PONT supports recruitment of Prespa National Park staff

Improved staffing levels with sufficient technical and human capacity are critical elements required for improving the current management effectiveness of the Regional Administration of Protected Areas (RAPA) in Korça. The RAPA overseas the management of Prespa National Park.

The effective implementation of the Management Plan of the Prespa National Park in Albania for the period 2014-2024 requires further staffing of the RAPA. This cannot be achieved through the budget, which is underpinned by the National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA).

The Grant Agreement of September 2019 between PONT and the NAPA provides co-financing for the RAPA to increase the effectiveness of critical operations. The grant secured funds for hiring the following new staff:

• Ecosystems, Habitats, Flora and Fauna Specialist
• Communications Officer
• Financial Officer
• Ranger

The grant also covers the costs for several temporary staff to be hired for the maintenance of the visitor infrastructure in the park.

The Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa, Phase II project, supported by the German Development Cooperation through KfW, and implemented by GFA Consulting Group and the Institute for Nature Conservation in Albania, provided support to NAPA and the RAPA in all stages of the recruitment process, such as the development of job descriptions, preparing and publishing calls for the vacancies, and the selection of the new staff.

With the new staff in office since January 2020, the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Prespa, Phase II project also assisted the RAPA in delivering a job induction programme, as well as work programmes for the new staff for the first half of 2020, and the associated performance evaluation tools. The focus in this period will be on supporting the new staff to acquire the right set of technical skills, competencies and knowledge to effectively carry out their core tasks.

PONT’s support to the NAPA and the RAPA for hiring, training and retaining key staff will continue in the long-term along with developing and implementing systems for management, administration, reporting, and tools to ensure clear and standardised measures of performance for staff, in line with the three-year capacity building strategy adopted in December 2018.