This document explains how this website administrator will handle information that we obtain from visitors to this site. Depending on what you do when visiting the site we may obtain different information.

For visitors accessing the pages available to the public we collect and store the following information:

1.        The name of the domain from which you access the internet and the internet address from which you come to our site.

2.        The date and time you access our site.

3.        Which browser you are using when visiting our site.

4.        Which pages you visit on the web site.

5.        Which documents you upload and download.

6.        How long you are on our site.

We use this information to measure what information is the most viewed and to make our web site more useful to visitors. Information collected for site management purposes will be shared only with those persons connected with administration of this site. In case of suspected unauthorized activity we may use this information for law enforcement and possible criminal prosecution. We do not obtain personally-identifying information about you when you visit our site unless you knowingly and specifically choose to provide such information. You may select an option on the site to receive notices by email of new information posted to selected portions of the LGPA website. You may deselect that option at any time. You may select to provide information about yourself

Users may decide to send us personally-identifying information, for example, in an electronic mail message asking a question or providing us with a comment or suggestion. We use personally-identifying information to respond to your comment or suggestion, and to count the number of people sending us comments. In certain instances, your comment or suggestion may be forwarded to USAID or other government agencies or departments if they are in the best position to respond to your message.

To participate in some activities, such as a workshop/seminar or a discussion you may be requested to provide personally-identifying information. We use this information to prepare for the number of participants who may attend and to keep you informed about the activity. Personally identifying information that you choose to provide will be used by LGPA and/or USAID only as it relates to the administration of this site and the LGPA, or for other purposes as are described at the point of collection of that information. We do not give, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party.

Some of the information contained in the LGPA website is for exclusive use by persons working on LGPA project activities. All LGPA project personnel requesting permissions to access restricted areas are authenticated by a username and password. Online reporting occurs using a secure browser that encrypts information sent over the internet.

We use this information to measure what information is the most viewed and to make our web site more useful to visitors. Information collected for site management purposes will be shared only with those persons connected with administration of this site. We also use this information to facilitate administration of the BGI project. Depending on your assignment, you may be requested to report your activities on the BGI KM Portal. In case of suspected unauthorized activity we may use this information for law enforcement and possible criminal prosecution.

In general, this site does NOT use the "cookies" that some Web sites use to gather and store information about your visits to their sites. Cookies are essentially tokens of information, such as preferences and passwords, which some Web servers collect from you when you access them. That data is stored on your hard drive-not on the Web site's server. Whenever you visit a "cookie" site, the server looks for its cookie on your hard drive and, if found, then reads the information it stored there. Cookies generally are stored in your browser's directory or folder in a file named cookie.txt (MagicCookie on a Macintosh).

We collect this information only to authenticate your identity while you are these limited sections of the LGPA web site. The "cookie" has no other function, and LGPA will not share any information associated with this "cookie" with individuals not connected with the administration of this section of the LGPA web site, or with anyone outside LGPA. Further, some of the links on our website point to non-program sites, which may place cookies on your computer. You may not be notified that you are leaving our site when you select one of these links. However, you should know that the non-LGPA site may still place a cookie on your computer while you are reading the warning message. If you want to avoid such cookies, we encourage you to set your browser to notify you when cookies are being set and allow you to reject them. Your system's help files will explain how to do this.

To secure the information we collect online we do the following:

1.        We backup the information regularly to guard against loss.

2.        We establish and enforce privacy and security controls to ensure that your information is seen only by those persons who need to do so to perform their official tasks.

3.        We require and enforce authentication for those users who are granted access to selected areas of the site.

4.        For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, we use technical controls to secure the information we collect online. We use software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this service are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.

If monitoring reveals evidence of possible criminal activity, such evidence may be provided to law enforcement authorities.

This Web site contains links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. When links and pointers exist they are provided for users' convenience. We do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to Web sites are not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.

Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitor's, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, USAID or the web site administrators.

Every effort is made to provide accurate and complete information. However, with many people worldwide providing self reported data, we cannot guarantee that there will be no errors. We make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this web site and expressly disclaim liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this web site.

With respect to the content of this site, neither the United States Government, nor USAID, nor their employees and contractors make any warranty, expressed or implied or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, and the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to content available from this web site or other internet resources linked from it. Additionally, neither the U.S. Government nor USAID nor their employees and contractors assume any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process disclosed herein nor freedom from computer virus, and do not represent that use of such information, product, or process would not infringe on privately owned rights.

Unauthorized attempts to upload information and/or change information on this Web site are strictly prohibited and are subject to prosecution under Title 18 U.S.C., Sections 1001 and 1030).

The Local Governance Program in Albania manages the overall information content, design, and organization of this Web site under the direction of USAID. For questions or comments about the information presented here, please contact the Local Governance Program in Albania at info@lgpa.al or by Tel\Fax: ++355-4-2266-637.

If you would like verification or a hard copy of information released on this LGPA Web site, contact the Program at the address provided in 'Contact Us' page.