The Center for Development of the Southwest Planning Region performs professional activities that are of particular importance for the region. According to the Law on Balanced Regional Development, the seat is in the municipality with the largest number of inhabitants, and in this case it is Struga.

The main task of this expert body is to prepare the Program for development of the region, in cooperation with the professional and scientific public, as well as the action plans for its realization. The main activities take place through the preparation and implementation of projects. In addition, the Center for Development is strongly committed to strengthening inter-municipal cooperation, and promotes the development opportunities of the region. It is especially important to emphasize the possibility of cooperation with regional authorities from other countries, because one of the basic commitments of the EU is to strengthen regional development. Cooperates with the municipalities in the region and assists in providing professional and technical assistance in the preparation of their development programs, as well as to citizens’ associations in the preparation of projects in the field of regional development.

The work of the Center is closely related to the Council for Regional Development of the Southwest Planning Region, for whose needs it performs professional and administrative work.

The Center for Development of the Southwest Planning Region was established by the 13 municipalities from this planning region with decisions of the Councils, adopted during 2008. From the first of July 2009, the team of the Center starts with operational work. The Center for Development of the Southwest Planning Region has five employees: a manager, three project coordinators and an administrator.

Pursuant to the Law on Balanced Regional Development, the Center for Development of the Planning Region performs the following activities:

  • prepares the draft program for development of the planning region,
    prepares a draft-action plan for implementation of the Program for development of the planning region,
    prepares project proposals for the development of the planning region and the areas with specific development needs,
    coordinates the activities related to the implementation of the Program for development of the planning region and realizes the projects for development of the planning region,
    provides information to stakeholders on the implementation of the Program for development of the planning region and other issues related to regional development,
    provides expert and technical assistance to local self-government units in preparing their development programs,
    provides professional services to citizens’ associations and other stakeholders for preparation of projects in the field of regional development,
    encourages inter-municipal cooperation in the framework of planned development,
    implements projects to encourage the development of the planning region, financed by European Union funds and other international sources,
    promotes the development opportunities of the planning region and
    performs professional and administrative-technical work for the needs of the council for development of the planning region.

Team

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Valon Kaba

Manager of the Center

Graduate in economics - Business administration/ Finance

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Besijana Merko

Administrator

Law graduate

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Arberesha Vlashi

Regional coordinator

Graduated in economics - business administration

Council of the planning region

The Council for Development of the Southwest Planning Region is a body for harmonization and implementation of the development policy, and it consists of the mayors of the LSGUs from the region. This body organizes and coordinates the activities for monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the planning documents for regional development, such as: Development Program, Action Plans, Annual lists of priority projects, etc. The Council is committed to strengthening inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation, as well as to coordinating the main entities within the municipalities, which work on regional development.

Members of the Council for Development of the Southwest Planning Region are: