In the light of rolling-out of "MuSPP self-sufficiency toolbox", the Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP) organized a 4-day "Training of Trainers" on Public Participation in Spatial Planning based on the developed module. The training was held on 5th - 8th of May in Durrës, Albania. A total number of 16 participants took part in the training comprising of 9 females and 5 males.  The aim of the training was to create a pool of trainers who will contribute to the setting up and initiating     a support system for capacity building on understanding and managing the process of public participation and gender mainstreaming in spatial planning.

The participants were representatives from different entities: MuSPP partner municipalities due to their previous experience with MuSPP approach to public participation, central government, Pristina Municipality, northern Kosovo municipalities, Non-Governmental Organizations and Pristina University.  

The training started with presentations on the conceptual and legislative overview of public participation in spatial planning alongside the principles and levels of public participation, including gender perspective and visioning techniques from a participatory perspective. This session was followed by an interactive discussion amongst participants. After presentations and group exercises on gender mainstreaming, the participants were introduced to the step-by-step practical approach on planning and implementing public participation activities in spatial planning. The presentations were solely based on the MuSPP Guidelines for Public Participation in Spatial Planning, Gender mainstreaming guidelines and Handbook on Visioning.

In order to easily comprehend this approach, after each of the major presentations, the participants went through practical exercises based on role-plays, within the context of locally based examples.  The exercises were designed in such a way to enable learning through a very interactive approach starting with the differences between genders and needs of women and men in municipal planning processes. Finally on the last day of the training participants were able to demonstrate their gained knowledge and skills in training delivery through a simulation exercise to fellow participants. Participants, now in the role of trainers, demonstrated high level of competence, efficiency and creativity by using substantive presentations, practical exercises, interesting energizers and innovative techniques in order to transfer their knowledge and foster interactive discussions.