» Millennium Development Goals in Albania

In September 2000, at the United Nations, world leaders reached a historic agreement on the Millennium Declaration, giving voice to globally shared values and unequivocal commitment to halving world poverty by 2015. On July 2003, Albanian parliament passed a resolution in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) “… encouraging all stakeholders to track progress in achieving the MDGs on a regular basis through national monitoring and evaluation systems and the preparation of annual progress reports that encourage public debate and offer recommendations on ways to improve national and regional development policies.” Parliament has requested periodic briefings on the MDGs – the last one in May 2006 examined the complementary nature of the MDGs and European Union (EU) Integration.

In Albania through the support of the UN Country Team the MDGs have become a tool for national stakeholders to discuss, prioritize, and advocate for development. National MDG reports and concentrated media attention, inspired the country to launch the MDG localization process through preparation of MDG based regional development strategies and reports.  The main purpose of this work was to explore and demonstrate how the MDGs could be used to build support and momentum for the MDGs from the bottom up, to assess local poverty challenges and to serve as an engine for comprehensive local development. This nation-wide consensus building process led to the 2004 Albania MDG Progress Report and the 2005 National Human Development Report on Pro-Poor and Pro-Women Policies and Development in Albania, and while adapting the global goals to the Albanian context, revealed the need for a ninth national MDG: Good Governance. Albania has also produced a MDG 2005 Report.

The existence of many strategies and agendas in Albania in addition to the Millennium Declaration and EU accession agendas, pointed to the need for an integrated planning system (IPS) that would harmonize the different, yet complementary development platforms. The key medium-term instrument in the IPS is the National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI), specifically referring to integration into the EU and NATO. The IPS connects all the strategies and agendas under one system to make sure national priorities are reflected in the mid-term budgetary plan.

The Government has prepared its National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI), 2007-2013, which is based on a number of sectoral and cross-cutting strategies, including national strategies for regional development and social inclusion.The UN has been an active partner in the consultation process to develop the NSDI and sector strategies, including the incorporation of MDGs in this national plan.

Guided by the NSDI, the Stablisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and the spirit of the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs, the One UN Programme addresses national priorities including: more transparent and accountable governance; greater participation in policy and decision-making; increased access to quality basic services; regional development; and environmentally sustainable development. In all five of these priority areas, the core principles of gender equality and development of national capacity will be upheld and incorporated throughout the implementation of the Programme.

The international community in Albania also helps to fund, or co-partners on projects whose objectives contribute towards the achievement of the MDGs.

For information on specific Millennium Development Goals in Albania, click here»