A training course for advisors “How to be a better Policy Advisor” and a special workshop “Experience of Slovak Schools and Institutions in advising the Slovak Government in Public Administration Reforms” was implemented by NISPAcee in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on April 5-9, 2005. 16 participants from the targeted Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia - took part in the training course.

The special workshop “Experience of Slovak Schools and Institutions in advising the Slovak Government in Public Administration Reforms” was led by five Slovak experts – Juraj Nemec, Peter Bercik, Peter Kuklis, Katarina Staronova and Milan Bucek. During the 1-day seminar the following topics were discussed:  Public Administration Reform and Public Policy Making in Slovakia and the individual experiences of Slovak Schools and Institutions in communication and advising the Slovak Government in Public Administration Reforms and Public Policy Making. The participants had a unique opportunity to learn about PA reforms which have taken place in Slovakia and to compare the Slovak experience with the development in their own countries. 

The training course "How to be a better Policy Advisor" was led by an international team of NISPAcee trainers – Katarina Staronova (Slovak Republic), Rodica Bombonica Dudau (Romania) and Alfredas Chmieliauskas (Lithuania).

Petrit Dollani, Albania

During the training course, I had a unique opportunity to have a complete overview of  policy advising and some real experiences of the Slovak Republic and other Central European countries on reforming their Public Administration sector. One of the most interesting topics for me, as a university lecturer, was: advising vs. research, which will help me to make research projects more practical-oriented and to think in terms of "advising projects". I feel that participation in the course further improved my analytic and communication skills.

Blerta Selenica, Albania

From my point of view, the training course was a great opportunity, especially in the areas of policy cycle, the skills of a good adviser and adviser versus researcher. Perhaps I had heard some of these concepts before, but the training helped me to reorganise my thinking. The Slovak experience is also a good example for me, as a citizen of Eastern Europe, looking towards integration. Meeting people from the Balkan countries was also beneficial since we are facing the same problems in our respective countries. In the future I will try to maintain the boundaries between being both an adviser and a researcher as I teach part-time in a university and also work in the public sector.

Elira Jorgoni, Albania

I work as a consultant and have, as clients, governmental institutions; advising them is a very complex issue. During my 4-5 years’work in the field I have learned much from good and bad experiences in implementing project activities. Managing relations with stakeholders and their interests was very well explained during the training session. It is very interesting work, which I enjoy, and acting as a consultant I often find myself in complex situations. The training helped me to think about those situations and to analyse them from a broader perspective.

In my country, the position of adviser refers mainly to political advisers. Advice is very limited in this field. I found the training very interesting, in particular, all we learned about consultants and advisors.

This was an excellent choice of topic which replied to the very direct need of the countries participating; a very good training module and excellent trainers.

Zarije Seizovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina  

I found the course programme crucial for enhancing my consultant skills. I also consider the manual "How to be Better Policy Advisor" a very useful guide for future endeavors and the entire exercise was very well organised and carried out.

Marjan Nikolov, Republic of Macedonia - Participant

I view the workshop on how to be a better policy advisor as being a tool to reach the goals of my think tank (the Center for Economic Analyses - CEA); to establish a sustainable think tank that will be a permanent institution providing outstanding intellectual capacities and resources to conduct analyses for government and non-government clients, and to create a demand for those services that ensures Macedonia has the capability to properly support policy analysis. The program I attended in Bratislava contributed immensely to my vision.

Participants

Mr. Gelaj Aranit, Albania

Mr. Dushallari Eugen, Albania

Mrs. Selenica Blerta, Albania

Mr. Dollani Petrit, Albania

Ms. Jorgoni Elira, Albania

Ms. Sakic Nejla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms. Obradovic Nikolina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms. Latinovic Dunja, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms. Selak Sunita, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Seizovic Zarije, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms. Pandzic Ljiljana, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Daskalovski Zidas, Republic of Macedonia

Ms. Nasokovska Marija, Republic of Macedonia

Mr. Lazarevik Vladimir, Republic of Macedonia

Mrs. Alceva Peslikoska Biljana, Republic of Macedonia

Mr. Nikolov Marjan, Republic of Macedonia