The programme sets out joint priorities for improving children’s wellbeing, protection and development, with a focus on three areas: care and protection, learning and skills, and governance and accountability for children’s rights.

The first priority aims to reduce child poverty and exclusion and strengthen child protection systems. The second focuses on improving education outcomes and developing skills for life and work.

The governance and accountability pillar seeks to strengthen data, institutions, partnerships and accountability mechanisms to deliver measurable results for children, UNICEF Albania said.

The programme will align UNICEF’s work in Albania with national development priorities and the country’s international commitments, including EU integration, the Sustainable Development Goals and the protection of children’s rights.

UNICEF said the programme aims to ensure that every child in Albania has the opportunity to grow, learn and be protected, with particular attention to the most vulnerable.

Equality, inclusion, stronger systems, innovation and partnerships will underpin efforts to achieve lasting improvements for children in Albania, the agency said.

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This agreement aims to transform the confiscated assets into centers and social premises that promote children’s rights, provide services and opportunities for youth, as well as empower the community in the fight for a more just, equal and inclusive society.

The cooperation foresees the identification and making available of confiscated assets by AAPSK, while UNICEF Albania will provide international expertise, best practices and technical support to transform these assets into functional models that serve social development.

Chief Administrator of AAPSK Risena Xhaja emphasized the significance of this cooperation.

“Today, we take a big step forward in returning confiscated assets to tangible value for children, youth and the entire society. Through this partnership with UNICEF Albania, we not only give a new destination to these assets, but we build spaces where children and youth feel protected, included and empowered. This process is a concrete example of how justice can be transformed into an opportunity for the community”, said Xhaja.

For his part, the representative of UNICEF Albania Murat Sahin noted that this agreement is in line with UNICEF’s commitment to supporting children’s rights in Albania. /p.s./

Under the motto “Every minute counts for children”, Veliaj and Sahin engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing partnership to advance the agenda for children and youth.

“Cyber security, cyber ‘bullying’ and youth empowerment were just some of the issues addressed.

We look forward to jointly addressing all the challenges faced by children and young people in Tirana”, said Veliaj. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

UNICEF notes that social protection is the component with largest share of government spending, accounting for 28.2 % of the 2020 state budget, followed by education with 9.9 % and health system with 9.1%.

According to UNICEF, the three sectors – health, social protection and education – are the government’s top public priorities. UNICEF notes that the allocation of expenditures in each of the three sectors has significantly increased in recent years.

Specifically, expenditures on health increased as part of total public expenditures from 9% in 2010 to 9.1% in 2020, while expenditure on social protection rose 28.2% in 2020 from 28.1% in 2010.

UNICEF estimates that categories of vulnerable children benefit free textbooks, scholarships, transportation, dedicated teachers and other measures that accounted for 7.1 percent of the draft budget in 2019, which is on an increasing trend in recent years.

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“Over the past years, despite paying particular attention to increase the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, we will also guarantee the risk groups the flu vaccine. According to UNICEF, there are more than 200 thousand doses of influenza vaccine expected to arrive in Albania within October and November of this year,” Minister Manastirliu said.

While appreciating the role of UNICEF in all countries part of the Covax instrument to make centralized procurement and distribution of vaccines, Minister Manastirliu said that, “144 thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive within a few weeks in the country thanks to the cooperation with the COVAX instrument. Albania has received or pre-ordered 1 million 140 thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccine.”

The Director of UNICEF’s Supply Division, based in Copenhagen, Etleva Kadilli said that, “the UNICEF headquarters hopes to always be at the disposal of Albania and other countries during the difficult pandemic situation. We hope that soon we will be able to deliver various vaccine doses, be it COVID-19 vaccines, but also flu vaccines.” //a.i/

They talked about the children access to cultural and heritage institutions.

During the meeting, Margariti said that, “The children are the future, so every day we are working to establish sound policies that are specifically dedicated to them.”

“In the meeting with the UNICEF Representative in Albania Roberto De Bernardi, we discussed the possibility of joint projects aimed at the access of children to cultural and heritage institutions; drafting education programs and providing as many services as possible that speak their language “, – underlined Margariti.

Minister Margariti said that the children’s access to culture is an important stone for the formation of the citizens of tomorrow./k.s/j.p/p.s./