Advancing Integrated Solutions for Jobs, Care and Social Protection in Albania

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 Reform

The 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 Economy

A 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 Opportunities

The 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 Albania

Skills for Tourism and Hospitality

In 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 Partnership

Across 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.