On March 7-8, David Dodman, General Director of IHS, and Paul Rabé, Lead Specialist in Urban Land Governance, visited Tirana, Albania to meet with two partners, CoPlan and Universiteti Polis (U Polis). IHS is recognized for being involved in the creation of these organizations and is highly regarded in Albania for helping to shape thinking about urban development.
Urban areas in Albania are changing rapidly as a result of significant investment in infrastructure, changing population dynamics, and the preparation for accession to the EU. IHS, CoPlan and U Polis have skills and capacities to help guide these changes in sustainable and equitable ways.
More about the visit
During their visit, Dr Dodman and Dr Rabé had several meetings, including with the Dutch Ambassador, Reinout Vos, and the Minister of Local Government, Arbjan Maznik. They also had meetings with staff at the Department of Environmental Management in the Municipality of Tirana. The department is responsible for developing local plans on various environmental issues such as biodiversity, green action, climate change, energy, circular economy, air quality, and noise.
More about the partners
POLIS University is an institution that provides a "Space for Thinking" on spatial development policies, applied design and technology, as well as leadership and entrepreneurship. Its mission is to provide "Knowledge, Technology, and Leadership" through its three faculties: Architecture and Design, Planning, Environment and Management, and Research and Development. The university also has an Innovation Factory and is involved in various projects, including those with the World Health Organization, GIZ, Erasmus, and Horizon Europe. IHS’s relation to the institution is through Besnik Aliaj, IHS alumnus working there as a Rector.
Co-PLAN is a non-profit organization that has been contributing to sustainable development by enabling good urban and regional governance, tackling critical environmental issues, developing civil society, impacting policies, and promoting community participation in knowledge-making since 1995. Co-PLAN's primary focus is working with people and institutions to foster tangible social transformation and positive change on the ground by inducing change-driving knowledge in our society for smart habitat management.
Future collaboration
IHS and U Polis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a framework to foster cooperation between the two institutions in the coming years. Both parties recognized that there was good potential to work together on research, advisory and technical assistance projects.
