» UNESCO at a Glance

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded in November 1945 and currently has 193 Member States, and six Associate Members. Its fields of competence are Education, Natural Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information. UNESCO operates as a laboratory of ideas and as a standard-setter and catalyst for international cooperation. It strengthens capacity building in its Member States and serves as a clearinghouse for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge.

UNESCO in Albania

Albania became an official Member State of UNESCO in August 1959.

UNESCO UN Reform /UN MDGs /One UN in Albania

UNESCO is contributing to the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In Albania, special attention is centred on the following MDGs: Achieving universal primary education; Promoting gender equality and empowering women; Ensuring Environmental Sustainability; and Developing a global partnership for development.

Education

UNESCO is involved in the ongoing and long term project, Promoting Quality Education for All: Human rights and democracy education in Albania. The expected result is to increase awareness of local teachers and educators in human rights and democracy education with the use of manuals and Interactive materials.

Natural Sciences

Within the framework of supporting national strategies of the Government of Albania towards the strengthening of science, technology and innovation governance, consultations between the Cabinet of the Deputy Prime-Minister of Albania, the Ministry of Education and Science and UNESCO-BRESCE have taken place.

UNESCO has initiated a project aiming at enhancing capacities of institutions and actors involved in the governance of water resources in Albania, based on the development and implementation of Knowledge Basis (commonly agreed DSS) for more effective integrated water management activities.

UNESCO, together with UNDP and UNEP-GEF, is involved in the Project Preparation Phase (to be concluded in June 2009) of the full-size GEF Regional project on the: “Protection and Sustainable use of the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System”. Albania is one of the beneficiary countries of this project, together with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro.

Culture

The joint inscription of both the historical Albanian cities of Berat and Gjirokastër on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list is a remarkable example of the osmosis of human civilization and cultural diversity. Both cities are distinct yet similar-two faces of the same coin and the double inscription underlines Albanian cultural identity.

Promoting the cultural heritage of Berat and Gjirokastër is one the priorities of the UN Joint Project `Culture and Heritage for Social and Economic Development`, implemented by UNESCO and UNDP within the framework of the Programme on Culture and Development of the Spain-UNDP Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund. The programme aims to preserve, protect and promote Albania’s cultural heritage and support Albania`s participation in the Alliance of Civilizations. The joint project focuses on the promotion of cultural tourism and aims at creating added values for the heritage sites of Albania.

A centre for restoration and conservation of monuments has been equipped in Tirana, to foster capacity building and support for Albanian technicians and specialists. During its first year of operation, the Centre has organized and conducted numerous specialized courses.

UNESCO is also promoting enhanced cooperation and intercultural and inter-religious dialogue for the preservation of cultural diversity in Albania.

Related Documents

National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015 - ENG - August 2009

National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015 - ALB - August 2009