Albania and the United Nations Sign New Cooperation Framework to Advance Sustainable Development and National Priorities from 2027-2031

The Government of the Republic of Albania and the United Nations today signed the Albania–United Nations Cooperation Framework 2027–2031, reaffirming their joint commitment to advance Albania's sustainable development and the well-being of the people and planet across the country. 

The Framework was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu on behalf of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania Ingrid Macdonald, in the presence of senior Government officials and the full United Nations Country Team.

The agreement is guided by Albania's national priorities and international commitments, including: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Albania National SDG Roadmap; the National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2022–2030; Albania's EU accession process, the Economic Reform Programme 2025–2027; and Albania's obligations under international law, including human rights, labour standards, environmental agreements, and Council of Europe instruments. It was informed by a comprehensive Country Analysis, the Final Evaluation of the previous 2022–2026 Cooperation Framework, and targeted consultations with more than 600 stakeholders — including national institutions, municipalities, civil society, youth, women, Roma and Egyptian communities, persons with disabilities, academia, and the private sector.

The Government of the Republic of Albania and the United Nations commit to working together across three priority areas:

1. Inclusive Human Capital Development
Strengthening equitable access to quality health, education, social protection, and child protection systems; expanding future-ready skills and decent work opportunities; and combating violence against women and children — with a focus on those at greatest risk of being left behind.

2. Sustainable Economic Transformation and Inclusive Green Growth
Advancing higher productivity, competitiveness, and value creation through green and digital business models; supporting SME upgrading, agrifood transformation, and climate-resilient development; and promoting an inclusive, gender-responsive economic transition aligned with EU standards.

3. Governance, Justice and Human Rights
Strengthening effective, transparent, and accountable institutions; expanding access to justice and legal aid; upholding human rights and gender equality; combating corruption, organised crime, and cybercrime; and ensuring safe, orderly, and rights-based migration and diaspora governance.

Drawing on the lessons of the 2022–2026 cycle, the new Cooperation Framework consolidates four outcomes and 22 outputs to three strategic outcomes and 11 outputs — sharpening the United Nations' collective contribution, reducing fragmentation, and strengthening coherence across all 20 participating entities for the period 2027-2031. The Leave No One Behind principle is operationalised as a practical delivery approach across all three priority areas, with equity-focused monitoring, disaggregated data, and targeted support for Roma and Egyptian communities, rural populations, persons with disabilities, youth, migrants, and other marginalised groups.

The Cooperation Framework has by a projected resource envelope of approximately USD 227 million over 2027–2031, with 20 United Nations signatory entities. Approximately USD 84 million has been secured as of 1 June 2026. The Government of Albania, the European Union, international financial institutions, bilateral partners, civil society, and the private sector are central to the partnership. The Albania SDG Acceleration Fund, co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and the United Nations Resident Coordinator through the Joint Executive Committee, will serve as a central platform for integrated joint programming.

Voices

"The signing of the Albania–United Nations Cooperation Framework 2027–2031 reaffirms our strong partnership with the United Nations at a critical stage of our country's development and European integration journey. This Framework will support our national priorities and reform agenda, while ensuring that progress delivers tangible benefits for people, communities, and future generations across Albania."

— Albana Koçiu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania

"This Cooperation Framework reflects our shared commitment to an inclusive, prosperous, people and planet centered Albania — where children learn and thrive, young people gain skills for tomorrow’s economies, women and men access decent opportunities, communities are more resilient and future generations benefit from a clean and green environment. The United Nations is proud to stand alongside Albania as a strategic partner in this journey, and we are determined that no one is left behind."

— Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania

About the Cooperation Framework

The United Nations Cooperation Framework is the primary instrument through which the United Nations system plans and implements its development support at country level. In Albania, the 2027–2031 Framework is co-owned by the Government and the United Nations, guided by the Joint Executive Committee co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Resident Coordinator, and implemented through Results Groups and Joint Work Plans. A final independent evaluation will be conducted at the end of the cycle.