CAUSE
CAUSE – Confiscated Assets Used for Social Experimentation was implemented by Partners Albania in partnership with Project Ahead and Comitato Don Peppe Diana and in collaboration with the Agency for the Administration of the Seized and Confiscated Assets with the financial support of the European Union.
Summary
CAUSE – Confiscated Assets Used for Social Experimentation is the first initiative in Albania and the Western Balkan countries that created a model of sustainable re-use of confiscated assets from organised crime by civil society organisations, as a valid tool to reaffirm the value of legality and citizens’ actions against organised crime.
CAUSE was designed based on the belief that the reuse of confiscated assets from organised crime presents a clear opportunity to change an economic paradigm and to show that the legal economy can be more efficient than the illegal one, putting together the public interest and the economic sustainability.
Applying an innovative approach, focused on the promotion and development of the culture of social entrepreneurship and fight against organised crime, CAUSE provided opportunities, skills and financial support to CSOs for the establishment of a social enterprise in a confiscated asset from organised crime.
Main pillars of CAUSE
Assistance to The Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets
Acitivities from the CAUSE project in support of AASCA:
- Training for 10 administrators of seized and confiscated assets on social re-use of confiscated assets
- Provision of guidelines to support the preparation of internal procedures for the destination and the assignment of confiscated assets to CSOs for social re-use
- Study visit in Italy for 2 staff members of the Agency
- Establishing links of communications with CSOs.
- Training workshops for CSOs: 6 training days, 106 participants, 5 cities (Tirana, Durrës, Shkodra, Vlora, Fier).
Preparation and Management of the Sub-Granting Scheme for the Establishment Of Social Enterprises by CSOs in the Confiscated Assets from Organised Crime
The Sub-Granting Scheme included:
- 5 confiscated properties in Durrës, Elbasan, Lushnje, Fier and Saranda
- 4 calls for proposals
- 13 info sessions (onsite and online)
- 146 participants
- 23 applications, 3 winning projects, 5 implementing organizations
- 60,000 – 150,000 EUR fund per project
- 28 mentoring sessions for sub-grantees (onsite and online)
- 1 study visit in Italy with partner organizations and beneficiaries
Winning projects of the Sub-Granting Scheme
KinFolk Coffee Library
A social initiative set-up in a confiscated asset from the organized crime, transformed into a friendly environment for young people – especially those at risk of juvenile delinquency, their families and citizens. By engaging them in social, cultural, and educational activities, Kinfolk serves as a measure to counteract youth involvement into illegal activities.
Ke Buono! Social Pastry
A social pastry running its activity in a confiscated asset in Fier. It offers a variety of pastry products, as well as integration activities with children and parents, adolescents, students, and women, aiming to build a culture of legality and non-violence in the community.
Social Crafting Garage
A workshop set-up in a confiscated asset in Saranda, were women and girls – victims or at risk from the organized crime and domestic violence, make handicrafts using natural stones from the beach (colourful, one colour, flat, rock, glassy, etc.).
Publications about CAUSE
Analysis of the international best practices on the re-use of the confiscated assets by CSOs
This document aims at analyzing the role of the reutilization for social purposes of the assets confiscated from criminal organizations by non-profit organizations. Browse nowAnalysis of the international best practices on the re-use of the confiscated assets by...
Documentary on the social reuse of properties confiscated from organized crime
Watch this documentary on the social reuse of confiscated assets from organized crime, produced by Partners Albania with the support of the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Tirana. https://youtu.be/PSuIuP3BOl8