Donor: Chemonics International / USAID

Implementation Period: 2009 – 2011

Value:16,475,529 ALL

Description:

MCCA2 builds upon the progress achieved during the first stage (September 2006 – October 2008) in establishing several e-government systems: the one-stop-shop for business registration, the e-procurement system, and tax e-services. The MCC Albania Threshold Program II (2008-2011) supports reforms in the following main areas:

• Tax Administration: MCCA2 continues the work begun under stage I in restructuring and modernizing the tax administration with the goal of expanding e-tax and taxpayer services, conducting tax audits based on risk analysis, strengthening collection, processing as well as criminal and internal anticorruption investigation functions, and creating the Taxpayers Advocate and the Tax Consultative Council.

• Business Licensing: Following the successful model of the National Registration Center, MCCA2’s activities include establishing and supporting the operation of the National Licensing Center (NLC) in Tirana and other cities, offering one-stop-shop service

• Territorial Planning: Based on the April 2009 Law on Territorial Planning, MCCA2 works to establish a Territorial Planning Register that will increase transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption in planning and permitting processes through the application of IT standards to be piloted also in the municipalities of Tirana, Shkodër, Fier, Vlorë and Pogradec.

• Private Sector and Civil Society Engagement: Through capacity building assistance and subcontracts, MCCA2 supports contributions by civil society organizations to monitor program-supported reforms, assist with policy changes, and advocate for improved anti-corruption measures.