» One UN in Albania

The Government of Albania – United Nations Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016

The Government of Albania – United Nations Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016 was signed on 24 October 2011. The new programme supersedes the first One UN programme, with a single, coherent plan for all UN agencies in Albania, in which each is responsible for delivery on a set of key actions that jointly contribute to shared results.

The Government of Albania – United Nations Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016 promote sustainable and equitable development, social inclusion and the adherence to international norms and fulfilment of international obligations, in support of the integration of Albania into the EU. The Programme was drafted following intensive consultations with line ministries, civil society and development partners in 2011. The new Programme supports national priorities and development challenges on the country in the areas of:

• Governance and Rule of Law
  
• Economy and environment
  
• Regional and Local development
  
• Inclusive Social Policy

To support the above programme, the UN Coherence Fund has been further adjusted to incorporate lessons learned from the past, and now applies performance based criteria for resource allocation. The Programme of Cooperation 2012 – 2016 builds upon United Nations values, the comparative advantages of participating funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations, and lessons learned from the previous cooperation.

The new programme brings together the support of 19 UN agencies, funds and programmes, plus the International Organisation for Migration, to Albania’s development priorities.

The Programme of Cooperation 2012 – 2016 was signed by: (FAO) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (IAEA) International Atomic Energy Agency, (IFAD) International Fund for Agricultural Development, (ILO) International Labour Organization, (IOM) International Organization for Migration, (ITC) International Trade Center, (UNAIDS) Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, (UNCTAD) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, (UNDP) United Nations Development Programme, (UNECE) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme, (UNESCO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNFPA) United Nations Population Fund, (UNHCR) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNICEF) United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNIDO) United Nations Industrial Development Organization, (UNODC) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNV) United Nations Volunteers, (UN Women) United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, (WHO) World Health Organization
 

Background

Following a request from the Albanian Government to the United Nations, Albania was selected as one of eight countries around the world to pilot UN efforts to Deliver as One UN in January 2007.

Albania’s request to participate as a One UN Pilot country demonstrated its long-standing, strong commitment to UN reform. The Government’s on-going reforms place great emphasis on the coordination and alignment of external assistance and integrating national planning and resource allocation. The One UN pilot falls very much within this broader national effort.

The One UN concept builds on the existing reform agenda set by UN member states, which asked the UN to accelerate its efforts to increase the coherence and effectiveness of its operations in the field. Specifically, the General Assembly’s "Triennial comprehensive policy review (TCPR) of operational activities for development of the UN system (of 17 December 2004), requested the funds and programmes and specialized agencies "to implement "joint offices."

Building on the TCPR, the UN Secretary-General in 2006 tasked a High Level Panel, a group of heads of state and policy makers, to examine ways to strengthen the UN’s ability to respond to the challenges of the 21st Century. The creation of “One UN pilots” was a result of the recommendations by the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence.

Following the launch of the Panel’s Report in November 2006, the Governments of Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam expressed interest to become “One UN pilots,” agreeing to pilot different models to “Deliver as One,” based on four common elements: One UN Programme, One Budgetary Framework, One Leader and One Office. In each case, the basic reform model is being adapted to the unique country context, and together pilot countries are testing out ways in which the UN family – with its many and diverse agencies can deliver in a more harmonized and cost-effective manner at the country level.

The One UN Programme in Albania

The goal of the One UN Programme in Albania is to enhance development results and impact by bringing together the comparative advantages of the UN system within a single strategic programme.

Albania’s One UN Programme was signed on 24 October 2007. The Programme’s objective is to better support Albania in achieving its goals as expressed in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, national priorities expressed in the National Strategy for Development and Integration and the Integrated Planning System, as well as the programmes of international partners, and harmonization and aid effectiveness in the context of the Paris Declaration. The ultimate aim of the UN in Albania is to contribute to making a difference in the lives of Albanians

The One UN Programme builds on the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2006 – 2010, agreed between the Government of Albania and UN agencies. Following close consultations with the Government of Albania and other national and international stakeholders and building on priority areas of the UNDAF, it was agreed that under the One UN, impact and development effectiveness will be improved in the following areas:

1. More transparent and accountable governance
2. Greater inclusive participation in public policy and decision-making
3. Increased and more equitable access to quality basic services
4. Regional development to reduce regional disparities
5. Environmentally sustainable development

In all five 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 One UN Programme in Albania includes resident and non-resident UN agencies, funds and programmes that contribute strategically to Albania’s development priorities as outlined in the National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI).

The following UN agencies and funds are participating in the One UN Programme in Albania: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNAIDS, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and non-resident agencies the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

One Budgetary Framework

The One Budgetary Framework is a results oriented tool that allows for joint resource mobilization and tracking of resources. It gives the agreed costed results of the One UN Programme and includes core funds, bilateral donor contributions as well as the funding gap between existing resources and the total cost of the One UN Programme. The Budgetary Framework provides a clear picture of current sources of funding for One UN Programme activities as well as an overview of potential future funding through new modalities to promote coherence. (The framework can be found in the Annex of the One UN Programme Document and is updated on a biannual basis).

Donors to the One UN Programme are encouraged to commit non-earmarked, multi-year funding to a new, pooled instrument known as the One UN Coherence Fund. The Fund is designed to enhance the efficiency of delivery by the United Nations system in Albania by streamlining, simplifying and increasing the harmonization and predictability of resource flows. The Fund will finance top strategic priorities of the One UN Programme, as determined jointly by the Government, the UN Resident Coordinator and participating UN Agencies.

Nationally Owned with One Leader

The One UN Programme is implemented in a collaborative manner under the strategic leadership of the Government of Albania and the UN Resident Coordinator. The Government Modernization Committee, within the Council of Ministers, is providing policy oversight and strategic direction to the One UN Programme. A joint Government – UN executive committee will ensure ongoing management and coordination of the One UN Programme. The committee is co-chaired by the Director of the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination, within the Council of Ministers, and the UN Resident Coordinator, who, together with the Participating Agencies, decide on One UN Coherence Fund allocations.

The UN Resident Coordinator provides strategic leadership, bringing together relevant analytical capacities, and developing synergies among the various UN assets and mandates. The Resident Coordinator provides ongoing guidance and support to UN Participating Agencies, including mobilization of additional resources.

One UN House

The establishment of a One UN House is critical to achieving greater UN coherence in Albania. Currently, UN agencies are housed in six separate locations in Tirana. The Government of Albania has proposed a building and the UN is assessing its suitability. It is estimated that there will be at least 100 staff sharing the new One UN House.

A One UN House allows the UN system to reduce costs. The UN is also harmonizing common services such as security, IT, travel, banking, administrative and financial procedures including procurement. When UN agencies are in One House, UN coordination and internal communications also become easier.

There are currently 60 UN Houses around the world. Their establishment is overseen by the UN Development Group (UNDG) Working Group on Common Premises. To find out more, please visit their Web site.