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 Rreth Kornizës së BashkëpunimitKorniza e Bashkëpunimit e Kombeve të Bashkuara është instrumenti kryesor përmes të cilit sistemi i Kombeve të Bashkuara planifikon dhe zbaton mbështetjen e tij për zhvillimin në nivel vendi. Në Shqipëri, Korniza 2027–2031 është në pronësi të përbashkët të Qeverisë dhe Kombeve të Bashkuara, udhëhiqet nga Komiteti i Përbashkët Ekzekutiv, i bashkëdrejtuar nga Zëvendëskryeministrja dhe Koordinatorja e Përhershme, dhe zbatohet përmes Grupeve të Rezultateve dhe Planeve të Përbashkëta të Punës. Në përfundim të ciklit do të kryhet një vlerësim përfundimtar i pavarur.

In a major keynote speech at London Climate Action Week, the UN chief called on AI firms to "come clean" on the full environmental impact of data centres in terms their carbon, water and land footprints.The Secretary-General also highlighted how the world’s dependence on oil is driving both the climate crisis and an energy sovereignty crunch, the latter linked to massive shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.“These crises may seem separate but they share the same destructive origin: fossil fuels. And they demand the same answer: a fast, fair transition to clean energy and a surge in adaptation, resilience and climate justice for those already facing climate harm,” Mr. Guterres said, in a call for political leadership to push through global change akin to that required to phase out leaded gasoline and to ban chemicals that created a hole in the ozone layer.In brief: the UN plan for energy independence Cut emissions fast: emissions must peak now and reach net zero by 2050, including through a global push to curb methane pollution.Accelerate clean energy: renewables pick-up needs to continue, subsidies must end for fossil fuel projects and fossil fuel profits taxed to support vulnerable communities and the energy transition.Clean up AI: require major AI companies to disclose the environmental impact of their data centres and power them with renewable energy by 2030.Ensure a just transition: ensure the shift to clean energy creates jobs, supports communities and delivers development benefits for developing countries.Boost climate resilience: increase investment in adaptation, early warning systems and other measures to protect people most vulnerable to climate impacts.Unlock fair finance: expand affordable funding for developing countries to invest in clean energy, climate adaptation and sustainable development.Defend science and truth: strengthen trust in science, combat climate disinformation and protect environmental journalists and human rights defenders.Earth’s tipping pointsIt is more than a decade since world leaders agreed in Paris to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, a remarkable show of international unity, led by the UN. Today, although that Agreement stands – and despite the US officially withdrawing for a second time in January this year – UN-backed scientists warn that average annual temperatures are likely to exceed that threshold in coming years.“Every fraction of a degree matters,” the Secretary-General insisted, as he forewarned of the irreversible damage to coral reefs unable to survive in too-warm waters, the melting ice sheets that threaten to reshape coastlines and displace millions, and the real possibility that some small island nations could disappear under the waves.Faced with this existential scenario, “the task before us is to strictly limit the overshoot, shorten its duration and bring temperatures down below 1.5°C as fast as possible”, Mr. Guterres maintained.‘Mother of all energy shocks’And while he pointed out that “any peace agreement is welcome and would bring much needed relief”, in reference to a 60-day pause in hostilities to allow ongoing Iranian-US talks in Switzerland, the UN chief noted that the Middle East crisis had unleashed “the mother of all energy shocks” comparable to the oil disruption of the 1970s and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.As damaging as the Middle East war has been for highly industrialized nations, the UN Secretary-General insisted that developing countries have been hit even harder:“It is a debt shock, a food shock, a development shock”, he told the London audience.A just future from renewables“The good news is – unlike every past energy crisis – we now have a clear way out, a clean way out,” the Secretary-General continued.He noted that since 2010, the cost of solar energy has plummeted by almost 90 per cent, onshore wind by more than 70 per cent, and battery storage by 95 per cent.Renewables avoided more than the annual carbon dioxide emissions of the US, the EU and Japan combined, Mr. Guterres said, adding that clean energy investment now attracts almost twice as much as fossil fuels.“There are no embargoes on sunlight and no blockades on the wind,” he said.A seven-point plan for energy independenceAs part of the Secretary-General’s blueprint for a clean break with fossil fuels, he outlined seven key steps:1: Emissions must peak immediately and fall steeply this decade, reaching net zero by 2050. The G20 group of wealthy nations “must lead” on this, as it is responsible for around 80 per cent of global emissions, Mr. Guterres said. Ambitious measures include a global Call to Action on Methane to reduce emissions of the gas traps around 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide, but which breaks down in the atmosphere within just a decade or two.“The world phased out leaded gasoline. We eliminated ozone-depleting chemicals. Methane pollution must be next,” the UN chief stressed.2: Clean energy projects should be promoted and public subsidies ditched for new fossil fuel projects. “The eight largest fossil fuel companies reported pocketing an extra $6.5 billion in the first quarter of this year alone…I urge governments to tax them" to help vulnerable families and communities and accelerate the shift to clean, affordable energy, Mr. Guterres said.3: Every major AI company should “measure and publicly disclose the full environmental impact” of data centres: their carbon, water and land footprints – and commit to power every data centre with renewable energy by 2030. Today, AI data centres already consume more electricity than most nations; “it’s time to come clean”, the UN chief noted.By 2030, AI data centres could use enough water to meet the basic needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub‑Saharan Africa for an entire year, the UN chief said.4: “No more extraction without development:” Mr. Guterres called for greater support for the move to clean energy in a way that benefits workers and communities everywhere and developing countries too, driven forward by the UN Climate Conference – COP31 – in Türkiye. “The transition itself is no longer in question,” he stressed, adding: “It will be either managed or chaotic, fair or unequal, a source of stability or of greater division; and these choices are still ours to make.”5: Protect those most at risk from climate chaos by helping them adapt, because this “saves lives, safeguards homes and communities, helps economies absorb shocks and holds societies together”, the Secretary-General insisted. Contingency systems need to be put in place before shocks become humanitarian and economic catastrophes, Mr. Guterres added. At the same time, developed countries must deliver on their “long-standing commitment to double adaptation finance, with a clear trajectory toward tripling it”, he said.6: Support fair finance to support phasing out fossil fuels and the green transition at scale and at speed: because many developing countries face borrowing costs that are two to three times higher than in wealthier economies.“Countries rich in renewable potential are being locked out of the clean energy revolution,” the UN chief maintained, pointing to African countries which receive only two per cent of global clean energy investment even though they possess 60 per cent of the world’s best solar resources.Mr. Guterres highlighted the $600-800 billion in additional lending capacity of multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank. This should be used “aggressively” to finance the infrastructure of the future and climate adaptation, along with other investment measures such as taxing high-emitting sectors, he maintained.Equally, “developed countries must keep their promises", including support to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage and the Green Climate Fund, the Secretary-General continued, noting that the $300 billion pledged to developing countries must be delivered along with concrete steps to mobilize $1.3 trillion a year by 2035.7: Finally, the UN Secretary-General urged support for science as the bedrock of truth and early warning systems - and to tackle climate falsehoods, since "disinformation is spreading deliberately to delay climate action, entrench vested interests, and erode trust”.Human rights defenders and journalists reporting on the climate and the environment should be protected and trust in evidence and institutions bolstered, Mr. Guterres insisted, pointing to the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, led by the UN, UNESCO and Brazil in support of this goal.A warning from the trees of KewReceiving the Kew International Medal later in the day, the Secretary-General paid tribute to the Royal Botanic Gardens as a global centre of science and conservation, while warning that the climate crisis is already taking a toll on the natural world. Citing the loss of more than 400 trees at Kew during the 2022 drought and the growing risks facing many of its species, he said the fate of nature and humanity are inseparable. The UN chief stressed that ending dependence on fossil fuels and accelerating the shift to renewable energy must go hand in hand with protecting forests, restoring degraded ecosystems, safeguarding oceans and defending science. “When the climate crisis comes for the great trees of Kew, it is a warning to us all,” he said, urging greater investment in nature-based solutions to help secure a safer and more sustainable future for people and planet alike.

TIRANA, Albania – The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, marked World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, through a series of events across Albania, bringing together refugees and asylum-seekers, government institutions, local authorities, faith leaders, students, civil society organizations and international partners to reaffirm a shared commitment to refugee protection. This year's commemoration also coincided with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of the international refugee protection regime. This year's World Refugee Day campaign, "Until Everyone is Safe", aimed to mobilize younger generations to reclaim and defend asylum as a shared global good. The campaign comes at a time when displacement remains one of the defining challenges of our era. At the end of 2025, an estimated 117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order. Against this backdrop, the 75th anniversary of the Refugee Convention serves as a timely reminder that the right to seek safety remains as relevant today as when the Convention was adopted. Reflecting on 75 Years of Refugee ProtectionThe commemoration took place on 16 June at Europe House in Tirana, where UNHCR and the European Union Delegation to Albania brought together refugees, government representatives, diplomats, academia and partners. The event served both as a moment of reflection on 75 years of refugee protection and as a call to action to uphold the right to seek asylum in today's context.Opening remarks by Mr. Besfort Lamallari, Minister of Internal Affairs, H.E. Silvio Gonzato, EU Ambassador to Albania, and Ms. Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative for Central and South-East Europe, set the tone for a discussion centred on shared responsibility, solidarity and practical action in support of refugees. A refugee speaker also contributed to the event, grounding the discussion in lived experience and reminding participants of what protection means in human terms.  A panel discussion brought  explored refugee protection and responsibility-sharing in Albania and beyond. Participants were also invited to visit a photo exhibition, supported through the EU4Migration project, which traced key milestones across 75 years of refugee protection and highlighted stories illustrating the impact of refugee inclusion in Albania today. Building Connections Through Sport Ahead of World Refugee Day, UNHCR and its partner Refugee and Migration Services in Albania (RMSA) organized a volleyball activity at the Reception Centre for Asylum, bringing together refugees, asylum-seekers and colleagues from UNHCR, RMSA, the Reception Centre for Asylum and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Designed around teamwork, well-being and positive engagement, the event created opportunities for connection and interaction among participants from different backgrounds.Participants were divided into mixed teams, reinforcing the spirit of inclusion that World Refugee Day seeks to promote. Wearing T-shirts featuring this year's campaign message, they came together not only for a friendly match, but for a shared moment of community and belonging. The activity concluded with a shared meal provided by a refugee-owned business, highlighting refugee entrepreneurship and the positive contributions refugees can make when given the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.Communities Across Albania Stand TogetherFollowing the events in Tirana, World Refugee Day activities moved into communities across the country, with public events held in Gjirokastër on 22 June and Korçë on 23 June, bringing conversations on asylum and refugee protection closer to local communities.In Gjirokastër, representatives from local government, interfaith communities, educational and social service institutions, the Albanian Red Cross, UNHCR, refugees, asylum-seekers and local residents gathered in the historic centre of the city. Through a joint information stand and a symbolic walk, participants created a space for dialogue, awareness and engagement, demonstrating how cooperation across institutions and communities can strengthen inclusion and social cohesion. In Korçë, UNHCR, the Albanian Red Cross and Fan S. Noli University brought together local authorities, academia, civil society organizations, students, youth volunteers and community members to reaffirm their commitment to protection and inclusion. A highlight of the event was the “Solidarity Walk” initiative, where participants shared messages of support and hope for refugees before walking together through the city in a visible expression of solidarity. Together, the events in Gjirokastër and Korçë highlighted the strength of local partnerships and demonstrated how dialogue, community engagement and collective action can help foster inclusion and support for people forced to flee. A Shared Message Across AlbaniaFrom Tirana to the Reception Centre, Gjirokastër and Korçë, World Refugee Day 2026 brought together people from different backgrounds and communities in support of those forced to flee. As Albania marked both World Refugee Day and the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the events highlighted how global principles take shape through local action, partnership and community engagement. At a time when 117.8 million people worldwide have been forced to flee, solidarity, inclusion and collective action are more important than ever.Protection is not just a principle. It is a promise. And that promise must endure until everyone is safe. 

At the center of this effort is the UN Joint Programme Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania (LEAP), supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund and implemented through a coordinated UN approach alongside national and local partners.On 20 April 2026, the United Nations in Albania organized a high-level field visit to Shkodër and Lezhë, bringing together representatives from the Albanian Government, the United Nations system, and the diplomatic missions of Spain and France to observe how these reforms are translating into concrete results for communities.Participants included Ms. Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania; Ms. Ina Majko, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare; H.E. Mr. Gabriel Cremades Ventura, Ambassador of Spain to Albania; Mr. Rémy Privat, Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of France; Mr. Francisco Roquette, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative; and Mr. Michele Ribotta, UN Women Representative to Albania. Local Systems Driving National ReformThe visit began in Shkodër, where discussions focused on how municipalities are helping transform national policies into accessible, community-based services. Participants later met women caregivers employed through the programme and beneficiaries receiving long-term care support at a local community center.United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania, Ingrid Macdonald, emphasized the importance of integrated local systems:“What we are seeing in Shkodër and Lezhë is the Global Accelerator in action. Through LEAP, national reforms are being translated into real services, real jobs and real opportunities for people who have too often been left behind.”Mayor Benet Beci highlighted the role of partnership in addressing local needs:“This project is helping Shkodër strengthen care services, create jobs for women and connect vulnerable families to opportunities.”  Investing in the Care EconomyA key highlight of the visit was the long-term care pilot implemented by UNDP, supporting elderly persons and persons with disabilities while creating dignified employment opportunities for women.At the community center, participants met caregivers trained and employed through LEAP, many of whom had previously relied on economic assistance.One caregiver, Fatjona, shared:“Before the programme, I was receiving economic aid and felt stuck at home. Now I have proper training, a contract, and a steady income to support my children.”Another caregiver added:“I never imagined I could turn care work into a real profession. Thanks to the training and support from LEAP, I feel useful and valued.”To date, 93 women have been trained and employed as caregivers through the programme.Expanding Employment OpportunitiesThe visit continued in Gruemirë village, where participants observed how targeted outreach and skills development initiatives are helping rural women and unpaid caregivers overcome barriers to employment.Through Mobile Training Units and partnerships with municipalities, employment offices, vocational training providers, and private sector actors, LEAP delivers training directly to remote communities while connecting women to labor market opportunities.  Caption: Government, United Nations, municipal, and donor representatives take part in field discussions during the LEAP programme visit in northern Albania. Photo: UN AlbaniaSkills for Tourism and HospitalityIn Lezhë, participants met women and young people, including many previously classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET), participating in hospitality and tourism training supported through partnerships between UNDP, AKPA, World Vision Albania, Marin Barleti University, and HAP-HAT.Beneficiaries demonstrated practical skills in food preparation, guest services, and hospitality operations while engaging directly with local employers and vocational institutions.In total, 492 women and young people have benefited from LEAP-supported training activities.One participant, Mira, reflected:“A year ago I had no job and little hope. Through LEAP, I received training in tourism skills and now I can see a future working in hotels or guesthouses near the lake and sea.”Another beneficiary added:“The training connected me directly to local businesses. I went from being inactive to having a pathway to formal employment.” Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Ina Majko, noted:"The LEAP Program – Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania is fully aligned with the vision of the National Strategy for Social Protection 2024–2030—for a society in which every person lives with dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunities. It aims to break the cycle of poverty, empower individuals through resilient child protection and gender equality support systems, and build communities founded on care and solidarity.”Reflecting on the visit, Ambassador of Spain to Albania, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Cremades Ventura, stated:"It has been a pleasure to participate in the field visit to Shkodra and Lezha to learn about the experiences of the beneficiaries of the LEAP project. It is very satisfying to see the positive results of this project, financed by the UN Joint SDG Fund, to which Spain is the main contributor."Rémy Privat, Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of France, also emphasized the programme’s employment focus:"It was very impressive to understand, on the field, the needs of vulnerable people and the support provided. The opportunities offered by LEAP in employment and vocational training—especially in the tourism and hospitality sector—are of crucial importance for inclusion and local development.” Delivering Results Through PartnershipAcross every stage of the visit, one message remained clear: integrated approaches are delivering measurable results.Since its inception, LEAP has supported 864 households through integrated social protection and care services, while 400 women and young people have received employment support and skills training in the hospitality and care sectors. The programme has also reached 1,600 children and families through Universal Progressive Home Visits supporting early childhood development and family well-being.Together, these efforts reflect Albania’s growing commitment to building more inclusive, resilient, and people-centered systems that connect social protection with economic opportunity.Note:The Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania (LEAP) UN joint programme, funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund, supports Albania in strengthening social protection systems and expanding employment opportunities for vulnerable populations. Implemented by UNDP as lead agency together with UNICEF, ILO, and UN Women in partnership with the Government of Albania, the programme focuses on integrated care systems, economic empowerment, and inclusive employment pathways for women, youth, children, elderly persons, and families.All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds, and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.