World Bank supports gender equality in Albania

TIRANA, June 24 – The World Bank Office in Tirana announced the winners of the Civil Society Fund for 2011– which focused the program for 2011 on gender equality, especially with regard to the empowerment of the marginalized and vulnerable groups in Albania. It promoted equal access to education, social protection, and health services. In terms of disparities in socio-economic opportunities, labor market, and property rights, the project aimed at empowerment of women– especially those from marginalized groups, those with disabilities, and Roma women. Awareness of gender stereotypes and gender relations was encouraged by involving the men and boys in the activities, advocating and monitoring the implementation of gender-related legislation, community awareness on gender equality as well as domestic violence. Around sixty project-proposals were carefully reviewed by the External Evaluation Committee and 11 winning projects were selected. The total amount available for this year’s program was $60,000 and the geographical distribution of winning projects covers almost all regions of the country.