PROGRAMME OF COOPERATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2017-2021 Progress Report 2020 TABLE OF FOREWORD CONTENTS In our capacity as the Co-Chairs of the Joint Executive being implemented in education, economic recovery and agreements, multilateral partnerships, global and regional FOREWORD 2 Committee of the Government of Albania and the United resilience, including agriculture, community infrastructure, funding opportunities are also significant contributors to UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY TEAM IN ALBANIA 3 Nations in Albania, we are pleased to present the Annual cultural heritage, child protection, social protection, the work of UN agencies in various priority areas in the Progress Report of the fourth year of our Programme gender equality, and disaster risk reduction, while seeking country, especially the EU’s bilateral support to UNDP and KEY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS OF THE UN IN of Cooperation for Sustainable Development (PoCSD) to integrate humanitarian and development programming UNOP’s earthquake recovery efforts. Details of partners ALBANIA 4 2017–2021. This penultimate year of implementation and where feasible and appropriate to do so. contributions and the achievements enabled by such reporting on the PoCSD provides an occasion to reflect on support can be found in this comprehensive report! the achievements made, recognise challenges and identify On the Covid-19 crisis, the UN family also worked closely with CHAPTER 1: Key developments in Albania and future programmes that will improve Albania’s post- the Government of Albania to identify areas of emergency This year, we also intensified efforts towards further regional context 5 earthquake and Covid-19 derailed development. support, aiming to reduce the impact on the poorest strengthening regional cooperation through implementa- and other vulnerable groups. WHO played an important tion of current initiatives such as building momentum and The year 2020 was a significant one for Albania and the role in assisting Albania with Covid-19 case management sustainability for the Regional Youth Cooperation Office CHAPTER 2: UN in Albania support to national United Nations. The country celebrated its 65th anniversary and infection prevention. UN agencies are now working and preparing applications for a declaration of regional development priorities 8 of membership to the organisation and, supported by the together with government on how to overcome the socio- eligibility for the Peace Building Fund (PBF). 2.1. Executive Summary 9 UN in Albania, improved living conditions for poor and economic impact of the pandemic. UNCT prepared a Socio- vulnerable people in the country, strengthened equitable Economic Recovery and Response Plan for Albania that The year 2020 was also the second in implementation of the 2.2. Delivering Results for Albania 9 and quality service delivery, improved environmental provides a scan of the current situation and sets out the UN’s reform of the Development System, the preparation BOX 1- Supporting the Western Balkans protection and enhanced alignment of Albania’s efforts with UN’s consolidated offer of socio-economic recovery and of the Government of Albania and the United Nations new collective leadership on reconciliation: the 2030 Agenda. Joint efforts were particularly vested to response support. We will continue working on long-term Programme ‘UN Sustainable Development Cooperation respond to the needs that arose from both the earthquake strategies to battle the virus until its eradication and to be Framework (UNSDCF) 2022–2026’, better tailored to Albania’s building momentum and sustainability for and the Covid-19 crisis, supporting the most vulnerable able to better cope with similar challenges in the future. needs, and the development of the new National Strategy the Regional Youth Cooperation Office 19 communities in solidarity and leadership for coordinated, for Development and Integration 2021–2030. BOX 2 - UN Albania support to COVID-19 multi-lateral action with government and other partners. Our success through the years is founded on solid and long- Recovery Efforts in Albania 20 Much more remains to be done given the unprecedented term partnerships, which aid to mobilise financing towards We hope this report informs on the comprehensive work nature of these crisis, and the risk they pose, both to human Albania’s achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable we do in the country and inspires you to join forces together life at the present, and to development and the achievement Development Goals, and the ambition to integrate into the to shape a better future for the citizens of Albania. 2.3. Support to partnerships and financing the of SDGs, and for years to come. European Union. In 2020, the UN collectively delivered USD 2030 Agenda 22 26.7 million through its programmes, of which 80 percent With regard to post-earthquake recovery, the UN in were mobilised by efforts of the country offices. Support 2.4. Results of the UN working more and better Albania undertook, jointly with the Government of for the Albania SDG Acceleration Fund this year not only together: UN coherence, effectiveness and Albania, the EU and the World Bank, a post-disaster needs included our flagship joint programmes—Leave No One efficiency 23 assessment (PDNA) to assess damages and to serve as Behind (Switzerland) and Eliminating Violence against the basis for mobilising the donor community. It also Women (Sweden)—but also new and renewed programmes 2.5. Evaluations and lessons learned 25 deployed international advisers for the post-disaster between the governments of Albania and Norway. The 2.6. Financial overview and resource mobilisation 25 emergency response and early recovery efforts, mobilised Fund enlisted EUR 11.65 million in contributions from the core relief items, addressed critical child protection and governments of Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Erion Braçe Fiona McCluney education needs and provided direct services to affected Poland, Sweden and the UK in support of the Government Deputy Prime Minister Resident Coordinator CHAPTER 3: UNCT key focus for next year 27 children and families. Recovery initiatives are currently of Albania’s post-earthquake recovery efforts. Bilateral Government of Albania United Nations in Albania PROGRESS REPORT 2020 2 UNITED NATIONS COUNTRY Resident UN Agencies TEAM IN ALBANIA Seventeen UN agencies, funds and programmes comprise the United Nations Country Team in Albania, chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator, the designated representative of the UN Secretary General for development operations in the country. As a family of specialised agencies, UNCT fully supports PRIORITY AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE INTERVENTIONS: Within these priorities, cross-cutting issues of a human and works towards the complementary agendas of rights-based approach, gender equality, social inclusion, Albania’s goal of European Union integration and of the specific capacity development for policy formulation and national priorities expressed in the National Strategy for 1 GOVERNANCE AND results-based management, and improving the overall Development and Integration, as well as harmonisation RULE OF LAW evidence base are all being addressed. and aid effectiveness. These agendas include Albania’s commitment to achieving Agenda2030 and the Sustainable UNOPS joined the UNCT Albania in November 2020, Non-resident UN Agencies Development Goals. cooperating with the other 16 UN agencies that are 2 SOCIAL signatories to PoCSD 2017–2021. Partnering with the Merging the comparative advantages of the various UN COHESION government and the EU, UNOPS will facilitate the post- organisations1 under the Government of Albania–United earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction of key Nations Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable cultural heritage sites and museums. Development (PoCSD) 2017–2021, UNCT provides tailor- made support for addressing the needs of the most 3 ECONOMIC GROWTH, Also, two new agencies—International Telecommunication vulnerable, the disadvantaged and those who are at risk LABOUR AND Union (ITU) and United Nations Office for Disaster of social exclusion in the country. AGRICULTURE Risk Reduction (UNDRR)—will join UN Albania for the implementation of the new UN Sustainable Development The results framework of PoCSD 2017–2021 outlines Cooperation Framework over the period 2022–2026. four Outcomes and 18 Outputs that respond to the 4 ENVIRONMENT AND country’s needs and make use of the UN’s comparative CLIMATE CHANGE advantages. The Outputs are made operational through the development of Joint biannual Work Plans (JWPs). 1 Resident agencies: FAO, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, UNOPS; Non-resident agencies: IAEA, ILO, UNCTAD, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNODC. PROGRESS REPORT 2020 3 KEY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS OF THE UN IN ALBANIA Partners’ contribution to PoCSD Outcomes in 2020 Contributing Partners in 2020 Outcome I Outcome II Outcome III Outcome IV Governance and Rule of Law Social Cohesion Economic Growth, Labour and Agriculture Environment and Climate Change The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) Peace Building Fund Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria Albania Australia Austria CEB Croatia Denmark EU Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Russia Sweden Switzerland Turkey UK USA EVAC GEF Global fund Tuberculosis PBF UN Global Global Environment Fund to fight aids and malaria Funds Global Fund to End Violence Against Children The key partners of UNCT Albania in the implementation