United Nations in Albania

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. Learn how 19 UN Agencies work together to support Albania’s achievement of the SDGs. Click on any SDG icon below:

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Press Release

25 October 2021

Albania and UN renew commitment to joint work on sustainable development for the next five years

The Government of Albania and the United Nations Country Team in Albania announced their renewed commitment to a joint programme of work for the next five years this Monday, as Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj and UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney signed the Albania-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026. The signing ceremony took place during a dual-themed event marking the 76th anniversary of the UN held at the palace of Brigades in Tirana. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs with the Office of Deputy Prime Minister of Albania and the UN Albania, with participation of key development stakeholders in the country. In the spirit of the UN Day and the recent launch of Secretary General’s report on Our Common Agenda aiming to strengthen governance for present and future generations, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the Albania-UN Joint Executive Committee Arben Ahmetaj announced that the Albanian Government and the UN system in Albania have agreed on a new Cooperation Framework (CF) which will start this January and run through 2026. The new Cooperation Framework builds upon Albania’s key priorities, the accession to the European Union and delivering on the national pledge to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its nationalized SDG targets, with a focus on the quality of health and education, good governance and rule of law, public service provision, and effective response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It totals an amount of 282 million USD for the full cycle. In his speech at the signing ceremony, Mr Ahmetaj praised the current cooperation between Albania and UN and pledged continuous support for cooperation with UN: “As we complete a successful cycle of joint work with UN agencies in Albania, we are ready to renew our commitment to sustainable development” – he said. On behalf of nineteen resident and non-resident UN agencies and programmes in Albania, the UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney reiterated the principal areas of work of the new Cooperation Framework and the urgency of action to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals: “In the spirit of our joint action is our commitment to fight poverty, promote human rights and gender equality, protect the environment and tackle climate change, support economic and social reforms” she noted (read full speech here). The UN day is celebrated worldwide on 24 October of each year to mark the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document the United Nations officially came into being. This year the celebrations of UN day in Albania take place as Albania takes up mandate in the UN Security Council for the next two years. In the words of Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs HE Olta Xhaçka, who delivered the keynote speech at the event, the SC mandate “is a prestigious achievement that shows the maturity of Albanian diplomacy and a recognition of the constructive role of Albania in terms of security, stability and development”. HE Xhaçka appreciated the role of the UN system in Albania in taking forward the commitments of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Watch a short video showcasing some of the achievements of the Albania-UN cooperation and the way forward: *** More details on the Albania-UN Cooperation framework for Sustainable Development 2022-2026 On January 1, 2022, a new Albania-UN Cooperation Framework comes into force. It offers a tremendous opportunity to scale up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and demonstrate concrete results on the ground for the people of Albania. This Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF) between the Government of Albania and the UN system is anchored by country priorities: The National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI) with nationalized goals and targets for selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Six priorities of the new Government vision ‘Albania 2030’ Accession to the European Union, The human rights commitments of Albania and other agreed international and regional development goals and treaty obligations Strategic Priority A. Human capital development & social inclusion Outcome A. By 2026, there is increased and more equitable investment in people, removing barriers and creating opportunities for those at risk of exclusion Strategic Priority B. Sustainable, resilient and green economic growth and resource management Outcome B: By 2026, innovative and integrated policy solutions accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive economic development, enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation and transition to a green and blue economy Strategic Priority C. Effective, people-centred governance, rule of law, human rights and gender equality Outcome C1: By 2026, governance is more transparent and accountable, enabling people (women and girls, men and boys, and persons at risk of exclusion) to enjoy quality, inclusive services, enhanced rule of law and access to justice in line with Albania’s human rights commitments Outcome C2: By 2026, gender responsive governance strengthens equality and non-discrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children. *** Download the Press Release in Albanian

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Speech

25 October 2021

Speech by UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney on UN Day 2021 and Signing of the new Albania-UN Cooperation framework for Sustainable Development 2022-2026

Dear Deputy Prime Minister Ahmetaj, Dear Minister Xhaçka, Dear Ministers, Ambassadors, colleagues and friends, It is a pleasure to join you Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Xhacka in welcoming guests here this morning to the Palace and to this beautiful room. I extend a greeting too to those joining us online. UN Day, and especially this one, where we will also sign the new five year framework for Cooperation is anchored in the commitment made by Albania – and all Member States – to advance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), improving the lives of all people while taking care of our planet. It is also a crucial moment to remember the ambition set for the UN when it was established in 1945. Seventy-six years later, the Secretary-General, addressed the General Assembly in September. He painted a bleak picture of global issues we face. He sounded the alarm. We are on the edge of an abyss — and moving in the wrong direction. He also said there’s hope, if we commit to working together to overcome the many layers of challenges we currently face. The coronavirus pandemic has completely upended the world, threatening our health, destroying economies and deepening poverty and inequalities. The Secretary-General warned us all: About scorching temperatures, shocking biodiversity loss, polluted air, land and climate related disasters at every turn. On vaccines, he noted, we passed the science test, but we are getting an “F” in ethics for global distribution, On climate change he signalled code red for humanity. The window to keep to1.5 decree temperature rise is rapidly closing, and we are lightyears away from achieving our targets. And highlighted a scourge of mistrust and loss of faith in the essential values on which the Charter is based. Solidarity, he said, is missing in action. But also presented a call to action, in what is now termed – Our Common Agenda - a call to strengthen global governance, to address issues of global public goods and the systemic trends undermining trust, and build a United Nations fit for a new era. The call is specific with 90 recommendations, laid out as our pathway to a better more peaceful world. It builds on the blueprints we already have, the Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on climate change. It puts forward real action to bridge Six great divides, The Peace divide. Where there is a need to invest in prevention and peacekeeping. The Climate divide, building more ambition to mitigate and meet concrete reduction targets, more ambition on finance and more ambition on adaptation to build resilience. Member states must not wait for others to do their part. They must use the full force of fiscal powers to make the shift to green economies to sustainable green jobs and sustainable food systems. Commit to no new coal plants. Real action to Bridge the gap between rich and poor and also within and between countries. This starts with an urgent global vaccination plan – for 70 percent of world’s population. But we also need a reformed global debt architecture. With this in place we can forge a new social contract, with reformed tax systems, with the end of tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows. The Gender Divide – COVID-19 pandemic exposed and amplified the power imbalance between men and women. Wherever you look, the majority of frontline workers are women. They are the first to lose their jobs, are the most impacted by school closures. It’s about time to shift the balance of power, with women fully represented to contribute and make decisions everywhere including through large scale urgent investments in the care economy are also urgent. Actions to address the Digital divide to really connect everyone. The digital space opens tremendous opportunities, including for businesses and for learning at all ages. Worryingly, it also produces tremendous risks of use and abuse of data. Used commercially, our behaviour patterns can be manipulated for control, ultimately, violating human rights. We also urgently need to bridge the Divide between generations. Young people will inherit the results of our decisions. Young people need a seat at the table to take part in the decision-making that will affect their future. It is hard to take fine, global words and make them reality. But in many ways Albania offers fertile ground for showing the way. The country joins the Security Council – one of the 10 elected members for the period 2022 -23. In this forum the hard issues of global peace and prevention will be debated, and multi-lateral action agreed. For example declaring climate emergency a security matter opens space for Albania to participate in debate and discussion on the climate divide. Of the 17 members of the Government’s new cabinet 12 are women, with crucial presence in parliament too. And a growing number of women are leading private firms. Women in these key positions not only act as role models, know well the pressures to balance family and work, forms of discrimination and can lead action on other aspects of the gender divide. In response to the Afghan crisis just a couple of months ago, Albania stood up for welcoming and extending support to Afghan evacuees, to provide a safe haven and support for people in crisis in their darkest hour. and last weekend commitment for refugees signed with city of Tirana, both examples of solidarity which should inspire other countries. And we also see efforts to bridge the divide across generations, youth having a voice, not only today, but as part of the UN delegations to global events and throughout next year with the opportunities presented as Tirana become European City of Youth for 2022/23. Initial steps in a number of areas, but the main reason we are here today is the new roadmap, our joint UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, covering the period 2022-2026 where this work can take a step further. We gather here today as a true UN family, all 19 agencies, funds and programmes all as signatories to our Cooperation Framework. This roadmap for our joint collaboration will boost technical and practical advice, implementation capacity and state of the art global practice. So, I thank you colleagues and team, for the joint contributions to the strategic document that will guide our joint work for the next five years. The Cooperation Framework is a roadmap to achieve important goals: Policies and laws compatible with the European Union. Partnership with the EU is key not only in important post-earthquake reconstruction but also in supporting the vision for the country in embracing European values. The Framework will support Albania to meet key benchmarks and address major gaps in this process. It places a strong focus on building human capital and social inclusion. It includes a comprehensive view on the results to be achieved in several key areas, such as health, education and social protection, no order to Leave no one behind. New focus on sustainability and resilience as overarching themes of the Cooperation Framework. This is particularly reflected in green economic growth, enhanced climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable use of natural resources. The Cooperation Framework dedicates attention to vulnerability and exclusion, to strengthen equality and non-discrimination. This includes a specific outcome on gender responsive governance that promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children. In four outcome areas, we agree with government on joint results framework with targets and indicators, we anticipate delivering over $280million of programming, with half of resources already committed, and the remainder to be organized locally and in this context the SDG Acceleration Fund will continue to serve as financial vehicle for joint UN action, supported by our partners. Delivery on the Cooperation Framework is anchored in a network of strategic partnership across Ministries and Municipality, with the Parliament, human rights institutions and the statistical institute, confirming the importance of reliable data to measure progress. We will continue nurturing partnership with civil society, academia, while aiming to accelerate more private sector capital that supports the SDGs. We are proud of UN’s partnership with development partners. They have been supportive as the UN reform advances in the country level and tangible results are achieved. But at the same time- accompany us to “deliver as one”, more effectively. So much to be grateful for in your support. Colleagues and friends, We look forward to working with you all to deliver on the ambitions and results set out in this Framework and bring about the real changes needed to bridge divides. Faleminderit Shumë!

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Press Release

25 October 2021

Albania and UN renew commitment to joint work on sustainable development for the next five years

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Story

02 February 2022

Why 2022 will matter for climate action

As the world picks up speed in its race against climate change and moves forward from the 2021 Glasgow Climate Change Conference, let’s look at ten key global events in 2022 that will shape critical conversations and influence public policy decisions around one of the most defining issues of our time. (TBD) | 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) | Doha, Qatar There are 46 countries, spanning from Afghanistan to Zambia, that are considered Least Developed Countries (LDCs). They are home to about 13 percent of the world’s population and 40 percent of its poorest people. They are highly vulnerable to countless shocks - from economic, public health to climate change. They remain at the forefront of the climate crisis and are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events. And unfortunately, they lack critical financing to support climate-resilient measures and infrastructure. LDC5, a conference that happens every 10 years - will include a high-level thematic roundtable on climate change to discuss the unique and urgent issues that LDCs face and the necessary support that they need to ensure that much-needed economic growth does not take place at the expense of their already fragile ecosystems and diminishing natural resources. February - September | IPCC Assessment Report | Global The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which publishes assessments of climate science every six to seven years, will launch its first comprehensive assessment report since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) will encompass contributions from three working groups led by some of the world’s leading scientists on the physical understanding of the climate system and climate change [Working Group I - published in August 2021]; the impacts of climate change [Working Group II]; and the progress on mitigation and efforts to limit emissions [Working Group III]. End of February | Working Group II Report | Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability This report will cover the impacts of climate change on human and natural systems, observing their vulnerabilities, ability and limitations to adapt to climate change. It will look at options for creating a sustainable future through an equitable and integrated approach to mitigation and adaptation efforts at all scales. Early April | Working Group III Report | Mitigation of Climate Change This report will focus on global and national efforts to mitigate the devastating and varying impacts of climate change, looking at innovation and solutions in energy and urban systems, and in sectors such as agriculture, forestry and land use, buildings, transport and industry. It will look at the link between short to medium and long-term plans to curb emissions, highlighting the importance of governments’ national action plans, the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. September | Synthesis Report | Climate Change 2022 Finally, the Synthesis report, which will integrate contributions from the three Working Groups as well as from the Special Reports produced within the cycle - Global Warming of 1.5C; Climate Change and Land; and the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate - will be launched ahead of COP27. 28 February - 3 March | Middle East and North Africa Climate Week 2022 | Dubai, UAE The first-ever Middle East and North Africa Climate Week, organized by UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), marks a significant milestone in the lead up to COP27 which will take place in Egypt in November. Hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates with support from United Nations and other multilateral and national agencies, the climate week will focus on regional climate action and collaborations needed to build climate-resilient economies and societies, and integrate climate action into pandemic recovery. Main events will take place at the Dubai Exhibition Center, which is currently hosting Expo 2020. 25 April - 8 May | UN Biodiversity Conference (Part Two) | Kunming, China The UN Biodiversity Conference, which was expected to take place in 2020 in China, has now been split into two parts. In October 2021, the first part helped to set the stage for the next meeting in the Spring of 2022, with the adoption of the Kunming Declaration, which calls on countries to negotiate and agree on a global biodiversity framework, and the establishment of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund which saw commitments from China, France, the European Union, Japan and others. The second part, which is expected to resume with in-person sessions, will mark a major moment for global biodiversity with the adoption of the framework that will redefine our relationship with the natural environment. It will include 21 targets and 10 ‘milestones’ to be achieved by 2030, with net improvements by 2050 - including the conservation and protection of at least 30 percent of the planet’s lands and ocean. Countries had until 2020 to reach the targets of the last framework, known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Despite some progress, the targets – which range from stopping species from extinction to cutting pollution and preserving forests – were not achieved. The post-2020 framework will be critical in addressing the ongoing decline in biodiversity. 2 - 6 May | XV World Forestry Congress 2022 | Seoul, Republic of Korea Eliminating emissions from deforestation and promoting forest regrowth and landscape restoration could reduce global net emissions by up to 30 percent. Over the next decade, forests could provide as much as 50 percent of the cost-effective mitigation available. Taking place under the theme, Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient Future with Forests, the World Forestry Congress will focus on six sub-themes, including reversing forest loss, sustainable use of nature-based solutions and forest resources, and forest monitoring and data collection. 9 - 21 May | 15th UN Conference on Desertification | Côte d'Ivoire The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned in 2019 that roughly 500 million people live in areas that experience desertification. When land is degraded, it becomes less productive, restricting what can be grown and reducing the soil’s ability to absorb carbon. This exacerbates climate change and extreme weather events such as drought, heatwaves and dust storms, while climate change in turn exacerbates land degradation in many different ways. The next Conference on Desertification will be an urgent call to scale up land restoration as well as nature-based solutions for climate action. 2 - 3 June | Stockholm+50 | Sweden Fifty years ago, the first world conference on the environment played a significant role in drawing attention to the inextricable goals of poverty alleviation and environmental protection - a link that has influenced climate debates ever since, recognizing the interconnections between humans and nature. Consequently, the conference gave birth to environmental diplomacy - in an effort to reconcile economic development and environmental management, paving the way for the establishment of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the concept of sustainable development. It also resulted in the formation of national environmental ministries and a series of new global agreements to protect the environment. Today, as UNEP marks five decades of its work to strengthen environmental diplomacy, standards and practices, it will host Stockholm+50 with Sweden and Kenya, aiming to recommit and strengthen our ability to overcome the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. 26 - 30 June | World Urban Forum 11 | Katowice, Poland Cities across the globe are facing – and fighting – climate change. Home to 4.5 billion people today, cities are projected to grow by almost 50 percent by 2050. They are engines of growth and innovation, generating 80 percent of the world’s GDP along with 70 percent of global carbon emissions. In recent years, as the epicentre of growth, cities have been struggling to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to prepare for the worsening impact of climate change. By 2050, 800 million people in 570 coastal cities could see sea-level rise of half a meter and intensifying storm surges. Global warming may leave more than 1.6 billion urbanites facing an average summertime temperature of 35C. Despite the growing challenges, cities have also been on the frontline of the climate movement and more recently, more than 1,000 cities announced their intention to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Organized under the theme, Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future, the forthcoming World Urban Forum will be an opportunity to look at the future of cities based on existing trends, challenges and opportunities as well as how they can be better prepared to handle present and future shocks. 27 June - 1 July | UN Ocean Conference | Lisbon, Portugal The ocean is the greatest ally in our efforts to address the climate emergency. It generates 50 percent of the oxygen we need and absorbs 25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. It is not just ‘the lungs of the planet’ but also its largest carbon sink - a vital buffer against the impacts of climate change. But the ocean is in trouble – from the impacts of climate change, pollution, loss of natural habitat and other destructive human activities. The forthcoming Ocean Conference, which was scheduled to take place in 2020, will be the second time the United Nations convenes a high-level meeting on the issue. Organized with support from the Governments of Portugal and Kenya, the conference will be a call for ocean action - urging global leaders and all relevant sectors to boost ambition, mobilize partnerships and increase investment in science-driven and innovative approaches to reverse the decline in ocean health. It will also be a clarion call to communities, businesses and individuals to play their part to curb marine pollution and commit to responsible consumption of ocean resources. 7 - 18 November | UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) | Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt The annual UN Climate Change Conference is expected to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt in 2022. It will advance the global climate talks, mobilize action, and provide a significant opportunity to look at the impacts of climate change in Africa. A newly released report by the World Meteorological Organization and partners, the State of the Climate in Africa 2020, warned of the continent’s disproportionate vulnerability, estimating that by 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor Africans will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat. This in turn will affect progress towards poverty alleviation and economic growth, leaving more people in entrenched and widespread poverty. The report estimates that the investment in climate adaptation for sub-Saharan Africa would cost between $30 to $50 billion each year over the next decade, or roughly two to three per cent of GDP - enough to spark job opportunities and economic development while prioritizing a sustainable and green recovery.

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Press Release

18 March 2021

UN Youth Advisory Group to UNCT Albania Established

The UN Country Team in Albania is glad to announce that the UN Youth Advisory Group in Albania (UNYAG Albania) has now been established. The UN Albania Youth Advisory Group is a group of individuals and representatives of UN Albania’s stakeholders who have been nominated/selected to advise the UN in Albania Country Team (UNCT) on key youth issues of importance. Members of the UN Youth Advisory Group will have access to a wealth of opportunities to learn and involved in the UN programmes in Albania, learn about the functioning of the United Nations globally and provide suggestions to the UNCT about how programmes can better address Albania’s youth and include a youth perspective in their components. The immediate involvement of UNYAG will be to assist in developing the “Youth” component/part of the UN Common Country Analysis for Albania (CCA) and advise in shaping youth interventions under the new programme cycle. They will assist in strengthening partnership of UN Albania with youth organizations and young people. The call for expression of interest was open from 4-24 July 2020. 55 Applications were received fom across the 4 regions of the country North Albania (Prefectures of Shkodra, Kukes, Lezha); Central Albania (Prefectures of Dibër, Tirana, Elbasan); West Albania (Prefectures of Durres, Fier, Vlorë) and South Albania: Prefectures of Gjirokastër, Korca, Berat). The Membership of UNYAG is as below Ana Lena Ardis Halilaj Danjel Hyseni Arjola Brahimi Kristi Cina Henri Fero Fiona Dinollari Alesia Alldervishi Joni Lleshi Juna Kalo Ilvana Dedja Besnik Hoxha Andi Rabiaj Franceska Muco Full terms of reference for UNYAG can be accessed here.

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Story

04 May 2022

Meet TB survivor

Meet TB survivor Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's second most infectious killer after COVID-19 today. It is airborne and can affect any one of us. Over 5 000 women, men and children still die each day from TB. The social and economic impacts are devastating, including poverty, stigma, and discrimination. This disease is curable and preventable, yet global actions and investments fall far short of those needed to end the global TB epidemic. Meet Hysni Popshini, dispensary nurse, and Tuberculosis survivor. "Since I am not only a TB survivor but also work in the medical field, I appeal to people in all communities to seek assistance from a family doctor if they experience symptoms of TB. Doing a faster examination helps with the treatment process and receiving the correct medication. Unfortunately people with TB experience some stigma or obstacles accessing healthcare, and this is not okay. Anyone can be infected, rich or poor. Although, certain groups are indeed more vulnerable than others as with many other diseases and health conditions. The important aspect is that people with symptoms get examined and treated as TB can be completely cured."

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Story

04 May 2022

Revitalize small economies of rural communities in need to overcome the consequences of the earthquake

As the world faces numerous crises, including the Covid-19, conflicts, humanitarian crises, we commemorate the winter earthquake of 2019, which took the lives of 51 people, over 1000 injured and 17,000 damaged buildings. The story of Shkëlqim Rrushi’s family in Bubq is one of the affected families, who have been helped to improve their livelihoods thanks to the UN Acceleration Fund that supports rural communities in need to overcome the consequences of the earthquake. Mother Zejdia thrilled us with her words as she happily showed the new stable where she housed over 140 small heads, ensuring her family a normal life. In the presence of the UN Resident Coordinator in Albania Fiona McCluney, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Frida Krifca, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom Alastair King-Smith, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Reinout Vos and the head of FAO Albania Arben Kipi was emphasized the importance of supporting the agriculture and food sector in Albania, especially helping the most in need groups. The livestock farm has been rebuilt in very good condition, thanks to the program set up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, financially supported by our partners, to alleviate the consequences of the earthquake that affected 40 families in the area, such as that of mother Zejdia, who was totally damaged by the devastating earthquake. The realization of these investments enables the families to continue working in agriculture and livestock and to increase the family income for further development. The "Earthquake Recovery Support through the UN SDG Acceleration Fund" project is part of the UN Earthquake Recovery Response, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the SDG Albania Acceleration Fund and implemented by FAO. FAO in Albania with the support of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia is implementing the grant component where out of 44 potential beneficiaries, a grant agreement was signed with 34 beneficiaries as part of the Post-Earthquake Recovery in Agriculture. In this context, five farmers affected by earthquake were supported for buying pregnant heifers, construction of seven livestock facilities, four cow barns, two milking equipment, a storage area for fruit and vegetables, farm feed mixing unit, live animals, greenhouse construction, wine cooling tank, reconstruction of swine farm. Through technical assistance, FAO aims to develop the capacity of farmers and agribusinesses, women, and men, in earthquake-stricken municipalities to develop agribusiness plans aimed at accessing funding opportunities for broader and more resilient activities.

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Story

28 March 2022

EU Delegation and the UN Country Team in Albania reconfirm their commitment to joint work to attain Sustainable Development Goals in Albania

The UN Resident Coordinator in Albania, Fiona McCluney with the UN Country Team in the country hosted a meeting with the EU Delegation in Albania led by Ambassador Luigi Soreca. The meeting aimed to take stock and celebrate the results achieved so far thanks to a solid EU-UN collaboration. It also gave an opportunity to explore priority areas for 2022-2023, further strengthen synergies and common efforts, as well as strategize on constructive UN engagement in the EU’s IPA III and the Economic Reform Program. In the opening remarks, both the UN Resident Coordinator and the EU Ambassador highlighted the pillars of a strong EU-UN cooperation. In Albania, this is closely linked to the countries’ core objective of EU accession, the overarching priority and key development driver for the country. This priority is strongly aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in working towards Accession many targets and indicators of the SDGs are also reached. The EU-UN cooperation in Albania is a mutually reinforcing partnership marked for its high standards of transparency and accountability. It has brought remarkable and very concrete results in the country, including the strong joint response to the 2019 earthquake (EU4Schools and EU4Cuture projects implemented by UNDP and UNOPS respectively) and to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as solid governance reform interventions at local level through various EU-funded projects. Over the years, the UN efforts in Albania have focused on advancing sectorial reforms, policy dialogue, systems strengthening, coordination and advocacy. During the meeting, several EU funded projects and activities were showcased as good practices that place Albania in the right path towards sustainable development and EU accession. There were many examples of key results highlighted. This included greater participation of civil society organizations in key reform and development areas; stronger capacities of local governments; application of EU standards to Build Back Better and Build Back Together; advancements on cultural heritage preservation; empowerment of local communities; substantive progress on gender mainstreaming, and women and children’s rights. Efforts to promote economic empowerment of women, the new Law on Asylum that brings Albania closer to international standards and the EU legislation and efforts towards countering money laundering and enhancing border security and control in Albania. Both the UN Country Team and the EU Delegation in Albania reconfirmed their commitment to solid partnership for sustainable development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-26 and the upcoming EU’s IPA 2023, in cooperation with the Government of Albania, development partners and other relevant actors in the country. At the end of the meeting the UN Country Team Albania had prepared a surprise farewell ceremony for the EU Ambassador, who ends his tenure in Albania to join the team of High Representative Borel. UN Resident Coordinator Fiona McCluney presented Ambassador Luigi Soreca with a commemorative plaque to express gratitude for his collaboration and strong dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Albania.

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Story

23 February 2022

Together - so no one is left behind

The police officer opened the door in a hurry and said something to the office worker, Ermanda, who immediately approached us, saying there was an urgent case to consider. Our meeting was interrupted. Azem apologized and headed right away to the makeshift meeting room, which was actually a small "anteroom" office, where the three office workers had their work corners next to shelves almost falling from the heavy files. The small computer screens in the Social Welfare Service Office of the Municipality of Maliq struggled against the reflection of sunlight coming in through the windows, showing some Excel workbooks that probably belonged to the multitude of Maliq residents under social assistance. I learned that 2,487 families are currently on the social assistance list in the Municipality of Maliq. This small town in the southeast of Albania, a few kilometers from the city of Korça, surprises you with its contrasts. According to the archaeologists, the city has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years and has been an important economic and cultural center for several centuries. Part of the archaeological evidence was discovered during the drying up of Maliq swamp (1946) – a controversial event in the post-World War II Albanian history as the communist dictatorship was being cemented in the country. The famous 'Sugar Beet Factory' (now out of order) was built in Maliq in 1951, placing the small town on the country's industrial map. Residents from many parts of Albania - swamp drying volunteers and factory workers - settled down in Maliq after these two events. The Municipality of Maliq includes seven administrative units, including the city of Maliq and the administrative units of Gora, Libonik, Moglica, Pirg, Pojan and Vreshtas, with a total population of about 66 thousand inhabitants. *** I had asked to meet with Azem Nuhu, Director of the Social Welfare Service of the Municipality of Maliq, having read that Maliq is a success story when it comes to social welfare. This Municipality had already drafted and started to implement its Social Plan in 2019. The drafting process had been carried out thanks to the support of UNICEF and World Vision, while the implementation was greatly supported by the "Leave No One Behind’ programme or the ‘LNB’ - a joint effort of four United Nations agencies in Albania - UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women - with the support of the Swiss Government. (Learn more about results achieved during phase on of LNB programme implementation, 2017-2021 in the video below). The conversation with Azem resumed a little later at the Community Center for Children with Disabilities, after the morning emergency seemed to have been towards some solution. The emergency was related with some young woman who was in the process of divorce. The woman, whose little children were currently left with their grandparents, who were also poor and vulnerable, needed proper mental health care and help to overcome the situation. The morning meeting with the police officer was part of a local domestic violence referral mechanism supported by UNDP and UN Women. "This is my daily routine." - Azem explained to me. "We are a small office, but we work with passion, and we cooperate with other local and central government teams. Our social plan is not only a guide to our work, but it is also a guarantee that our challenges can be solved in a sustainable manner.” The Municipality of Maliq started to overcome the challenges it faced in solving problems in caring for children with disabilities in 2020, when the UNDP, through its LNB programme, rehabilitated the Community Center for Children with Disabilities, making it operational[1]. Azem speaks with passion about the Center and the support the LNB programme has given to make sure that services are successfully offered and sustainable. "This center is a role model that makes us proud. The support from the LNB has been tremendous in every aspect of construction and development of the center and its services. What is most important is that we have understood how to build sustainable processes." - he says. The center is staffed by five specialized staff members: a psychologist, a social worker, a teacher, a speech therapist, and a physiotherapist. The staff has received appropriate formal training, peer-to-peer, and on-the-job training thanks to the support of the LNB programme. During the visit in Maliq, we met Endri, a young man who had become part of Maliq municipality as the Head of Recreation, Tourism, and Youth Sector, and Alda, a youth activist. Talking about the problems the city faces, they told us about a number of initiatives that the city youth network had undertaken with the support and advice of UNFPA and UNICEF, including revitalizing the sports corner and remodeling and enriching the library of the city general high school; the construction of "Fari", a symbolic youth landmark in the city; the placement of informative and orientation signage in the "Pheasant Forest", a place of tourist attraction in the city, etc. Overcoming poverty and securing food, education, and health, as well as ending violence against women, reducing inequalities, and many other challenges that would be understood as reading the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are actually part of the job of the dedicated social services team in the Municipality of Maliq, and a photo of the team next to an SDGs poster at the entrance of the Social Center would be the most beautiful greeting to a dedicated team, as we conclude this pleasant visit in the Municipality of Maliq. [1] The Municipality of Maliq counts a total of 868 people with disabilities, including 30 children aged 0-3 years and 153 children aged 4-16 years (data from 2021). The Community Center for Children with Disabilities, in its ideal conditions, has a maximum capacity to serve 25-30 children during the day.

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16 December 2021

“Stop violence against women and girls” is needed now more than ever!

Under the lead of UN Women Albania, all UN agencies in Albania joined forces to orange the world and spread an important message: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW! During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based were organised over 300 activities all over Albania, involving civil society organisations, private sector and public institutions to bring attention to the persisting “shadow epidemic” of violence against women and girls. The campaign was symbolically launched by lighting in orange the National History Museum in Tirana, together with members of the international community and national institutions. Other historic buildings, such as the Archaeological Museum of Durres and the Monastery Church in Rubik, were lit in orange in sign of solidarity with the global campaign. An exhibition on bodily autonomy in partnership with UNFPA, with creative works from young artists (previously featured in Korca and Shkodra), was installed the pedestrian area of Tirana until 10th of December. The event was joined by all women ambassadors in Albania to encourage all victims of violence and emphasise once again that violence against women and girls is an act of barbarism, inhumanity, on which we must not be silent. A bus tour travelled in 12 municipalities around the country to train high school girls on self-defence and how to handle verbal, physical and emotional abuse. Together with all UN staff and family members, we delivered our message during the football match Albania - Norway national teams for “FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifiers. The match was aired on several platforms around Europe and available to over 80 million people. With the initiative of the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ms. Ogerta Manastirliu, an orange bus toured across Albania to spread the message for ending violence against women and domestic violence. The bus tour, which started in the city of Kamza, aimed to raise awareness among high school students and communities around Albania to take action to eliminate all types of violence with special focus to VAW. Other activities were organised across municipalities with community members, youth, activists and other actors to discuss, share ideas and promote behavioural change. Ending gender-based violence is our shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play. We still need change and will continue being committed to standing strong and taking action for that change. We will not stop until there is an end to gender based violence and all women and girls are safe.

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Press Release

19 May 2022

UN expert on right to development to visit Albania

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Saad Alfarargi, will conduct an official visit to Albania from 23 May to 1 June 2022 to assess the country’s efforts to integrate the right to development into its domestic policies. “I look forward to meeting Government representatives and other stakeholders who are working towards implementing sustainable development goals and promoting the realisation of the right to development,” Alfarargi said. It will be the Special Rapporteur’s third country visit since his appointment by the UN Human Rights Council in 2017. During his visit to Albania, Alfarargi will examine how the government promotes and guarantees effective popular participation and accountability in the development process. The UN expert will also assess compliance with the right to development in the Albanian Government’s response and recovery action related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The right to development is focused on inclusiveness, promotion of equality and equitable sharing of the benefits of economic growth and development,” Alfarargi said. “The right to development also requires that development initiatives are sustainable and integrate environmental and climate-related concerns,” he said. The expert said he was aiming to help the Government strengthen its legislation, policies and practices in accordance with the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development. Alfarargi will meet with public officials, international development actors and civil society representatives in Tirana and Elbasan during his visit. The Special Rapporteur will present his preliminary observations during a press conference on 1 June 2022 at 2 PM local time at Rogner Hotel in Tirana. It will be strictly limited to journalists. Alfarargi will present a report on his visit to the Human Rights Council in September 2022. Mr. Saad Alfarargi (Egypt) was designated as the first Special Rapporteur on the right to development by the Human Rights Council in 2017. Mr. Alfarargi served as Ambassador and Permanent Observer of League of Arab States to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva (1998-2012), Regional Director for Arab States, Assistant Administrator, UNDP, New York (1995-1997), Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Chief of the President Office for Economic Affairs, Cairo (1992-1995), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva. He holds BSc. and MSc. in Political Science from Cairo University, and a degree in International Relations, from the London School of Economics. The Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. UN Human Rights, Country Page — Albania For more information and press inquiries, please contact: in Albania, Mr. Guri Daco, (+355 (4) 2276619/+355692223999 guri.daco@un.org ); in Geneva: Ms Antoanela Pavlova (antoanela.pavlova@un.org) or write to hrc-sr-development@un.org. For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Mr. Jeremy Laurence (+41 22 917 9383/ jeremy.laurence@un.org) Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts. Concerned about the world we live in?
Then stand up for someone's rights today.
#Standup4humanrights and visit the website at
http://www.standup4humanrights.org

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Press Release

16 May 2022

UNIDO launches Global Quality and Standards Programme in Albania

UNIDO launched today the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) Albania together with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania and the Embassy of Switzerland in the country. It paves the way for a €1.84 million project funded by Switzerland through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), which aims to support the Albania’s efforts to strengthen quality and standards compliance capacity and improve market access in the medicinal and aromatic plants and the fruit and vegetable sectors. Frida Krifca, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, signed the project document and highlighted that “the agreement is one of the most important ones I sign in my capacity as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, due to its focus on complying with standards and enhancing quality across value chains for two of the most important export products of our country, medicinal and aromatic plants as well as fruits vegetables”. “Enterprises in Albania need to comply with international and European standards to increase their productivity and competitiveness. This is a necessary step to increase efficiency and boost market access. It also helps to improve working conditions”, said Adrian Maître, Ambassador of Switzerland in Albania, at the signing ceremony. The project “Strengthening Quality and Standards Compliance Capacity for Selected Value Chains in Albania” is part of the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP), an innovative approach jointly developed by UNIDO and Switzerland to strengthen the quality and standards compliance capacity in selected value chains of partner countries to facilitate market access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project aims to enhance the quality compliance capability of both value chains and strengthen the service capacity of quality infrastructure (QI) system in Albania - primarily in terms of pesticide and bacterial contamination - in order to reduce border rejections in key markets and to improve both quality and productivity in these value chains. The project will also address cross-cutting issues including promoting a culture for quality along the value chains for sustainable development. It will be implemented in close collaboration with various partners including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, QI institutions, food safety authorities, Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA), along with leading associations and academia. Download the factsheet here and GQSP brochure here. For more information contact Cong WU (C.WU@unido.org)

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Press Release

02 May 2022

Joint statement by Head of OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco and UN Resident Coordinator in Albania, Fiona McCluney

[Download the statement in Albanian here/ Shkarko përkthimin në shqip këtu] World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993. Independent, free and pluralistic media are central to good governance and the rule of law. They contribute to ensure transparency and accountability, promote participation in public and political discourse, and foster democratic processes. 3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. As highlighted by the UN Secretary General, on World Press Freedom Day “we shine a spotlight on the essential work of journalists and other media workers who seek transparency and accountability from those in power, often at great personal risk. (…) Without freedom of the press, there are no real democratic societies. Without freedom of the press, there is no freedom.” This year’s World Press Freedom Day, under the theme “Journalism under digital siege”, spotlights the multiple ways in which journalism is endangered by surveillance and digitally-mediated attacks on journalists, and the consequences on public trust in digital communications. The digital era has created a fast-evolving environment that while on the one hand has democratized access to information and increased exchanges across borders, on the other it has impacted on the right to privacy and in many circumstances put media workers and their sources at greater risk of being targeted, harassed and attacked – for instance, due to data retention, spyware and digital surveillance. “Amid growing threats to our common security and a global pandemic, we depend more than ever on independent, fact-based and reliable journalism as a compass to navigate the ocean of information, misinformation, disinformation, fake news and propaganda. Worldwide, this day serves as a reminder to governments and leaders of the need to respect press freedom. It is also an opportunity for media professionals to reflect on professional ethics”, commented Ambassador Del Monaco. On this World Press Freedom Day, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the United Nations in Albania wish to honour the essential work of media professionals and journalists. We remain committed to the cause of media freedom in the country as indispensable for building strong, resilient institutions and societies. In the context of Albania, we would like to reiterate the importance of the following messages: Protect media professionals and journalists from violence, intimidation and harassment, both online and offline, and give them access to public events, including during election campaigns; Ensure proper working contracts for media professionals and journalists, better access to information, freedom of expression, and increased professionalism; Strengthen efforts to guarantee media pluralism, de-concentration of media ownership, and encourage media self-regulation as a superior alternative to government regulation.

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