financial sector to improve access to capital for key economic drivers, such as support to: small and medium enterprises; farmers; and agribusiness.  Programs also provide specialized technical assistance to: increase competitiveness; promote economic growth with a focus on tourism; and foster macroeconomic stability to raise Albania’s standard of living to be more commensurate with greater Europe. 

Q: Will the Roadmap’s rollout result in less assistance to Albania?
A: No. This is not about the USG exiting its relationship with Albania.  Albania is an important ally of the United States and we are proud of our partnership.  USAID’s work will continue. The Roadmaps are about assessing a country’s self-reliance, its strengths and challenges, and whether we need to think about the nature of the partnership going forward to better strengthen (or sustain) self-reliance. The Roadmaps, therefore, will help inform decisions about the nature of a partnership, but will not directly determine budget decisions.

Assisting Albania on its path to EU membership remains a top U.S. government priority.  The USG accomplishes this through the following goals:

• Albania effectively implements key rule of law reforms to counter corruption and organized crime as part of the EU accession process;
• Albania becomes a stronger NATO ally and advances security and stability domestically and regionally;
• Albania strengthens democratic institutions and deepens economic reforms.

Q: Is USAID withdrawing from Albania?
A: No. USAID will continue supporting programs through a range of technical sectors.

That said, when USAID sees a country with a relatively strong self-reliance profile, the Agency will explore whether the current nature of the partnership makes sense, or if the Agency should transition to a partnership more reflective of a country with a relatively advanced level of self-reliance, and address the remaining areas of challenge.
 
Albania is one of USAID’s most self-reliant partners, though the country still faces challenges in spheres like open government and rule-of-law. As a result, looking forward, USAID programs will likely look to address these and related challenges, and support Albania’s further integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. This examination is ongoing.
 
Q: What is the significance of the Roadmap for Albania?
A: Worldwide, USAID is reorienting its development vision towards strengthening its partner countries’ “self-reliance” – that is, each country’s ability to plan, finance, and implement solutions aimed at addressing its own development challenges.

To help USAID better understand each country’s progress towards self-reliance, USAID developed the Country Roadmap tool - drawing on 17 public, third party indicators that reflect a country’s “Commitment” and “Capacity” to plan, finance, and manage its own development journey.

When USAID sees a country with a relatively strong self-reliance profile, the Agency will explore whether the current nature of the partnership makes sense, or if the agency should transition to a partnership more reflective of a country with a relatively advanced level of self-reliance, and address the remaining areas of challenge.

Albania is one of USAID’s most self-reliant partners, though the country still faces challenges in spheres like open government and rule-of-law. As a result, looking forward, USAID programs will likely look to address these and related challenges, and support Albania’s further integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. This examination is ongoing.