Outcome ALB_O_1

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

Achieved. The Albania Country Office (CO) has prioritized the practical implementation of value-for-money principles to achieve results efficiently and effectively. This commitment is evident in its ongoing efforts to enhance and foster an accountable and trustworthy organization. The CO has ensured accountability of resources through the successful implementation of all contributions, providing a framework for ethical business practices and safeguarding the organization's reputation. The CO's delivery and utilization rates are 95.1% and 92% for non-core resources, and 100% for core resources. During 2024, the CO further demonstrated its commitment to effective results-based management by investing in human resources to enhance results-based management practices. This investment, fully financed through the flexible Strategic Note Direct Funding, led to the creation of a new position dedicated to providing strategic planning, results-based management related guidance, and technical support across key corporate planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes. The CO achieved 100% compliance in ERM - Fraud Risk Assessment and Risk Validation within corporate deadlines. This was accomplished through comprehensive discussions within assessment teams and with all staff, who carefully assessed existing controls, the likelihood and impact of risks, and mitigation actions for potential future occurrences. These efforts have strengthened the CO's capacity to foster a robust risk awareness culture. Additionally, the CO maintained 100% compliance with safety and security requirements. The Security and Safety Compliance Survey was reviewed and updated, resulting in a total score of 99.6%.

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

The output was successfully delivered in 2023 with all its indicators being achieved. During the reporting period, programmatic and operational management fully adhered to compliance standards, as the CO continued to ensure accountability of resources through successful implementation of all contributions, which provides a framework for ethical business practices and safeguarding the organization's reputation. CO delivery rates were good and ranked the CO as one of the top ones for the delivery and utilization rates, respectively 88% and 97% for non-core resources and 100% for core resources. The CO was fully compliant with other indicators: - 100% for ERM - Fraud Risk Assessment and Risk Validation were finalized within the corporate deadlines, through comprehensive discussions within the assessment teams but also with all staff, who carefully assessed the existing controls/set of controls in place, the likelihood and impact, as well as the mitigation actions for any potential future occurring. - 100% with security related indicators (Security and Safety Compliance Survey for 2023 was 99,6%). - 0 findings for audits of programme partners conducted in 2023. To be noted is the high level of diligence and scrutiny demonstrated in reviewing the reporting costs incurred by the Responsible Parties. - CO continued to ensure ongoing InfoSec Compliance and made significant efforts to be 100% compliant with the SRM measures, BCCMA and SSCS. Overall, the theory of change for this OEEF output remains relevant for the CO. Evidence available at: Albania CO Risk Register -updated.pdf Project Budget Balance utilization % Report_ECA Region @ 06-11-2023 (.xlsx SCB23 - Europe and Central Asia-95210-Albania-Albania - Tirana-2023.pdf Security Dashboard.pptx UN Women 2022 B2 - Albania - Human Rights in Democracy Center - Final report.pdf UNW 2022 - Albania - CLCI - Final Report.pdf UNW 2022 - Albania - ESD Global Inc. - Final Report.pdf UNW 2022 - Albania - QZHK - Final Report.pdf

Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

Through the CO continuous efforts to perform within the organisation's standards, in alignment with the applicable policies, rules and regulations. Though the delivery volume for non-core budget was less than the previous year, the delivery rate as of end of December 2022 has surpassed the target value, standing at approx 89%. CO continued to remain fully compliant with the review of the ERM, audit findings/recommendations, security management as well as donor reporting.