Leave No One Behind Project
Albania is building up its social protection system, with the vision of providing decentralized services. The importance of an effective social protection system has increased by the ongoing pandemic. The project covers part of the social protection system. Its 2nd phase scales up the reform roll-out. This Albania-Switzerland-UN’ effort collaborates with 50% of municipalities and strengthens their capacities to support 160’000 vulnerable people.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Albania |
Governance nothemedefined
Decentralisation
Public sector policy Democratic participation and civil society |
01.08.2021
- 31.07.2025 |
CHF 8’000’000
|
- Other UN Organisation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Decentralisation and support to subnational government (incl. accountability)
Public sector policy and administrative management
Democratic participation and civil society
Cross-cutting topics The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F09572
Background |
Albanian economy performs below its potential. High poverty (23.4%) and inequality in income distribution (35.4%) is further widen, due to the twin major shocks experienced in a short period - a very strong earthquake in November 2019 and the ongoing pandemic. Albania is building up its social protection system. Roll-out of the full set of the decentralized social protection measures are foreseen to be achieved by 2024. LNOB 2, part of the Joint UN-GoA program, covers the social services component of this undertaking. European Union, SDC, United Nations, World Bank are the key international partners for the social sector. Their efforts are coordinated and aligned with the government, in the context of the Integrated Planning and Management Groups (IPMG), where Switzerland actively participates. |
Objectives | Vulnerable persons and groups have increased access to public services that support their social inclusion and well-being, and are empowered to have a voice in public policy decision-making affecting their lives, and to hold decision-makers accountable for policy implementation. |
Target groups | The project’s target groups will be all the marginalised and vulnerable populations, with a focus on people with disabilities, Roma and women; 50% of the municipalities; NGOs and other local government institutions. In total, at least 160’000 vulnerable persons will benefit from improved social inclusion and services. |
Medium-term outcomes |
Vulnerable population requests and receives adequate social services from local authorities, aimed at increasing their social inclusion and minimizing vulnerability, and holds decision-makers and service providers accountable for policy delivery. Municipalities effectively manage and scale up credible models of integrated social services to boost social inclusion, reflecting the international recognized standards. National institutions effectively implement their policy framework for ensuring social inclusion and adequately fund services through improved policy monitoring and evaluation systems, updated quality professional standards and empowered citizens. |
Results |
Expected results: Empowerment of vulnerable groups to request social inclusion and to access services, coupled with communication actions targeting “hard to reach people”. Social Fund strengthening; improving its outreach, transparency, good governance. Improved municipal human resources and capability to benefit from the National Social Fund. Upscaling and replication of credible models of inclusive services, along addressing vulnerabilities arising due to emergencies, is facilitated through regular sharing between municipalities. Decentralized social services delivery, coupled with improved interface among target groups, NGOs and public structures, policy monitoring systems and quality professional standards, improve the social situation for 160’000 vulnerable people. Results from previous phases: The contribution of LNOB is evidenced across Albania reaching out to 187’630 vulnerable people. 61 municipalities have been capacitated to fulfil their obligations for the provision of social services in the overall ambition to strengthen the social protection system. 48 municipalities have an approved social plan and 11 more are in the process of formally adopting - creating the foundation for roll-out of decentralized social protection measures and their public funding through the social fund. The holistic approach addressing macro, meso and micro level brought about systemic change alongside bringing positive changes in the vulnerable lives. LNOB was instrumental in adapting to COVID 19 pandemic, showing agility to respond to the new needs of 63’630 vulnerable people. |
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Project partners |
Contract partner United Nations Organization (UNO) |
Coordination with other projects and actors | The governmental IPMG coordinates all actors’ initiatives. Synergies with other Swiss municipal support and skills development projects to be fostered. |
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 8’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 7’400’000 |
Project phases | Phase 2 01.08.2021 - 31.07.2025 (Current phase) Phase 1 01.06.2017 - 31.07.2021 (Completed) |