Peer Exchange Workshop of SEMP municipalities
Shkodra Municipality hosted on April 16 – 17, 2024 the two-day Peer Exchange Workshop of SEMP Municipalities. Over the course of two days, municipal representatives and the SEMP team discussed and strategized the implementation of energy-efficient solutions and climate action measures in Albanian municipalities.
Street Lighting Efficiency Across Key Municipalities
On the first day, the main topics of the training intensive discussions centered on the street lighting maintenance and proper operation of 36 km of efficient street lighting installed across four municipalities: Berat, Korca, Permet, and Shkodra. The discussions covered essential topics such as regular inspection, energy efficiency, safety measures, and strategic planning. Experts presented international best practices in street lighting maintenance and operation, emphasizing safety and strategic planning. This led to engaging discussions among participants about how these practices could be adapted and implemented within the Albanian municipalities.
Municipal Energy and Climate Action Plans in the focus
Day two of the training focused on advancing the implementation of Municipal Energy and Climate Action Plans (MECAPs) and addressing sustainable urban mobility concepts. Participants together with experts discussed steps to be followed by municipalities and explored the interpretation of existing building data in tools like EnerCoach and the consultation process before the final approval of the document in the Municipal Councils.
MEMU of Shkodra presented the steps of the public consultation process of MECAP and their measures on how to consider the document in the municipal budgeting processes. Approval and budget processes were discussed, as well as the planned public consultation in each municipality. In the last session of the training, participants and experts were engaged in a working-group session to define priority actions for 2024 and 2025 based on monitoring tools.
Shkodra Teachers Awarded for Sustainable Development Training
During the training event, a special side event took place, where certificates were awarded to 17 teachers from various schools within the Shkodra Municipality who participated in the “SDG and Critical Issues” training. This accredited course is endorsed by the Albanian Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth and was realized in November – December 2023. The training module, enriched with a focus on energy efficiency issues, comprises both online presentations and practical activities. These activities aim to reinforce the knowledge gained during the module presentation, with trained teachers collaborating with their students during extracurricular lessons. Through this initiative, teachers acquired knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how to implement successful energy efficiency measures within their schools, to promote energy efficiency and climate change measures.
The event was organized in frame of SEMP Project, a project financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Albanian Energy Agency and pilot Municipalities of Berat, Shkodra, Korca and Permet.
