ALB: Leave No One Behind

▪ Poverty (19.7%) and inequality (Gini 30.2%) remain high, particularly among rural populations, minority groups, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

▪ Despite recent reforms, social protection spending remains low (9.5% of GDP), with rural and smaller municipalities facing major gaps in service access, funding, and staffing. Stronger governance, financing, and coordination are essential.

▪ Key partners—European Union, SDC, United Nations, and World Bank—coordinate their efforts with the government through the Integrated Planning and Management Groups (IPMG) mechanism where applicable. Switzerland actively contributes to relevant coordination processes in this area.

▪ Vulnerable persons are empowered to influence public policy and its implementation, ensuring improved access to inclusive social services and receiving the support they need.

▪ National and local institutions effectively im-plement the social protection policy framework and financing mechanisms to optimize social service delivery across Albania.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

▪ Civil society role strengthened to advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations and promote accountability at the local/ national level for inclusive social services delivery.

▪ Availability and frequency of social services are increased, with enhanced quality and outreach, to support the needs of communities in left behind municipalities.

▪ Ministries in social services and inclusive education have enhanced capacity to coordinate cross-sectoral policy implementation and to ensure sustainability and predictability of social services financing mechanisms.

▪ Municipalities capacitated to effectively deliver social services and outreach responsive to local needs and demand.

▪ Professionalization of social workforce and service providers enhanced, and networking/peer learning mechanisms expanded to foster mutual learning and innovation.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

▪ Phase 1 focused on laying the foundation for a decentralized social services system and strengthening partner capacities for policy development and implementation.

▪ Phase 2 scaled up reforms and demonstrated effective local service delivery models. Key results: Adoption of a strong national policy framework, the development of local social plans in all municipalities, the establishment of a National Social Fund to support municipal services, and a partnership between the University of Lucerne and 3 Albanian universities to enhance social work education. Access to services improved significantly—33% of vulnerable individuals in over half of the municipalities now receive at least 3 services, marking a substantial step toward greater inclusion and support.

Phase 3 01.01.2026 - 31.12.2027   (Active)