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    Other resources (non-core)
    Country Indexes

    UN Women in action: Strategic insights and achievements

    View annual report narratives for the year

    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
    Women and girls in Albania now enjoy stronger protections against discrimination and harassment, equal treatment in employment, expanded opportunities for leadership, and formal recognition of unpaid care work—thanks to the adoption of a landmark Gender Equality Law by Parliament on 6 November 2025. This achievement directly advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), positioning Albania among the frontrunners in the region on gender-responsive governance.
    The new law modernizes Albania’s framework for gender equality, guaranteeing equal access to public and private services, extending protections to digital spaces, and introducing transformative measures such as gender-responsive budgeting, mandatory gender impact assessments for new legislation, and a clear path to equal representation in decision-making within ten years. It also incorporates EU directives to ensure workplace equality, protect against harassment, and recognize unpaid care work—setting new obligations for employers to create fair and inclusive environments. These changes translate into tangible improvements in safety, opportunity, and voice for women and girls across Albania.
    UN Women played a pivotal role in making this possible. For over a year, the Albania Country Office convened government ministries, parliament, civil society, private sector, and international partners in a widely inclusive, nationally led drafting process aligned with recommendations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and European Union standards. Despite disinformation campaigns and polarized narratives, UN Women coordinated advocacy and media engagement, mobilized public champions, and worked closely with EU and other partners to maintain political commitment.
    Following the adoption of the law, UN Women launched the 2025 Country Gender Equality Profile and organized a national dialogue on the role of legislation in accelerating gender equality, with specific focus on linking legal reforms to evidence of real challenges faced by Albanian women and men, girls and boys. Looking ahead, the Country Office will support the operationalization of the law’s provisions, ensuring accountability and resources for enforcement, as well as promoting public information around the new law.
    This achievement offers a powerful example of how inclusive, rights-based advocacy can overcome resistance and deliver SDG-aligned legal transformation.
    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
    Albanian institutions are now systematically monitoring gender-based killings, enhancing accountability and protection mechanisms, and implementing policy and legislative recommendations to address gender-based violence. This progress also enables partners, including civil society organizations and media, to take more informed and effective actions. These achievements have been made possible in cooperation with UN Women, as part of the UN Joint Programme ending violence against women in Albania, financed by the Government of Sweden.
    In March 2024, the Ombudsperson of Albania established the Observatory on Femicide. Femicide, defined as the gender-related killing of women and girls, is a severe violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence. Despite its severity, femicide is not legally recognized in Albania's Criminal Code. By enhancing accountability and protection mechanisms, the Observatory on Femicide delivers regular, independent evidence on the impact of government policies addressing gender-based violence. It serves as a model for comprehensive data collection and analysis on gender-based violence, fostering coordinated action and knowledge sharing to amplify its impact.
    As the first initiative of its kind in the Western Balkans and one of the few in Europe, the Observatory on Femicide systematically tracks and analyzes femicide cases using a global methodology developed by UNDOC and UN Women. The observatory provides crucial insights into judicial procedures, highlights systemic strengths and weaknesses, and offers recommendations to improve the prevention and response to femicide.
    The establishment of the Observatory on Femicide is the result of several years of collaboration between UN Women and the Ombudsperson, a partnership instrumental in achieving this milestone. The Observatory contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, target 5.2 on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, and SDG 16, including target 16.1, which aims to reduce all forms of violence.
    The first Report on the Killing of Women and Femicide in Albania (2021-2023) emphasizes the urgency of recognizing femicide as a distinct criminal offense and presents both quantitative and qualitative findings. It offers actionable recommendations to enhance institutional coordination, strengthen investigative and punitive measures, and improve survivor support services. Key recommendations include legislative reform to include femicide in the Criminal Code and a more cohesive response from responsible institutions to prevent and address gender-based violence.
    National-level data reveal that from 2021 to 2023, Albania recorded 24 femicides. 90% involved victims who had previously experienced violence from perpetrators, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
    With the adoption of the second National Action Plan (NAP) on UNSCR 1325, Albania reaffirmed its strong commitment to promote the inclusion of women and girls in peace and security processes. Since 2017, the year prior to the approval of the first NAP, Albania has jumped 15 spots in the Women, Peace and Security global ranking. In the two years of implementation of the first NAP, 82% of planned activities were fully delivered. The number of women in police and military forces increased from 4% to 5.13%. There was a sharp increase in the number of women with decision-making roles in the security sector, moving from 0 to 11 executives between 2018 and 2020. The NAP contributes to SDGs 5.1, 5.5 and 5.c and 16.7, and the realization of UNSDCF Outcome 4 and Outcome 3. It effectively addresses the structural barriers women may face as participants in the security sector or recipients of public security services, including continuously limited participation, and emerging challenges such as cybercrime, sexual harassment (in synergy with the recently adopted ILO Convention 190), and natural disasters.
    The adoption of the plan was the culmination of several years of collaboration between UN Women and all partners involved in monitoring the implementation of the first NAP and developing and advocating for the second one. While UN Women CO does not have a dedicated WPS project, it leveraged limited core resources to ensure that the plan is aligned with international standards, it is costed, and that CSOs were engaged in the development process of the plan, in particular the CSO coalition on Women, Peace and Security, composed of over 30 organizations which contributed to the first NAP by monitoring its implementation. UN Women collaborated with donors and other international partners and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection led the process and accepted all inputs from UN Women and CSO partners.The second NAP was developed based on the lessons learned from the first NAP, such as the importance to ensure and promote active collaboration of civil society in the implementation of the plan, including its monitoring. The adoption of the second NAP was acknowledged by the Minister of Health and Social Protection as a positive step for Albania’s EU integration process and a testimony to the country’s commitment to global peace and security (see picture here). Albania served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2022-2023, with the government pledging to champion the WPS Agenda across the full breadth of the Security Council’s work. It is also an active member of the Feminist Foreign Policy group and a signatory of the shared commitment on WPS. UN Women will continue to play an active role in the implementation of the plan and supporting CSOs in developing shadow monitoring reports, including within the framework of Albania’s renewed membership into the Human Rights Council.
    Advancing SDGs: UN Women's impact and key achievements
    In October 2022, the Albanian Government through the Ministry for Youth and Children and the Ministry of Education and Sports included Empowerment through Self Defense (ESD) as part of the new extra-curricular activities of Albanian public schools. ESD is also part of the National Strategy for Youth and its Action Plan (2022-2029). The ESD methodology is an innovative approach which aims to promote behavioral changes in communities, particularly in relation to issues such as gender-based violence, by fostering skills that enable emotional, psychological and physical safety of young women and men. During 2022, more than 700 youth learned about the ESD methodology, acquiring self-empowerment skills through dedicated sessions with their communities, while thousands of women and girls accessed this information via online communication channels. This result contributed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 5.1, 5.2 and 5.c related to women’s participation in public life, ending violence against women and gender-responsive budgeting, all of which are core results of the UN Albania Cooperation Framework Outcome on Gender Responsive Governance.

    So far, 44 ESD instructors from all over Albania learned how to apply ESD. Nine schools successfully piloted ESD during the 2021-2022 academic year, involving around 1,200 students.

    Following this outstanding achievement, an initial pool of 60 teachers from 60 public schools will complete their ESD training in January 2023 and will be ready to immediately start applying the ESD methodology as part of after-school activities. Going forward, the goal is for 200 schools across the country to become part of a wider network of educational establishments implementing ESD. This innovative approach will contribute to eliminate gender inequalities, by empowering girls and boys to build skills for healthier interpersonal relations.
    Since 2019, UN Women, in collaboration with Aikido Albania (now ESD Albania) and ESD Global, with the financial support of the Swedish government, introduced ESD all around the country, supported by the Minister of Education and Sports, Minister of Youth and Children, Minister of Health and Social Protection, as well as LGU representatives, CSOs and Embassies. No core funds were used for achieving this result.

    Results and resources

    Outcomes (aligned with interagency frameworks)
    ALB_D_1.1

    By 2026, government institutions ensure increased and more equitable investment in people to remove barriers and create opportunities for those at risk of exclusion (UNSDCF Outcome A).

    ALB_D_1.1.1

    Central and local government institutions have improved capacities to design, implement and monitor gender-responsive and evidence-based social protection policies and services for vulnerable and marginalized groups, including in emergency situations.

    ALB_D_1.2

    By 2026, all persons benefit from, and contribute to, innovative and integrated policy solutions that accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive development, enhanced climate change adaptation and mitigation and transition to a green and blue economy (UNSDCF Outcome B).

    ALB_D_1.2.1

    Government institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector have the capacity to design, implement and monitor policies and programmes focused on innovative and digital economy that contribute to women's economic empowerment.

    ALB_D_1.2.2

    Planning and coordination mechanisms have strengthened capacities for climate change adaptation and mitigation, including Disaster Risk Reduction, ensuring the integration of gender equality commitments.

    ALB_D_1.2.3

    Women and young people have improved access to productive and financial resources, information and skill development opportunities to increase participation to the labour market.

    ALB_D_1.3

    By 2026, all persons contribute to, gender-responsive governance that strengthens equality and non-discrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children (UNSDCF C2).

    ALB_D_1.3.1

    National Gender Machinery and public administration at central and local levels, public oversight institutions and Civil Society Organizations have increased capacities to design and monitor implementation for international and national commitments and European Union priorities for gender equality.

    ALB_D_1.3.2

    Government institutions at central and local levels have increased capacities to plan, budget, monitor, track expenditures, and leverage resources for GEWE in targeted sectors.

    ALB_D_1.3.3

    Government institutions at central and local levels and Civil Society Organizations have increased capacities to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls, with a focus on vulnerable groups.

    ALB_D_1.3.4

    Change agents (civil society organizations, grassroot groups, citizens, including women rights entities) and women and girls have increased capacities and opportunities to lead, participate, monitor and influence decision-making and peacekeeping processes and resources for gender equality at national and local level.

    ALB_D_1.3.5

    Influential leaders, communities, men and boys, women and girls have improved knowledge and capacities to address harmful norms, stereotypes, and behaviors that drive VAWG and gender discrimination, with an intersectional lens.

    ALB_D_1.3.6

    National and local partners have increased capacities to generate and use comprehensive disaggregated data to advocate for, develop, implement and monitor gender-responsive evidence-based policies and programmes.

    ALB_D_1.3.7

    UN System in Albania is equipped with effective coordination mechanisms, knowledge products, tools, and capacities to promote accountability and deliver on its commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment

    Organizational effectiveness and efficiency
    ALB_O_1

    Assuring an accountable organization through principled performance

    ALB_O_2

    Advancing partnerships and resources resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale

    ALB_O_3

    Advancing business transformation

    ALB_O_4

    Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture

    ALB_O_5

    Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes

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    Budget
    Expenses
    Outcome Result statement IATI identifier
    OutcomeALB_D_1.1
    Outcome result statementIntegrating quality, inclusive 21st C. education and learning readiness; Effective and inclusive health care and services and social protection within a strategic UN system approach focused on sustaining investment in people, especially those at risk of exclusion - as part of COVID-19 response and recovery and EU accession.
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_D_1.1
    OutcomeALB_D_1.2
    Outcome result statementInclusive, resilient economic development and shared prosperity (including effective skills training), decent, formal sector jobs, entrepreneurship, support for green and blue economy transitions and increased production and incomes from agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, greater climate and disaster resilience and effective management of natural resources
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_D_1.2
    OutcomeALB_D_1.3
    Outcome result statementTransparent and accountable institutions, delivering quality, inclusive services, enabling rule of law and increased access to justice, and implementing human rights commitments.
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_D_1.3
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    Budget
    Expenses
    Outcome Result statement IATI identifier
    OutcomeALB_O_1
    Outcome result statementAssuring an accountable organization through principled performance
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_O_1
    OutcomeALB_O_2
    Outcome result statementAdvancing partnerships and resources resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_O_2
    OutcomeALB_O_3
    Outcome result statementAdvancing business transformation
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_O_3
    OutcomeALB_O_4
    Outcome result statementNurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_O_4
    OutcomeALB_O_5
    Outcome result statementEffective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes
    IATI identifierXM-DAC-41146-ALB_O_5
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    Resources allocated towards SDGs

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    Our funding partners contributions

    Regular resources (core)

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    $156.05 K in total
    Other resources (non-core)
    $4.73 M in total
    Regular resources (core)

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    $156.05 K in total
    2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) $40,759
    2023
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$40,759
    Development:$40,759(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $40,759
    2022
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$40,759
    Development:$40,759(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $1,768
    2021
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$1,768
    Development:$1,768(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $12,079
    2020
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$12,079
    Development:$12,079(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $60,688
    2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
    Total contribution:$60,688
    Development:$60,688(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    2023
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$40,759
    Total contribution$40,759
    Development$40,759(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2022
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$40,759
    Total contribution$40,759
    Development$40,759(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2021
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$1,768
    Total contribution$1,768
    Development$1,768(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2020
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$12,079
    Total contribution$12,079
    Development$12,079(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2019
    United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)$60,688
    Total contribution$60,688
    Development$60,688(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Other resources (non-core)

    Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.

    $4.73 M in total
    2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
    Austria --
    2023
    No data available
    --
    2022
    No data available
    --
    2021
    No data available
    --
    2020
    No data available
    $30,040
    2019
    AustriaOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$30,040
    Development:$30,040(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office $1,054,124
    2023
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$1,054,124
    Development:$1,054,124(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $1,054,124
    2022
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$1,054,124
    Development:$1,054,124(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $356,437
    2021
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$356,437
    Development:$356,437(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $136,530
    2020
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$136,530
    Development:$136,530(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $179,974
    2019
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$179,974
    Development:$179,974(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    Sweden $251,713
    2023
    SwedenOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$251,713
    Development:$251,713(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $251,713
    2022
    SwedenOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$251,713
    Development:$251,713(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $179,812
    2021
    SwedenOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$179,812
    Development:$179,812(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $18,428
    2020
    SwedenOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$18,428
    Development:$18,428(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2019
    No data available
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) $65,738
    2023
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$65,738
    Development:$65,738(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $65,738
    2022
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$65,738
    Development:$65,738(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $26,822
    2021
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)United Nations organization
    Total contribution:$26,822
    Development:$26,822(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    European Commission $294,215
    2023
    European CommissionOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$294,215
    Development:$294,215(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $294,215
    2022
    European CommissionOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$294,215
    Development:$294,215(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2021
    No data available
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Italy $163,647
    2023
    ItalyOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$163,647
    Development:$163,647(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $163,647
    2022
    ItalyOECD-DAC donor
    Total contribution:$163,647
    Development:$163,647(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2021
    No data available
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    Peacebuilding Fund $59,941
    2023
    Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$59,941
    Development:$59,941(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $59,941
    2022
    Peacebuilding FundUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$59,941
    Development:$59,941(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2021
    No data available
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office $13,953
    2023
    United Nations Resident Coordinator's OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$13,953
    Development:$13,953(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    $13,953
    2022
    United Nations Resident Coordinator's OfficeUnited Nations pooled fund
    Total contribution:$13,953
    Development:$13,953(100%)
    Humanitarian:$0(0%)
    --
    2021
    No data available
    --
    2020
    No data available
    --
    2019
    No data available
    2023
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$1,054,124
    Total contribution$1,054,124
    Development$1,054,124(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Sweden$251,713
    Total contribution$251,713
    Development$251,713(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)$65,738
    Total contribution$65,738
    Development$65,738(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    European Commission$294,215
    Total contribution$294,215
    Development$294,215(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Italy$163,647
    Total contribution$163,647
    Development$163,647(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Peacebuilding Fund$59,941
    Total contribution$59,941
    Development$59,941(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office$13,953
    Total contribution$13,953
    Development$13,953(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2022
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$1,054,124
    Total contribution$1,054,124
    Development$1,054,124(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Sweden$251,713
    Total contribution$251,713
    Development$251,713(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)$65,738
    Total contribution$65,738
    Development$65,738(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    European Commission$294,215
    Total contribution$294,215
    Development$294,215(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Italy$163,647
    Total contribution$163,647
    Development$163,647(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Peacebuilding Fund$59,941
    Total contribution$59,941
    Development$59,941(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office$13,953
    Total contribution$13,953
    Development$13,953(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2021
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$356,437
    Total contribution$356,437
    Development$356,437(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Sweden$179,812
    Total contribution$179,812
    Development$179,812(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)$26,822
    Total contribution$26,822
    Development$26,822(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2020
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$136,530
    Total contribution$136,530
    Development$136,530(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    Sweden$18,428
    Total contribution$18,428
    Development$18,428(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    2019
    Austria$30,040
    Total contribution$30,040
    Development$30,040(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
    United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office$179,974
    Total contribution$179,974
    Development$179,974(100%)
    Humanitarian$0(0%)
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    Strategic plan contributions

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    Expenses
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