One UN in Albania

The ‘One UN’ concept builds on the existing reform agenda of the United Nations and increases the coherence and effectiveness of its operations at the country level, UNDAF being one of the instruments used to achieve this objective. The ‘Delivering as One’ initiative was launched in eight pilot countries in 2008.

At the request of the Government, Albania was selected as one of the countries for the pilot programme. The request shows that the country strongly supports the strategic alignment and coordination of external assistance. Today, 80 per cent of the UN’s work in the country, involving 14 UN agencies, takes place in the context of ‘One UN’.

In June, the Government of Albania signed an amendment to the ‘One UN’ programme, including UNIDO as a full-fledged programme member. Europe and NIS Programme has established close cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator’s office and the Governmentof Albania. Work will concentrate on the establishment of an NCPC, for which the programme document was signed in July. Funding will be provided by the One UN Coherence Fund. Another potential area of UNIDO intervention is the introduction of EU standards to increase competitiveness in trade, as part of an inter-agency initiative to boost trade and productive capacities.