UN Country Team in Albania celebrates joint achievements in working for sustainable development with Swiss Ambassador to Albania

UN Country Team in Albania invited Swiss Ambassador to Albania, Mr Adrian Maître to a UN House to review and celebrate joint achievements in working for sustainable development and wish him well on next chapter of career as he ends his posting in Albania.

“Switzerland is the second biggest contributor in our current Programme of Cooperation and to the SDG Acceleration Fund. UN is thankful to the close partnership with Switzerland, and with Ambassador Maître in particular” – said UN Resident Coordinator, Fiona McCluney.

Ambassador Maître highlighted the successful cooperation with the UN Family in Albania in promoting multilateralism and common interests in Security Council, as well as with Swiss support including on Territorial and Administrative Reform; Skills Development for Employment and Leaving No One Behind. UN Albania and Swiss Embassy recently signed the second phase of Leave No Behind (LNB) Programme which extended improvements to social protection to more municipalities with a- budget 8 million Swiss Franc, implemented over 5 years through the SDG Acceleration Fund.

The Leave No One Behind project, is a flagship programme that has introduced new sustainable approaches to social protection and inclusion with provision of new facilities, support from Swiss academic links and the dedicated and coordinated efforts of four UN Agencies - UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA, with UNDP in the lead, great partnership with the Government both at the central and local level and engaging various stakeholders, communities and CSOs.

Thanks to this project, tangible results were achieved by positively affecting the lives of vulnerable communities, demonstrating increased and more equitable investment in people, removing barriers, and creating opportunities for those at risk of exclusion. The project has affected the lives of around 200,000 vulnerable groups, people with disabilities, Roma and Egyptians. More than half of the municipalities were supported in preparing and implementing social care plans, professionals at the municipalities were trained, and mechanisms to provide were strengthened. LNB served also to support vulnerable groups during the Covid pandemic.

At the end of event Ms McCluney handed Ambassador Maître a small gift to honor the Ambassador’s dedication to achievement of sustainable development goals in Albania.