Tirana, Albania, February 28, 2025 - The Ministry of Health and Social Protection and UNFPA, in partnership with and supported by the Italian Government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Office in Tirana, launched today a new 3-year project, of 1 Million EUR budget for a period of 36 months during 2025- 2027,  which aims to combat gender-based violence and harmful practices in Albania. 

The main goal is to strengthen gender responsive governance i.e. Coordinated Referral Mechanisms at local municipal level, to strengthen equality and non-discrimination, to promote women’s empowerment and human rights observance, and to reduce violence against women and girls in 9 municipalities: Dibër, Klos, Pogradec, Kolonjë, Korcë, Konispol, Vlorë, Selenicë, Tiranë. 

The intervention will focus towards: 

• Ensuring the well-functioning of Coordinated Referral Mechanisms and service providers at municipal level responsible to address and protect from Gender-Based Violence; 
• Empowering women and girls, survivors of all forms of violence, to enjoy a life free from violence through information, skills development that support their re-integration; 
• Improving legal and normative frameworks;
• Strengthening the oversight role of Civil Society Organisations and National Human Rights Institutions to monitor compliance with international and national standards on Violence Against Women and Girls; 
• Strengthening state and non-state actors’ capacities and resources to develop and implement proper gender responsive planning and services. 

The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Albana Koçiu emphasized: “Today we take another, very important step forward, further expanding our umbrella of social protection. Through the 3-year project that starts its implementation, we further strengthen our capacities against violence in the Municipalities of Tirana, Vlora, Korça, Pogradec, Dibra, Klos, Kolonja, Konispol and Selenica. I want to emphasize that this is a project that has special credits. It does not only try to treat or alleviate the symptoms of gender-based violence. Rather, it is a project that targets the fundamental reasons that drive gender-based violence straight to the heart”.”.

Importance of such an intervention was also brought into attention by the Ambassador of Italy to Albania, Mr. Marco Alberti: "Violence against women primarily concerns the victims, but it perpetuates a cycle of fear and injustice with profound social impacts. Italy's commitment is to join forces to develop projects focusing on people, protecting and assisting victims while at the same time training operators to reduce violence and create a culture of respect and dialogue."

In today's global context and the importance that the UN attaches to continuing its work to accelerate and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Albania, the UN Resident Coordinator for Albania, Fiona McCluney, stated: “This initiative aims to ensure that all women and girls in Albania can live a life free from violence. We must continue, and even expand, the public conversation on this issue, while galvanizing collective action against all forms of violence.”.

While the project has just kicked off, a lot needs to be done on the ground to coordinate the stakeholders engaged in the project under the guidance of UNFPA and AICS.

"In the last ten years the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation worked hard to ensure gender mainstreaming in all its initiatives. The 2020 Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Guidelines set objectives and purpose of our commitment to also address activities against gender-based violence, which is a priority in Albania according with the international framework and in relation to the Italian System for development cooperation.", - said Stefania Vizzaccaro, Director of AICS Tirana.

Justine Coulson, Country Director for UNFPA Albania reconfirmed in her remarks that “UNFPA is determined and undeterred. As committed humanitarians, we will continue to work tirelessly with the many partners and government to deliver on our collective promise to women and girls, no matter what. We are looking forward to seeing positive results together with our partners and see fewer and fewer cases of violence not only in the selected municipalities, but all over Albania.”, - stated 

Target stakeholders and beneficiaries and expected results: 

● 9 Coordinated Referral Mechanisms (CRM) in the 9 selected municipalities (each CRM engages at least 20 professionals from all sectors responsible to participate in the CRM). At least 180 CRM members will be reached with direct training on updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

● At least 540 health service providers will be reached with direct training on updated SOPs. 

● At least 405 psycho-social care providers will be reached with direct training on updated SOPs. 

● At least 270 police officers will benefit, in partnership with the Police Academy and the Italian Central Directorate of the Criminal Police, through expertise to improve curriculum, capacity building of staff. Around 200 students will benefit from the expertise, curriculum review, coaching and mentoring. While at least 30 staff of the academy will directly benefit from the trainings on updated curriculum and SOPs. 

● National Human Rights Institutions, especially two institutions and at least 6 commissioners from the institutions, especially the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination and People’s Advocate will benefit from expertise on Investigation / Enquiry reporting training as well as Monitoring and Evaluation capacity building activities. 

● At least 30 local media journalists will benefit from direct trainings on Gender Equality, Gender-Based Violence and fact-checking reporting. 

● Academia will be engaged in data collection to support surveys and in-depth analysis. University of Tirana, Faculties of Journalism, Social Sciences, Economics and Law will benefit from data collection and analysis. 

● Women and girls of all municipalities will benefit from the improvement of service provisions, the outreach work, but also will be engaged in awareness raising activities and work, and at least 900 women and children will benefit from work on the ground and through grassroot organisations. 

● Faith-based Organisations at municipal level as members of CRMs, will benefit from informative sessions and enhance skills related to multi sectoral response to GBV Essential Guidelines and Protocols. At least 2 representatives from each religious community, aiming at 90 beneficiaries annually, and 180 in 3 years. 

● CSOs engaged directly in the CRMs, 2 representatives per each CSO aiming at 18 direct beneficiaries annually, and at least 54 in three years. 

● Women and girls of all municipalities will benefit from the improvement of service provisions, the outreach work but also will be engaged in awareness raising activities and work, aiming to reach 5000 women and girls annually. Through campaigns and awareness raising work online and offline, the aim is to reach approximately 500,000 people from the public at large.