UNCT will continue to support the government in meeting the country’s international obligations under the UN human rights mechanisms, promote gender equality and advocate on the commitment to LNOB, and implement the action plans of Scorecards on Gender, Disability Inclusion and Youth, placing gender equality and human rights at the centre of its work.

Reflecting upon our achievements of the past five years, and on how UNCT Albania prepared the new programme of cooperation, UNSDCF 2022–2026, which features sharpened priorities and improved UN positioning to accelerate Albania’s achievement of the 2030 Agenda, next year, UNCT will implement the first year of the UNSDCF in close cooperation with government (central and local level) and partners. Focus will be placed on human capital development, removing barriers and creating opportunities for those at risk of exclusion, establishing innovative and integrated policy solutions to accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive economic development, enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation and transition to a green and blue economy, ensuring a more transparent, accountable and gender responsive governance, enabling people to enjoy quality, inclusive services, enhancing rule of law and access to justice in line with Albania’s human rights commitments, strengthening equality and non-discrimination, promoting women’s empowerment and human rights, and reducing violence against women and children.

The details of how the above will be achieved are included in the JWPs 2022–2023, prepared in November and December 2021, to be endorsed in January 2022 by the implementing line ministries and contributing UN agencies and reported to UN INFO. To this end, LNOB analysis and the human rights-based approaches will be integrated into all workstreams with a view to reaching first those furthest behind. Implementation progress for the year will be described in the Annual Progress Report and Annual Review, published on the UN Albania website, shared with all partners, and widely communicated on UN Albania social media channels.

Key priorities will include supporting government for finalisation of the new NSDI 2021–2030 with SDGs integrated into the document, preparing an SDG report 2019–2021 and deepening the localising SDGs and decentralisation process. MoFE will be supported for development of a National Investment Framework on SDGs, enabled with funding from the Joint SDG Fund. Work will continue with civil society, academia and Parliament to strengthen their engagement in SDGs and build capacities of INSTAT and line ministries on M&E to improve data availability and quality in the country. Precedence will be given to the national Census preparations. Nationwide awareness raising will continue, along with partnership building to deepen efforts, including through engagement with the private sector and the mobilisation of contributions to the SDG Acceleration Fund. Engagement with the private sector around SDGs will be further sought, jointly with development partners, namely the government of Sweden, as an opportunity to advance policy issues such as the transition towards a green economy, improved waste management, reduction of food waste and the emergence of a circular economy.

UNCT Albania will continue implementing recovery support actions, focusing on the most vulnerable groups and people who risk being left behind, while calling for greater support to mobilise financing, through partnerships, and other means of implementation.

Accompanying the new UNSDCF, a Resource Mobilisation Strategy and a Communication Strategy will be prepared in the first half 2022 to guide and enhance the efforts of UN in Albania in partnership building and resource mobilisation towards achieving sustainable results in the country over the next five years. The strategy will promote cost-sharing and stronger partnerships with the private sector, including individual donors and corporate partners. New sources of finance will be identified, including options for blended finance, and influencing the policy environment to facilitate greater resource flows for SDG-related country priorities. The SDG Acceleration Fund will continue to support integrated and coherent resource mobilisation and allocation for innovative and joint cooperation efforts focused on SDG achievement and EU accession.

The interconnected and complex nature of the UNSDCF priorities requires strengthened collaboration with IFIs, including multi-lateral and regional development banks. Enhanced collaboration will support the addressing of the multi-dimensional challenge of responding to macro-economic, social and environmental development needs in a more integrated and effective manner. To reflect this, IFIs are identified as key cooperation partners under each Strategic Priority of the Cooperation Framework 2022–2026.

Under the United Nations Western Balkans Action Plan, the UN system will support the country and regional and sub-regional initiatives that promote dialogue, trust building and reconciliation. These are essential to the EU accession process, reflected in the Regional Cooperation Council and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. Under priorities 1 and 3 of UNSDCF 2022–2026, efforts will involve stronger engagement with civil society groups at the local level, especially those led by and serving women and young people. These will promote initiatives that advance trust-building dialogue and social cohesion. Under all outcomes, efforts to align policies and frameworks with international standards and strengthen implementation and monitoring will contribute to strengthening the rule of law and trust in government services.

Considering the positive experience of the UN PBF support for RYCO under the project ‘Supporting the Western Balkans collective leadership on reconciliation: building momentum and sustainability for the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, RYCO’, a new project ‘Strengthening the role of youth in promoting increased mutual understanding, constructive narrative, respect for diversity, and trust in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo’ will start implementation in 2022.

The Operations Management Team (OMT) will continue implementing initiatives to harmonise business practices and establish common services. The UNCT will update and expand its Business Operations Strategy to deliver on UNSDCF results. The OMT will explore new opportunities for high-impact common services as part of BOS 2.0 and secure expertise and resources to achieve greater cost-savings and efficiencies through economies of scale, collective bargaining with LTAs and enhanced M&E of common back-office services. The OMT will also engage UN agencies to consider a mutual recognition approach for local recruitment.