COVID-19 Impact in the Western Balkans Deep-dive in Albania and how the pandemic impacted the SDG’s Prepared by: Erik Gjermeni and Alban Lika in collaboration with the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) as part of a project supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania 1 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 4 COVID-19 – How it impacted the World ............................................................................................... 5 COVID-19 – How it impacted the SDG ................................................................................................. 6 SDG 2 – Zero Hunger ......................................................................................................................... 6 SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being ............................................................................................... 6 SDG 4 – Quality Education ................................................................................................................ 6 SDG 5 – Gender Equality ................................................................................................................... 7 SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.................................................................................................. 7 SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth ................................................................................... 7 COVID-19 – How it impacted the Western Balkan region .................................................................... 8 Albania .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Situation prior to COVID-19 ............................................................................................................ 10 Support packages .............................................................................................................................. 10 Impact on Social Protection (SDG1, SDG2) .................................................................................... 11 Impact on Health (SDG3) ................................................................................................................. 11 Impact on Education (SDG4) ............................................................................................................ 13 Impact on Gender Equality (SDG5) .................................................................................................. 15 Impact on the Economy (SDG8, SDG9) ........................................................................................... 16 Impact on the Environment ............................................................................................................... 19 Kosovo .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Situation prior to COVID-19 ............................................................................................................ 21 Support packages .............................................................................................................................. 21 Impact on Health (SDG3) ................................................................................................................. 23 Impact on Social Protection (SDG1, SDG2, SDG10)....................................................................... 23 Impact on Gender Equality (SDG5) .................................................................................................. 24 Impact on Education (SDG4) ............................................................................................................ 24 Impact on the Economy (SDG8, SDG9) ........................................................................................... 24 North Macedonia .................................................................................................................................. 26 Situation prior to COVID-19 ............................................................................................................ 26 Support packages .............................................................................................................................. 26 Impact on the Economy (SDG1, SDG2, SDG8) ............................................................................... 27 Impact on Tourism (SDG9) .............................................................................................................. 28 Impact on Gender Equality (SDG5) .................................................................................................. 29 Serbia .................................................................................................................................................... 29 Situation prior to COVID-19 ............................................................................................................ 30 Support packages .............................................................................................................................. 30 Impact on the Economy (SDG1, SDG8, SDG9) ............................................................................... 31 Impact on Health (SDG3) ................................................................................................................. 32 Impact on Social Protection (SDG1, SDG2, SDG4, SDG5)............................................................. 33 Impact on the Environment (SDG13) ............................................................................................... 34 Montenegro ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Situation prior to COVID-19 ............................................................................................................ 35 Support packages .............................................................................................................................. 35 Impact on the Economy (SDG8) ....................................................................................................... 36 Impact on Social Protection (SDG1, SDG2, SDG10)....................................................................... 38 Impact on Education (SDG4) ............................................................................................................ 38 Impact on Gender Equality (SDG5) .................................................................................................. 38 Impact on Food / Nutrition (SDG2) .................................................................................................. 39 Western Balkan region main outcomes ................................................................................................ 39 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 41 2 References ............................................................................................................................................. 44 List of Tables Table 1: Albania - Situation on 31st of January 2021 ............................................................................. 9 Table 2: Kosovo - Situation on 31st of January 2021 ........................................................................... 21 Table 3: North Macedonia - Situation on 31st of January 2021 ............................................................ 26 Table 4: Serbia - Situation on 31st of January 2021 ............................................................................. 30 Table 5: Montenegro - Situation on 31st of January 2021 .................................................................... 35 List of Graphs Graph 1: Albania - Active cases distribution by prefecture-level on 31st of January 2021 ................... 9 Graph 2: Albania - Total deaths quarterly, 2017 – 2020 ..................................................................... 13 Graph 3: Albania - Road accidents monthly, 2019 – 2020 .................................................................. 13 Graph 4: Albania - Real GDP Growth (%) quarterly, 2017 – 2020 .................................................... 16 Graph 5: Albania - Government Revenue Vs Government Expenditure, 2017 – 2020 (ALL billions) .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Graph 6: Albania - Government Debt (% of GDP), 2017 – 2020 ....................................................... 17 Graph 7: Albania - People movement (Holidays, visit relatives), 2017 – 2020 .................................. 18 Graph 8: Albania - Unemployment rate (%), 2017 – 2020 ................................................................. 18 Graph 9: Albania - Freights by air monthly, 2019 – 2020 (000/ton) ................................................... 19 Graph 10: Albania - Freights by land monthly, 2019 – 2020 (000/ton) .............................................. 19 Graph 11: Albania - Freights by sea monthly, 2019 – 2020 (000/ton) ................................................ 19