International Experiences – Urban Research Institute

BIODRINI – Enhancement of Biodiversity in the Drini River Basin through Integrated Watershed Management

URI_Admin — Thu, 26 May 2022 08:28:22 +0000

This project is part of the Cross-Border Programme Albania-Kosovo IPA II. Its overall objective is the protection of the environment and the enhancement of biodiversity along the Drin River Basin. The action will be implemented in the municipalities of Kukës, Has and Tropoja in Albania and in the municipality of Rahovec in Kosovo. The environmental resources and biodiversity of this area are not adequately valorized. This action will analyze the environmental situation of area and provide measures from international best practices to enhance the area’s environmental resources and biodiversity through sustainable interregional socio-economic development.

Factsheet

Regional Research on Waste Management Economic Instruments Implemented in South Eastern European (SEE) Countries

URI_Admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:41:18 +0000

SEE countries, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece, Ukraine and Serbia, face common challenges on solid waste management. Local governments are struggling to cope with the growing volumes of waste; basic waste service provision is mostly concentrated in urban areas, and illegal dumpsites are a frequent sight, especially in rural areas. Within this project’s framework, research on waste management economic instruments, institutional and financial analysis of the waste sector in SEE was conducted. Additionally, the identification and analysis of existing instruments in SEE, and provision of best practices for the purpose of replication was also achieved.

REA – Regional Environmental Advocacy, Action and Cohesion in Western Balkans

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 20:13:43 +0000

The “Regional Environmental Advocacy, Action and Cohesion in Western Balkans” project is a regional initiative, carried out in six Western Balkan countries (Montenegro, Bosnia&Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania, where Urban Research Institute is the National Partner) that worked to raise environmental awareness among decision makers and interest groups, to ensure that environmental issues and sustainable development are seen as priorities on their national agenda. The focus of the REA project was to increase the number of Parliament members motivated to improve national laws and policies for environmental initiatives as well as to boost the number of environmental initiatives of Parliament members.

Full Project Description

Waste Management and Environmental Protection, IPA Cross Border Cooperation Albania-Kosova

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 14:42:27 +0000

The specific objective of the project is to increase the knowledge and engagement of 5000 students, 300 teachers and 1000 citizens in the region on the benefits of sustainable waste management and recycling for environmental protection and economic development. The lack of awareness, education and activity amongst citizens on environmental issues has been detrimental to their behavioral norms and thus, social and environmental condition. Through this intervention, the environmental and social challenges become economic opportunities. By increasing the level of knowledge, engagement and collaboration of citizens and institutions on sustainable waste management and recycling, Kosovar and Albanian society is better able to move forward in the process of integrating into the European Union.

Factsheet

Tailoring Global MDG Water Supply and Sanitation Targets and Indicators to Local Conditions in ECA (Georgia, Tajikistan, Albania)

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 14:27:00 +0000

This situation is predominantly affected by high level of infrastructure deterioration which
outcome is massive water losses and often accompanied with intrusion of wastewaters,
therefore causing pollution of potable water. Investments needed in both water and sanitation
for the next 10 coming years for matching with EU standards are estimated at 150-170 Million
US dollars, at least three times far from what has been financed up to now. Largely the situation
is aggravated as result of illegal connections mostly related to uncontrolled rural to urban
migration and establishment of peri-urban settlements, unstable supply patterns and differed
maintenance and shortages in capital investments.

Laab Shesh (The Playground) – Creating Organic Spaces as a Koine between Countries

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:53:04 +0000

Tandem is an international exchange programme for cultural managers. Since its inception in 2011, Tandem has supported long-term collaborations, knowledge development and networking opportunities for more than 250 cultural managers from over 130 cities in 35 countries across the wider Europe. Tandem Shaml supports experimental collaborations between cultural change makers from Arab countries and from Europe. For its 4th round, Tandem Shaml offers 16 cultural organisations, 8 from Europe and 8 from Arab countries, the unique opportunity to establish cross-border cooperation links. This exchange and knowledge development programme allows cultural professionals from many different disciplines to acquire skills required for engaging in long-term partnerships. The Tandem process provides hands-on possibilities for getting real insights into European and Arab cultural scenes. Participants gain practical experience by collaborating within rapidly changing fields in both regions.

Sustainable Municipality Services – Solid Waste Management

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:50:49 +0000

URI will establish an integrated solid waste management system in several municipalities and potentially over several phases (mid and long terms ambitions) to cover the entire territory of Kosovo in accordance with local and national Waste Management Plan(s) and EU recycling targets (2020/2025). Pilot efforts shall combine implementation of various approaches and create the basis for expanding separation at source and differentiated collection system in Kosovo municipalities. Pilot efforts will also serve as the basis for lessons learned for planning and implementation of the same approach in the municipalities involved in the project and potentially covering the whole territory of Kosovo.

Factsheet

Local Governance and Civic Engagement in Rural Russia

URI_Admin — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 09:48:46 +0000

Taking into consideration the successful implementation of Participatory Budgeting in Albania, URI was requested to work with the Urban Institute in Local Governance and Civil Engagement in a rural Russian Project, with support by WB/CAF and in close cooperation with the Russian NGO, Institute of Urban Economics.

Earlier Projects (1999-2009)

URI_Admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 14:09:53 +0000

Since 1999, when Urban Research Institute was created in Tirana, Albania, the organization has worked with a number of partners and donors to implement projects addressing diverse issues in the country, region and beyond. A list of the projects that URI has implemented during its first decade is attached below.

List of projects