Browse Ageing Policies

The National Employment and Skills Strategy 2023–2030 aims to enhance skills development, ensure decent employment for all, and align the labor market with sustainable development goals. Key institutions involved include the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES), Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), and Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE). Stakeholders include employers, educational institutions, and international organizations like the EU and World Bank. This strategy targets the entire Albanian population, with a focus on youth, older persons, women, and vulnerable groups. It covers national and sectoral levels, impacting sectors like tourism, IT, energy, and agriculture. The strategy is divided in three different policy goals: (1) Skills Development, which focused on reducing skills mismatch, upskilling both men and women, and improving the overall functioning of the labor market; (2) Inclusive Employment, which aims to implement programs and services that support employment for all, ensuring decent work conditions and competitive salaries, and (3) Lifelong Training, with the objective of promoting continuous education and training opportunities to enhance employability and adaptability in the workforce. It aims to improve work quality, reduce informality, and increase productivity. Implementation involves monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and financial resources allocation. The strategy is set for 2023-2030.

The National Action Plan on Ageing 2020–2024 for Albania addresses the rapid demographic changes and the absence of a traditional system of care for older persons aims in the country by aiming to integrate older persons into society, provide quality services, and ensure a healthy, productive life in alignment with EU guidelines for Life-Long Healthy Ageing. The plan has been spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP), with the support of the UNFPA and other stakeholders. The plan identifies three policy priorities, namely Protection and Social Inclusion, Integrated Social and Health Services, and Health/Welfare Promotion and Raising the Awareness of Society. Under each priority, the plan sets out different policy aims, such as improve pensions, access to public transport, housing, and health and social care services for older persons, while recognizing the need for improved legislation, resources, and awareness to support the ageing population effectively. The plan foresees different monitoring mechanisms, that will be led by a thematic group focused on social inclusion, which will operate within the Integrated Policy Management Group (GIMP), will lead monitoring efforts. The implementation framework spans from 2020 to 2024.

The policy aims to support the integration, quality of life, and active and healthy ageing of older persons in Albania, respecting their human rights and dignity. The policy is developed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with other stakeholders, and covers all older persons in Albania, aged 60 and over, and their families and caregivers. The policy addresses the challenges and opportunities of ageing, such as health, social care, social protection, social inclusion, participation, and empowerment. The policy has four cross-sectoral strategic objectives and 25 specific actions. The actions cover areas such as health promotion, disease prevention, long-term care, social assistance, pensions, employment, education, culture, sports, participation, and advocacy. The policy is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with a steering committee, a technical secretariat, and a monitoring and evaluation system. The policy aims to have positive impacts on the well-being, autonomy, and rights of older persons in Albania, and on the social and economic development of the country. The policy is aligned with the national and international frameworks and commitments on ageing, such as MIPAA, the SDGs, and the EU policies and programmes. The policy has a duration of four years, from 2020 to 2024.

The Social Enterprise Support Fund has the primary objective to support the development and expansion of social enterprises, particularly those employing individuals from disadvantaged groups. This includes subsidizing activities, creating new jobs, and covering social and health insurance costs. The fund is managed by the government of Albania, namely the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with additional support from donors and international financial institutions. Key stakeholders include social enterprises and disadvantaged groups. The fund targets social enterprises across Albania, focusing on sectors that employ disadvantaged individuals. It aims to create new job opportunities and support the sustainability of social enterprises. Key features of the fund include subsidies for social enterprise activities up to 135,000,000 ALL. The fund also includes job creation subsidies up to 100,000 ALL per new job, with a maximum of 20 new jobs per enterprise. Additionally, there are social and health insurance subsidies up to 100% coverage for employees from disadvantaged groups, which include older employees. With regards to implementation, payments are made in two installments (70% upon approval and 30% upon project completion). Social enterprises must submit a business plan and meet specific conditions, such as hiring at least three new employees from disadvantaged groups within 12 months. The policy was adopted for the period 2019–2021.

The law aims to support the well-being and social inclusion of individuals and families in need of social care, respecting their human rights and dignity. The law is developed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and covers all individuals and families in need of social care in Albania, especially older persons aged 60 and over. The law addresses the challenges and opportunities of aging, such as health, social care, social protection, social inclusion, participation, and empowerment. The law determines the types, benefits, and facilities of social care services, the conditions and procedures to access them, and the role and responsibilities of public and non-public bodies that provide them. The law defines four types of social care services: residential, community, pre-social, and homecare services. The law also establishes specialized, telephone, or online consulting services for specific categories of beneficiaries. The law is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with a steering committee, a technical secretariat, and a monitoring and evaluation system. The law is aligned with the national and international frameworks and commitments on aging, such as the Madrid Plan, the SDGs, and the EU policies and programs. The law was adopted in 2016.