Management Response

: Albania
: 2022 - 2025 , Albania (CO)
: Mid-term evaluation of UN JP “Leave No One Behind” -Phase 2
:
: Albania
:

The Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) of the UN Joint Programme “Leave No One Behind” phase II (LNB2) In Albania provides a solid basis for the strategic decision-making of the programme. The evaluation was conducted by a team of independent experts, one international and one national, in accordance with the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation. The evaluation process was well managed by UNDP Albania and considered a close involvement of all UN partner agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, and UNFPA), the donor, as well as other stakeholders.

: Approved
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 1. Develop a Comprehensive Sustainability Strategy in Preparation for a Potential Third “consolidation” Phase. As the LNB programme approaches the end of its second phase, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the sustainability of its achievements and focus further on what is strategic for the sustainability of the social protection system in preparation for the possible third phase. The strategy should outline clear roles and responsibilities for the government, local authorities, and other stakeholders in taking over programme activities, particularly in scaling up successful models and ensuring financial and operational sustainability.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. LNB2 will develop a sustainability strategy to ensure the long-term impact of investments, focusing on scaling successful practices. The programme will continue supporting the partners in adopting the tools, knowledge products, and methodologies that enhance central and local capacity, improve services, and promote transparency, citizen participation and good governance. The activities in the last year of programme implementation will also focus on consolidation of partnerships and integration of project results into national and local policies and practices. Focus will be set on aspects of sustainability financing at the local and national level
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
1.1 As part of the implementation strategy for the LNB3 programme document, develop an exit strategy to capitalize on lessons learned and experiences, along with key activities needed to ensure transferability and sustainability of interventions. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Initiated
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 2. Strengthen collaboration and build synergies with EU initiatives. To maximize the impact of the LNB programme, it is essential to strengthen collaboration with EU-funded social inclusion and protection projects and align its activities with the broader EU accession process. This includes fostering partnerships with EU institutions and programmes to ensure complementarity, avoid duplication, and build on best practices. Specific attention should be given to ensuring that LNB initiatives are aligned with key EU frameworks, such as the EU Gender Acquis, to support Albania in meeting its commitments on gender equality and inclusivity as part of its social protection reforms. These efforts will contribute to harmonized and impactful reforms in Albania’s social protection system, supporting its EU integration goals.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. The recommendation is highly relevant and important in the context of developments in the EU accession process and in parallel with the elaboration of the new UN Cooperation Framework for Albania 2027-2031, which will be fully aligned to Albania’s reform agenda for EU accession. By fostering closer relations with EU and other international partners' initiatives, LNB can leverage shared resources and expertise to ensure complementarity, avoid duplication and use best practices to achieve more effective and sustainable results. The activities of the LNB program will be aligned with the broader EU accession process and key EU frameworks, such as the EU for Social Policy; EU acquis on gender equality, to ensure that the program supports Albania's progress in meeting its commitments in various areas such as: on gender equality, children’s rights and social protection reforms.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Coherence
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
2.1 Actively engage in the Integrated Policy Management Group (IPMG) on Human Capital Development and in two thematic groups on: Social Protection and Marginalized Groups thematic groups within the staying informed and contributing to the integrated policy dialogue and further leverage the dialogue with other strategic partners on this governmental led platform on policy dialogue UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Initiated
2.2 Organize regular meetings with other programmes in the area of social inclusion and protection or related areas supported by the EU or other International Partners to coordinate efforts, prevent duplication, and promote synergies and leverage. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Initiated In the view of the next phase, identify some areas for regular dialogue and coordination
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 3. Focus on Unfinished Businesses and Support Left-Behind Municipalities. While the programme has achieved significant results, there remain municipalities and populations that are left behind in terms of social care access and service provision. The final phase should focus on piloting innovative models and mechanisms to address these gaps, especially in rural and remote areas. The LNB2 programme should prioritize ensuring that all municipalities, particularly those lagging behind, are supported in developing inclusive social care services, ensuring no one is left without access to needed services. The programme should focus on reaching out to those still left out (individuals, VG, LGUs) by exploring and pilot testing further models / mechanisms to address priority systemic issues. Focus on piloting innovative, child care reform, gender-sensitive social care models in rural areas to address the unique challenges faced by women and girls, particularly those in marginalized communities.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. PUNOs acknowledge the critical need for continued support in rural and remote areas to ensure equitable access to social services for vulnerable populations and are fully committed to assisting marginalized communities in developing inclusive social care systems that meet their specific needs. The third phase of the program will prioritize exploring gender-sensitive models of social care and testing innovative solutions to address systemic challenges, with a strong emphasis on expanding the reach, accessibility, and effectiveness of services, particularly in rural and remote areas.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
3.1 Use the results of the nationwide social services mapping analysis to identify potential municipalities for future action under LNB3, guiding resource allocation and strategy development to enhance social service coverage for vulnerable populations. Based on these findings, establish criteria for selecting municipalities that would benefit most from an integrated approach and targeted support, particularly for children and families living in poverty and facing exclusion. Utilize the existing analytical work of participating agencies to join forces in selecting municipalities. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/09 Initiated
3.2 Organize consultation meetings with relevant structures and decision-makers from the most underserved municipalities to explore opportunities for expanding future interventions in these areas. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 4. Strengthen the Social Fund to Ensure Financial Sustainability of Social Care Services. The sustainability of social care services at the local level hinges on the adequacy, predictability, and equitable distribution of funding through the Social Fund. The programme should continue to work with the government to reform the Social Fund, ensuring that it is not only adequately resourced and strategically used but also designed to address the imbalances between municipalities. Currently, the competitive nature of the Social Fund may disadvantage less-developed municipalities with lower capacities. Introducing an equity dimension to the fund would ensure that all municipalities, regardless of their starting point, have fair access to the necessary resources. This equity dimension should include gender-sensitive criteria to ensure that funding prioritizes services addressing the needs of women and girls, particularly those in marginalized communities, with disabilities and in rural areas.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. PUNOs recognize the crucial role of the Social Fund in ensuring the financial sustainability of social care services at the local level. They are committed to support a more equitable and sustainable social care system that fosters the long-term development of municipalities across Albania. This includes advocating for greater transparency in the distribution of the Social Fund and addressing the specific needs of elderly, people with disabilities and marginalized women, children, Roma, Egyptians and rural communities. The LNB will support relevant public institutions in assessing the functionality, efficiency, and effectiveness of current funding systems in relation to local needs and in ensuring that they are gender sensitive. Focus on the support to local social fund are initiated and working simultaneously with the central level is critical. Building further on this work and on lesson learnt and insights will serve as the basis for designing Phase 3 of the LNB program.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
4.2 Continue technical assistance to the MHSP to improve the functioning of the gender-sensitive funding mechanism so that it adequately addresses the imbalances between municipalities. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2026/06 Initiated
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 5. Strengthen Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Holistic Support. To provide comprehensive and integrated support for vulnerable populations, the LNB2 programme should promote stronger collaboration between sectors such as health, education, and social protection and employment. This approach will ensure that services are aligned to address the multifaceted needs of marginalized groups. The programme should pilot integrated service delivery models that combine health and social care services, particularly targeting the elderly, people with disabilities, women (particularly those from traditionally marginalized communities such as Roma and Egyptians, women with disabilities, and rural women) and other vulnerable groups.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. The participating UN agencies will support the national partners in strengthening collaboration among sectors such as health, education, social protection and employment. PUNOs commit to further disseminate and expand integrated service delivery models at the local level that link health and social care services, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities and marginalized women, children, Roma, Egyptians and rural communities. This approach will ensure comprehensive and coordinated support for those most in need.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Efficiency
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
5.1 Ensure that the formulation and consultation process of the new phase places particular emphasis on collaborative and integrated approaches among partner institutions . UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/02 Overdue-Not Initiated
5.2 Support MHSP to lead the coordination of actions with line Ministries in the area of health, employment, education in support to accelerate the inter sectorial and integrated models of service delivery UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Initiated
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 6. Strengthen the Role of NARUs in Social Service Delivery. The LNB2 programme should continue to focus on strengthening NARUs and ensuring their full functionality across all municipalities. This includes providing technical assistance, capacity building, and ensuring sustainable funding for these units to perform their critical role in service delivery.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. UNICEF Albania has been advocating with municipalities and MoHSP for the establishment of the NARU through technical support to conceptualize the system. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, UNICEF is planning to provide technical assistance to 15 municipalities to support them in establishing these structures, provision of guidance and mentoring and establish a training package that could be used to further scale up the establishment and functioning of these structures as gateways to the provision of integrated social care services Continuing supporting the establishment and functioning of the NARU is both strategic and a key sustainability factor in line with the new NSP strategy, accelerating the integration of three systems/ reforms: cash assistance, disability and social care services at the local level.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness
Key Actions
Key Action not added.
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 7. PUNOs acknowledge the importance and relevance of continue efforts to professionalize the Social Care Workforce. Enhancing the professionalism and integrity of the social care workforce is crucial for ensuring high-quality service delivery and public accountability and sustainability of social services. The programme should continue investing in the professionalization of social care staff by strengthening continuous education systems and supporting the development of accreditation and qualification frameworks. Partnerships with universities and professional bodies like the Order of Social Workers, ASCAP should be further developed to institutionalize professional development and maintain high standards in social service delivery.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. The PUNOs recognize that the sustainability of social services depends on a well-trained and motivated workforce. The programme will continue to invest in the professionalization of the social services workforce by strengthening training systems and supporting the development of accreditation and qualification frameworks. PUNOs are committed to further developing partnerships with Academia and professional bodies to institutionalize professional development and maintain high standards in the delivery of social services. These efforts will contribute to a more effective and sustainable social care system.
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Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Not applicable
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
7.1 Continue collaborating with academic institutions like the Albanian Faculties of Social Sciences (social work departments) and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts to strengthen the social workforce’s capacity, covering both, service skills and management of policies UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Not Initiated
7.2 Partner with professional bodies to institutionalize professional development. Collaborate on continuous education with the Order of Social Workers, the Agency on Quality and SSS, and work with ASCAP to enhance the professional skills of assistant teachers for children with disabilities. UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: Evaluation recommendation 8. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are essential actors in the provision of specialized social care services and advocacy for vulnerable populations. The LNB2 programme should focus on enhancing the systemic role of CSOs by supporting the diversification of funding sources, strengthening their capacity to sustainably manage social services, promoting constituency building, conducting advocacy actions, and encouraging volunteerism, which are crucial for ensuring long-term sustainability and community engagement. The programme should also work towards formalizing partnerships between municipalities and CSOs through structured contracts and agreements, ensuring that CSOs are recognized as integral service providers within the social care system. Furthermore, the programme should engage in policy dialogue to advocate for improvements in the procurement law, facilitating easier and more transparent engagement of CSOs in delivering social services at the local level. Also, the programme should support the oversight role of CSOs clearly defining their roles in monitoring and evaluating policy reforms and service standards, ensuring transparency and alignment with the needs of vulnerable populations.
Management Response: Management response: Fully accepted. The UN PUNOs recognize the critical role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in providing specialized social care services and advocating for vulnerable populations and are committed to supporting the continuation and consolidation of past efforts in this area. Strengthening CSOs' capacity, enhancing their role in service delivery, and ensuring their long-term sustainability are priorities that must be addressed. PUNOs plan to implement this recommendation through targeted training to improve CSOs' ability to manage and deliver services effectively, ensuring sustainable service delivery. Additionally, PUNOs will encourage CSOs to engage communities through constituency building and volunteerism to foster local ownership and participation. Efforts will also focus on formalizing partnerships between municipalities and CSOs through structured contracts, recognizing CSOs as key service providers within the social care system. Furthermore, the programme will advocate for improvements to public procurement law to facilitate the transparent and effective involvement of CSOs in local service delivery.
More detail
Description:
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Not applicable
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
8.1 The formulation and consultation process of the new phase will benefit from the full and meaningful participation of CSOs representing different vulnerable groups and constituencies. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/05 Not Initiated
8.2 Ensure that the new phase project documents foresee specific interventions for strengthening capacities of CSOs and their role in social service delivery. UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA 2025/12 Not Initiated