TIRANA TIMES
TIRANA, April 12 – On International Roma Day last week, the United Nations announced further support to Roma communities in Albania with the implementation of a new project, “Empowering Vulnerable Local Communities of Albania.”
The new joint intervention, part of the One UN Program in Albania, will be implemented by UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNV in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. The intervention will last for three years and has a total budget of 2.7 million dollars.
The new program seeks to assist the most marginalized Roma and Egyptian communities and contribute to their social integration while valuing their diversity. It will support the participation of vulnerable communities in local decision-making – through identification of priorities and preparation of Community Development Plans and implementation of development works.
Assistance will go to enable the targeted communities to access their rights, particularly access to public services- through civil registration; community policing; establishing and strengthening network of Roma mediators in areas of health, education, and child protection as well facilitating vocational training and employment.
The program will also aim to promote policies and institutional strengthening for social inclusion of vulnerable communities – through – capacity building and assistance to local and central government institutions; capacity building and partnership strengthening for Roma and Egyptian NGOs.
The project will be implemented in four Albanian regions: Tirana, Elbasan, Fier and Durres.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Albania G
