Sector Budget Support – EU support to Social Inclusion
Government of Albania/Ministry of Economy
Beneificiaries: Youth, men and women with a special focus on Roma and Egyptians, disability and other disadvantaged backgrounds.
17.12.2020 - 16.12.2025
Overall Objective
The overall objective is to expand coverage, inclusiveness, effectiveness and emergency responsiveness of social care services, pre-university education and employment opportunities for youth and adults in Albania, including populations at risk of exclusion. The specific objectives are:
a) Improving accessibility and quality of integrated social care services at the local level;
b) Promote social inclusion in employment and employability for youth, men and women;
c) Enhance inclusive quality learning and promote educational attainment in pre-university education for all girls and boys – with a special focus on Roma and Egyptians, disability and
other disadvantaged backgrounds.
Summary of the Project
The Sector Reform Contract (SRC) “EU Support to Social Inclusion” supports the implementation of the National Employment and Skills Strategy 2019-2022 and the National Social Protection Strategy 2020-2023 and their respective Action Plans with a total budget of EUR 70.65 million. The action responds to the crisis situation caused by COVID 19 through targeted measures in the social protection and employment sectors, in order to preserve employability and ensure protection of vulnerable groups.
The SRC comprises:
a) a EUR 50,65 million budget support programme;
b) complementary technical assistance for a total of up to EUR 8,7 million to support the implementation of the social protection and employment;
c) grant scheme for a total of EUR 11,3 million through two schemes focusing on municipalities, vulnerable groups and capacity building on inclusive education for teachers.
Activities
Results
To support and accelerate the implementation of the National Strategy on Employment and Skills and for the National Strategy on Social Protection. The main activities to implement the budget support package are policy dialogue, financial transfer, performance assessment, reporting and capacity development:
– Engagement in policy dialogue around conditions and government reform priorities, the verification of conditions, targets and the payment of budget support;
– Transfer of EUR 50.65 million to the beneficiary over fiscal years 2020 to 2024 with disbursements of fixed and variable tranches;
– Continued support to institutional strengthening.
