Outcome 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).

Being the first year of implementation of the new SN, the outcome was not fully achieved yet. However, significant progress was made towards its realization and, gender equality was mainstreamed across policies and programmes pertaining to women’s economic empowerment, climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Key achievements included: - The final draft of National Strategy for DRR 2023-2030 (pending approval) addresses the needs of women and girls. At local level, the Local Action Plan for Gender Equality (LAGP) 2023 - 2025 was approved in Durrës and includes, for the first time, a gender sensitive approach in regard to DRR related measures. UN Women contributed to these results by sharing official recommendations with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups, including those living in three municipalities worst affected by the 2019 earthquake. These inputs were instrumental to ensure that gender equality considerations were reflected in the final draft strategy. UN Women also supported the municipality through technical assistance and capacity building. - The new National Strategy on Agriculture and Fisheries 2021-2027 includes specific measures and objectives pertaining to gender equality and rural women’s empowerment. UN Women provided detailed recommendations to the draft strategy and engaged with key actors such as GIZ and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development during the drafting process, which was critical to ensure the inclusion of rural women’s needs and priorities in the final approved strategy. - Empowerment through Self-Defense (ESD) is now part of the National Strategy for Youth (2022-2029) , and it is incorporated in the extra-curricular programs of Albanian public schools. It will be rolled out in the first 60 public schools from January 2023 on. ESD 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. In 2022, more than 700 youth learned about ESD, acquiring self-empowerment skills through dedicated sessions with their communities, while thousands of women and girls accessed this information via online communication channels. UN Women played a key role in advocating for the inclusion of this approach in the national strategy, through continuous lobbying and advocacy efforts at highest level in the Ministry of Education and Sport. - 760 women and activists were engaged and addressed their priorities in processes related to developing local budget plans. Their inputs focused on eight categories : Education, Social services, Social revitalization/post Covid-19, Health services, Housing, Mobility/Access, Public services, and Employment. 12 targeted municipalities received direct feedback in regard to women’s priorities in the Mid-Term Budget Plan (MTBP) 2022-2024, alongside with know-how, methodology, templates, data collection and analysis provided by UN Women and its civil society partners. This enabled municipalities to improve planning and organizing participatory budgeting at local level with special focus on gender responsive indicators and social services. All 12 municipalities carried out consultations with women, and moving forward. The municipalities of Tirana, Durres, Kavaja and Lezha (about 50% of the total Albanian population) will systematically engage women in future processes. Partnership with the members of the PRISMA network, formed by UN Women and comprising of 50 NGOs and local partners with expertise on participatory budgeting, will be essential for ensuring adequate follow up to these commitments. - 150 vulnerable women in 11 worst-affected municipalities by the 2019 earthquake are economically empowered, as part of seven interventions implemented in six municipalities, in four identified value chains, namely: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Traditional Food Value Chains and Handicrafts. These interventions used evidence and data on women’s economic empowerment made publicly available through the Gender Sensitive Value Chain Analysis (GSVCA) in 10 municipalities, developed by UN Women. Proactive engagement of non-traditional partners such as the private sector was critical for these results. - Women living in earthquake damaged areas are better able to enjoy their property rights in the reconstruction process. At least 252 women are now able to prepare better for legal procedures thanks to legal expertise provided by UN Women and its CSO partner, the Centre for Legal and Civic Initiatives (CLCI). 10 cases were filed and presented to CLCI’s lawyers to support women’s access to free legal aid. UN Women contributed to these results by sharing knowledge and building capacities of 128 state officials, professionals (e.g. notaries) and Local Government Units (LGUs) representatives, who are now better equipped to address women property rights in the reconstruction process, and by working closely with its CSO partner to build women's capacities. The generous support of the Government of Sweden and the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS Tirana) were essential to achieve these results. Key partners in this outcome include FAO, GIZ, the private sector, relevant municipalities and numerous CSOs that are engaged as Responsible Parties. The Theory of Change underpinning this outcome remains valid and more progress is expected in 2023, including the formation of Local Action Groups for rural women, and gender mainstream of rural and agricultural statistics and data collection, production and use in the context of the national Census which will be launched in 2023.

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).

Significant progress was made in 2023 to achieve this outcome. Businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and artisans experienced a more enabling environment to contribute to a sustainable, productive, and inclusive development. UN Women contributed to this result by leveraging a stronger engagement with the private sector, and in collaboration with other stakeholders at the central and local level. Decision-makers and stakeholders in Albania spotlighted women entrepreneurship, initiating a dialogue on the importance of promoting women’s economic empowerment. During the first Satellite EXPO on Women Entrepreneurship, a spin-off of the Regional EXPO organized by the CO, 151 Albanian women entrepreneurs accessed regional networks. Approximately 40 of these entrepreneurs further accessed opportunities for business growth and networking during the Tirana Satellite Expo, organized by UN Women, in close partnership with public institutions, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Chamber of Commerce, and private sector companies (many of which are signatories of the Women Empowerment Principles). This initiative marked the culmination of years of methodical work to expand the CO’s pool of WEPs companies and foster closer collaboration with the private sector. The Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Business Climate increased their engagement with UN Women, taking the lead during the entrepreneurship week in 2023. Rural women entrepreneurs will manage two incubators established in the LGUs of Elbasan and Kolonja. Two groups of more than 30 women from rural areas of Elbasan and Kolonje increased their capacities in areas including entrepreneurship, doing business, product sales and marketing and farming practices. These improved skills will enable rural women in the two municipalities to operate two traditional product incubators, expected to be operational in early 2024. In addition, rural women will have a stronger voice in decisions effecting their community development through active participation in the Local Action Groups, which are being established in Elbasan and Kolonje. UN Women partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO and municipalities for the establishment of the incubators and promoting the establishment of the LAGs. UN Women ensured an increased women’s presence and importance in the handicraft value chain in two municipalities of Albania. Local government partners increased their commitment towards promoting women’s economic empowerment, providing dedicated space for the development of handicraft value chains . Through close collaboration with municipalities of Kruja and Kavaja, affected by the deadly 2019 earthquake, women artisans now have a physical space, which can be used free of charge, and a dedicated webpage to sell handicraft products. Over 20 women increased capacities in development of joint marketing, branding and joint promotion of products, market presentation of the VC and formalization of their businesses. UN Women played a vital role by following a systematic approach towards establishment of services and structures to support the development of the value chain. In turn, local government units positively responded by providing spaces for artisans’ professional growth, like artisan centers and offering a dedicated webpage for women artisans in Kruja municipality. The theory of change for this outcome is still valid based on progress achieved so far. UN Women has strategically expanded its collaboration with private sector companies to advance its women empowerment agenda. The results in this outcome have been generously supported by the Government of Italy and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Tirana, the Government of Sweden through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund, and thanks to leveraging minimal Core funds within the CO for the expansion of the partnership with the private sector.

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).

Significant progress was made in creating a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and artisan women, contributing to sustainable, productive, and inclusive development in Albania. UN Women played a key role in this progress by fostering stronger engagement with the private sector, building capacity, and collaborating closely with both central and local stakeholders. These efforts have helped to advance women’s economic empowerment across various sectors. A highlight of the year was the Satellite EXPO on Women Entrepreneurship, a spin-off event from Regional EXPO organized by the Country Office (CO), which served as a platform for women entrepreneurs to access important networks and business growth opportunities. The event, co-organized with the Ministry of State for Entrepreneurship, attracted 40 entrepreneurs and 20 WEPs (Women Empowerment Principles) signatories. Over 100 visitors attended, purchasing women’s products, and participating in capacity-building sessions on topics such as access to finance, process optimization, digital transformation, and AI-powered marketing. The event also saw an increase in the number of WEPs signatories, which grew to 74 companies, with 7 new signatories joining during EXPO. These outcomes were made possible through UN Women’s strong partnerships with public institutions, private sector companies, and international organizations like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Chamber of Commerce. Efforts to support rural women made significant progress, particularly in Gramsh, where women improved their skills in food safety and marketing medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). Entrepreneurship capacity was strengthened also through four networking and B2B events in Elbasan, Leskovik, and Gramsh. A marketing guide for the “Duarartat e Leskovikut” group generated over 150,000 Leke in sales, demonstrating the impact of these initiatives. Five training sessions in Leskovik and Kuqan equipped 16 participants (15 women and 1 man) with skills in product safety, labeling, composting, and organic standards, boosting product quality and market access. In Gramsh, women received specialized training on hazard identification and product quality to enhance business sustainability. Additional training events in Elbasan/Shirgjan and Leskovik, along with workshops in Kuqan, focused on leadership, collaboration, and business planning. UN Women also provided technical assistance to the Gramsh women's group, including training and equipment for MAP processing, boosting product value and local market access. The equipment delivery was formalized through a signed agreement with the National Agency for Rural Development. In the tourism sector, the Country Assessment of Women in Tourism was initiated, gathering insights from 49 stakeholders. Gender-sensitive inputs were provided for the draft National Tourism Strategy, with the first draft of the assessment completed and ready for stakeholder review. Preparatory work for supporting women-led tourism businesses is set to continue in 2025, with plans for gender-responsive training for private tourism stakeholders and the creation of safety guidelines for women traveling in Albania. Several women-led tourism businesses also joined the WEPs signatory companies and participated in the EXPO 2024 Satellite event in Tirana, showcasing their commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, an action plan was developed to support three women-owned tour operators in creating specialized tours, with initial consultations held in Tirana, Shkodra, and Vlora. Activities planned for 2025 will focus on tour design, marketing, and operational support for feminist tourism development. The Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) approach was introduced through four training sessions, engaging 74 participants from tourism schools in Tirana on personal safety, assertive communication, and conflict resolution. A draft ESD training module was also developed for future implementation. UN Women’s initiatives, in close partnership with various stakeholders, have significantly contributed to creating a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, strengthening their capacity, and promoting their inclusion in Albania’s economic development. These efforts are expected to continue fostering sustainable growth and women’s empowerment in years to come.