Albania

Economic overview

UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022-2026) 

UNECE is a signatory of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and contributes in particular to the following strategic priorities:

• Outcome 1.1: By 2026, increased and more equitable investment in people, removing barriers and creating opportunities for those at risk of exclusion 
• Outcome 2.1: By 2026, innovative and integrated policy solutions accelerate sustainable, productive and inclusive economic development, enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation and transition to a green and blue economy. 
• Outcome3.1: By 2026, governance is more transparent and accountable, enabling people to enjoy quality, inclusive services, enhanced rule of law and access to justice in line with Albania’s human rights commitments
• Outcome 3.2: By 2026, gender responsive governance strengthens equality and non-discrimination, promotes women’s empowerment and human rights, and reduces violence against women and children.

Previous cooperation programmes are available at 2012-2016 and 2017-2021.

UNECE works in close cooperation with the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team.

Key highlights

Energy

UNECE guidelines for an efficient, safe and environmentally conscious mine closure will help the country monitor them regarding water hazards and other risks and reclaim and repurpose the land for human settlements or other economically and environmentally- sound uses (SDG7, SDG9, SDG11).

A study on geothermal resources sheds light on the cost-effectiveness and potential benefits of utilizing geothermal energy (SDG7).

Environment

Albania has ratified the Aarhus Convention and is a Party to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers. UNECE supports the country to strengthen the implementation of the Convention, the governance-human rights-environment nexus, and the development of its PRTR (SDG 3, SDG 15).

Albania is a Party to the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, and several of its Protocols.   The country is invited to accede to the Protocols on Heavy Metals, Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol) (SDG 3, SDG 11).

Forests

UNECE supports the country in strengthening the forest sector in general, particularly the country’s policy framework on forest landscape restoration (SDG13 and SDG15). 

Gender equality

The standards body of Albania has signed the Declaration on Gender-Responsive Standards and Standards Development (SDG 5). 

Trade

Albania is invited to strengthen the use of UNECE and UN/CEFACT standards and tools on trade facilitation, in particular in its ongoing Single Window project (SDG8).

There is an opportunity to accelerate circular economy transition by active participation in Circular STEP stakeholder engagement platform (SDG 12).

Transport

Albania has acceded to 30 UN legal instruments on inland transport under the purview of UNECE.

To further facilitate, simplify and automate border crossing procedures, Albania is invited to accede to the 2008 Additional Protocol to the CMR concerning the Electronic Consignment Note (e-CMR) and to connect its national custom system with the eTIR International System (SDG9).

The Albania Road Safety Performance Review was published in 2018 identified legislative gaps to be addressed on safer vehicles and the transport of dangerous goods. (SDG 3.6)

Urban Development  

Key challenges relate to the lack of access to affordable and decent housing and building cities’ resilience to earthquakes and heat waves   A considerable share of the urban population lives in informal settlements, which will require legalization measures and upgrades to improve the population’s quality of life.

UNECE is preparing a Country Profile on Housing and Urban development to identify key trends and suggest policy solutions (SDG 11 and SDG13).