Current UNV Activities Empowering Vulnerable Communities in Albania Many Roma and Egyptians living in Albania are politically, socially and economically marginalized. It is estimated that as much as 80% of the Roma community live below the poverty line. For these vulnerable communities, poverty is multidimensional, extreme and chronic. Drawing upon the organizations strength in community empowerment and mobilization, UNV Albania is working with UNDP, UNRC, Regional Environmental Center, Terre des Hommes, Tirana Legal Aid Services, Albanian Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross and local and national Government to respond to the needs of these minority groups. The current two year project “Empowering the Vulnerable Communities of Albania: Support to the Implementation of the National Strategy for Improving Roma Living Conditions” runs from April 2008 to April 2010 and has a budget of 846,438 US Dollars. The programme is supporting the Government of Albania in the implementation of the National Strategy for Improving Roma Living Conditions and its inclusion within the region wide Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015). Implemented in the regions of Tirana, Elbasan and Fier, this project is the pre-cursor to the joint One UN programme that will partner UNV and UNDP with UNHCR, UNFPA and UNICEF. The current project aims to empower vulnerable communities in Albania to become active citizens and works with local authorities and the communities themselves to improve basic service delivery and local living conditions. UNV volunteers are sharing their knowledge and expertise as Local Community Development Officers and are partnered with Community Exchange Workers in each of our three project areas. The UNV team is working with local community groups, who will coordinate activities on the ground in the areas of civil registration (to ensure access to social services) and community infrastructure development. This will give individuals the opportunity to become change makers within their own communities, making ‘in kind’ voluntary contributions towards the community’s goals. To learn more about the UNDP/UNV project, you can download the project document and related background information here To learn more about the One UN joint programme, visit the One UN Albania website here For more information contact Fran Deans, UNV Programme Officer, fran.deans@undp.org Partnering Private Sector Skills to Development Needs  The Corporate/Private Sector Programme gives current and retired management executives and professionals the opportunity to pass on their invaluable expertise in the service of national development in Albania. Engaged as volunteers under the programme, individuals provide short-term advisory services to UNV clients, which include small to medium scale enterprises, trade and industry groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as national policy makers and institutions working to strengthen private sector development. The programme aims to create jobs, raise production efficiency, support socio-economic growth, promote environmental protection, introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the private sector and aid national market expansion. Volunteers serving as part of this scheme are recruited from an extensive network of private sector partners, professional and retiree associations. They bring with them a wide range of skills and technical expertise in areas such as: project planning; engineering; financial management; industrial design; product development; food processing; marketing; quality control; information and communication technology (ICT); and waste management. Volunteer advisory missions last from between one to two weeks up to a maximum of three months. In general, their mission expenses (airfare, insurance, accommodation and visa) are covered by the sponsoring companies or organization. Clients cover local transportation costs and interpretation fees if needed. Most volunteers that come to Albania as part of the initiative are Italian nationals recruited via the Italian-based organisation Volontari Senior Professionali (VSP). These volunteers are retired professionals fully-funded by the Government of Italy.   Case Studies from Recent Missions
Improving Standards in Coffee Production In April 2008, with the support of Kraft Foods, Mete Bruncaj and Lucia Weber from the company’s Tarrytown, USA and Banbury, UK branches volunteered for two weeks with the Albanian coffee company Kresha Prod. Shpk, based in Tirana. During their assignment the volunteers shared their knowledge and skills in coffee production. Specific areas of cooperation concerned quality control and food safety. During their mission, the volunteers also developed a new expresso blend and integrated flavour referencing procedures within the production process to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage for the coffee company within the Albanian and Kosovan markets. In photo: Kraft volunteers Mete Bruncaj and Lucia Weber, and a Kresha employee
Creating a Positive Learning Environment In October 2007, architect Vittorio Baracca lent his support to the municipality of Rreshen, in Mirdita district. The aim of the volunteer mission was to assist the municipality, representatives of Rreshen High School, local architects and draftsmen to design a plan for a new school. The new school complex will be invaluable in providing students with the modern facilities and enriching educational environment they need. Features of the planned new school include a spacious library, science laboratory and sports ground. In addition, Mr Baracca provided specialized vocational training to local architects who were to be involved in the school’s construction. In photo: architect Vittorio Baracca working in Rreshen High School.
Preserving Cultural Heritage and Promoting Urban Development In October 2007, urban planning specialist Piero Rovigatti undertook a volunteer mission to Qender Libohove, in Gjirokastra to support the development of an urbanization plan and train local architects and specialists on its implementation. The region has been inhabited for over 2000 years and is home to some of Albania’s greatest archaeological treasures. This includes the remains of the Amphitheatre of Adrianopolis, castles, churches, aqueducts and bridges. At the end of the mission a ten year urbanization plan was formalized to preserve the rich heritage of Qender Libohove whilst harnessing its development potential. The ten year urbanization plan identifies the ideal location for new roads and suitable areas for dairy production, markets, shops, warehouses, residential and office buildings. Through modernizing the area in this way, it is hoped that the quality of agricultural yields will be improved allowing products to be sold across Albania. In addition, the urbanisation plan is hoped to do much to encourage a growth in tourism in the region. In photo: urban planning specialist Piero Rovigatti during his mission in 2007.
Ensuring Energy Needs and Safe-Guarding the Environment In November 2007, energy specialist Luciano Ferri travelled to Albania to offer his voluntary assistance to A. G. Elektroproject and other companies that work in the energy sector. Electricity provides 90% of all Albania’s energy needs. The energy industry is working to meet the increased demand for supply and ensure the reliability of supply as the country’s development gains momentum. A key component in this process has been updating old infrastructure to improve service delivery and ensure the sector is in line with European guidelines on energy saving, safety and environmental protection. During his stay Mr. Luciano Ferri provided management expertise and up-dated energy companies on new electrical facilities and equipment. He also discussed the best approach to import, distribute and market these products in Albania. In photo: energy specialist Luciano Ferri during a training for energy companies in 2007.
Capitalizing upon Albania’s Tourism Potential In September 2007, tourism specialist Giorgio Spinelli volunteered with the Albanian National Tourism Organization (ANTO) following a request to help organize four seminars for people working in the Albanian tourism industry. Albania has considerable tourism potential with an abundance of natural beauty spots and a host of archaeological and historical sites which could attract thousands of tourists annual. Developing this sector is seen as key to the country’s development, generating new jobs and supporting rural development. The seminars advised participants on modern tourism standards and how best to promote tourism in Albania. Three seminars were organized in Tirana and one in Pogradec. In photo(left to right): Luan Pustina, tourism specialist Giorgio Spinelli, and a representative of The Albanian National Tourism Organization in 2007.
Would you like to request volunteer services? If so, please complete a volunteer request form outlining information on your field of activity, organizations structure, current staffing and marketing situation. We will then endeavor to recommend candidates from our network of partners. Once you have completed the request form, or if you would like more information, please get in touch with UNV at the Tirana Office. Fran Deans, UNV Albania Programme Officer, fran.deans@undp.org Blerina Gjeka, UNV Albania Country Operations Assistant, blerina.gjeka@undp.org Promoting Youth Volunteerism in the Model UN Programme Model UN is a participatory and informative method for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn more about global issues and the role and functions of the United Nations. Students participating in the 2008 Model UN programme in Albania will take part in a local volunteer activity. UNV will work with participating schools to help them define a small-scale volunteer project in their school or community. In this way, UNV hopes to promote the values of volunteerism among students, and raise awareness of the benefits of civic engagement as a healthy source of effective development. The Model UN programme provides an authentic simulation of the activities of a UN body such as the General Assembly and its committees or the Security Council or other body. Participants assume the roles of diplomatic representatives to the UN and are faced with the challenging and stimulating task of working on items from the UN system’s vast agenda. Through Model UN, youth have the opportunity to work together and widen their views and minds as they, through their assumed roles, approach problems from alternative angles. The Model UN therefore provides an opportunity to contribute towards enhanced understanding and skills in peace-building, championing the crucial ideals of human rights and equality in society. To read more about the programme, why not read the latest Model UN Newsletter at the UNDP website?   Past UNV Activities   Fostering Regional Confidence through Community Mobilization The UNDP/UNV project Regional Integration through Volunteers Exchanges for Reconciliation in South East Europe successfully fostered regional integration, social cohesion and poverty reduction through the promotion of volunteerism and community mobilization. The initiative, which ran from 2005 to 2007 made a positive contribution towards building regional confidence and connected people and governments throughout the Balkans following the recent social, political and economic upheavals. Through regional volunteer exchanges UNV was able to strengthen communication networks that promote volunteerism and community mobilization as an invaluable tool in sustainable local development. Volunteers who joined the initiative developed the organizational and coordination capacity of local community groups, providing them with the tools to drive their own development. While responding to local needs the initiative built the capacity of implementing partner organizations within which the volunteers served, to identify, mobilize, manage and retain a large volunteer workforce. In addition, the project worked to raise the profile and visibility of the partner organizations. At the initiatives conclusion in 2007, UNV Albania was proud to have strengthened the capacities of volunteer involving organizations that were fully recognized nationally for their invaluable contribution towards civil society development through community mobilization and the skillful management of volunteers. The project was designed and implemented by UNDP/UNV in close partnership with European Union (EU)/European Voluntary Service (EVS), Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO), OneWorld and South Eastern European Youth Network (SEEYN). A Case Study from the Project Themi Mile,a 22 two year old Albanian from Tirana spent three months working voluntarily in Vukovar, Croatia from December 2006 to February 2007. During his time in Croatia Themi worked for a local NGO. He was in charge of organizing activities and courses for Roma children, offering informal education to help motivate them in their schooling.   Promoting Environmental Awareness in Albania through Volunteerism The UNV/Regional Environmental Center (REC) project Promoting MDG 7 principles in Albania through Awareness and Volunteerism ran from 2005 to 2007. The initiative raised awareness of the need for sustainable development in order to safeguard environmental resources, as stated in the seventh of the Millennium Development Goals.This entailed ensuring a better understanding of the principles of sustainable development both regionally and locally by promoting the interconnected relationship between communities and their natural environment. The project worked with high schools around the country to promote the natural environment and the Millennium Development Goals. Students were involved in preparing posters and writing essays inspired by the MDG 7 principles, calling for environmentally sustainable development. They also took part in tree planting ceremonies within their local communities. Along with ensuring greater understanding of environmental issues, the project held a series of local forums throughout the country to ensure that sustainable development is integrated into regional and local level development planning. This involved working with a range of local stakeholders including NGOs, local authorities and research institutions. During this process some regions placed a specific focus upon ecotourism planning that sought to both make effective use of zones of particular natural beauty and contribute towards regional economic growth.   UNV Support to Local Governance Programme in Albania Between 2002 and 2004 UNV partnered with UNDP's Local Governance Programme to integrate volunteerism within local development planning. Working in partnership with local government, UNV directly supported the project by building the capacity of community based organizations and advising local government on policy development. A central theme running throughout this project was promoting the integral role that volunteerism plays in social mobilization practices. UNV supported the ongoing process of decentralization and democratization in Albania with a 458.696 US Dollars pledge to the UNDP Local Governance Programme. By partnering with the programme, UNV directly supported the process of decentralization and was ideally placed to integrate volunteerism into local development planning. During the project, 26 UNV volunteers, 17 national and 9 international, served in some of the poorest communes and municipalities in the regions of Kukes, Gjirokaster and Fier. Supporting greater transparency and participatory methods of development planning, UNV volunteers facilitated dialogue between local and regional government in the sharing of information, skills and best practices. In all, 126 community based organizations were set up to support local development projects, mainly in the construction of local infrastructure and healthcare services.