Improving the Management of External Assistance through an Information System Case Study: Albania

Abstract

developing country’s economic growth, if managed properly.The level of foreign funds, provided in Albania by different donors, has been relatively high during the past years. Currentlya substantial part of the total budget is made of foreign financing, in the form of grants or soft loans. But, the country currently lacks a sophisticated and functional system through which it can manage efficiently the foreign aid. This document describes the system design and functionalities of the External Assistance Management Information System (EAMIS), which is proposed to be implemented in the near future by the Government, managed by the Department for Development Programming, Financing and Foreign Aid (DDFFA), at the Prime Minister Office. EAMIS will mainly serve to modernize the management of external assistance with new models and tools, to create a network of partners among line ministries, local government, donors, private investors as users of the same Information System, consolidate & integrate processes from planning to delivery for strategic development programs and provide a comprehensive picture of Development Programming & Financing including all sources. This document presents the purpose and scope of this system including an overview and design constraints. It summarizes the key business requirements gathered from business users, process documents, review of existing systems and review of prior consulting studies and will describe in detail the six functional areas on which the system design should be based. The report ends with an analysis of the challenges and risks that need to be taken into account while designing and implementing such a system which will require substantial business transformation and change management.