What is the programme about?

“Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” programme focuses on catalyzing a step-change in the quantity and quality of delivery at local level of integrated social care, as part of an effective integrated social protection system.  It builds upon the vast experience of the UN in addressing social inclusion, protection and the needs of the most vulnerable groups including Roma, refugees and migrants, persons with disabilities, vulnerable children, elderly, rural women, and women at risk of GBV. The programme supports the implementation of the newly shaped vision of the social sector in Albania, in line with Sustainable Development Goals and the country’s aspirations towards European Union integration. The programme avails of technical expertise and know-how of UN agencies aiming at allowing for greater impact and outreach by focusing on the municipal level and its linkage to the national level.

The programme’s goal – contribute to support Albanian Government translate the policy intent into proper local actions so that men, women, girls and boys living in poverty, or vulnerable situation have access to integrated, quality social care services- supports the vision of an overall inclusive Albania. The joint programme supports Albania’s progress in view of achieving SDGs - being directly related to social protection/inclusion - especially SDGs 1-5 (no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, 10 (reduced inequalities), and 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).

The programme’s target groups who indirectly and directly benefit from improved social care services, are the marginalized populations of Albania, with persons with disabilities often being the most vulnerable, along with Roma and Egyptians as well as children, women, migrant, refugees, long term unemployed etc. The improvement of their social protection is supported by interventions at macro level (central government authorities and national services), at meso level (municipalities and civil society organizations), and at micro level, actively involving the project’s target groups into the project’s implementation. The project covers six selected municipalities. The  programme is implemented through the modalities of the "Delivering as One" mechanism, under the Programme of Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2017-2021, with the joint participation of UN agencies, including UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO and ILO, and in close partnership with relevant governmental bodies at the central and local levels.  UNDP is the lead UN agency for the overall implementation and coordination of the Programme.

What we do?

Output 1.             Integrated social care services, institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms functional with clear roles and responsibilities at local level in 6 municipalities.

Output 2.             Municipal and national institutional capacities strengthened through training and mentoring for the development of social care plans and accessing the Social Fund.

Output 3.             Innovative models of integrated social care services piloted, including established local linkages between health and social protection services.

Output 4.             Vulnerable communities (disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, disability etc.) are empowered to actively participate in decision making and make institutions accountable.

Output 5.             Financing options for extending social protection coverage and benefits developed and assessed at the national and municipality levels.

Output 6.             Joint Programme Managed.

What have we accomplished so far?

UN Joint Programme “Improving Municipal Social Protection Service Delivery” SDG Funded, brought about a range of direct positive changes at system, institutional/ operational and community level – including the direct benefits attained by the target groups of final-user beneficiaries.

The programme builds on the solid policy and legal framework for social inclusion set up via previous UN projects, with the focus of the programme on catalysing a step-change in the quantity and quality of delivery at local (municipal) level of integrated social care, as part of an effective integrated social protection system in Albania. The programme intervention strategy focuses the support for improvement of the social protection/ social care system in select municipalities (a core group of 6 LGUs: Tirana, Kamza, Rrogozhina, Puka, Pogradec and Devoll, and 10 LGUs supported via specific actions) in order to test and demonstrate the results and to generate knowledge and learning to inform local and national policies and systems and support further scaling-up/ replication, in combination with the continued provision of technical advice for completing the national policy.

The programme successfully contributed to support GoA to translate its social protection and social inclusion policy and the relevant legal framework, particularly the Law on Social Care Services, at the municipal level on the design, implementation and management of integrated social services. The programme also supported GoA to further develop its social inclusion policy/ priorities for supporting the inclusion of R&E and also of care service models supporting older persons. The programme institutionalized the cross sectoral model of the integrated health and social care services by bringing together health care and social protection policies and institutions, the development of the relevant components of the National Health Strategy 2021-2030, the design of the framework and model of integrated health and social services, and for defining the role and responsibilities of health and social services institutions into a set of regulations and orders, standards and protocols contributing to a systemic change.

Pilot LGUs (Tirana, Kamza, Rrogozhina, Puka, Pogradec and Devoll) demonstrate improved institutional, organizational, administrative and technical capacities to design, plan, budget, staff, deliver, monitor, and evaluate social care services provision, as well as the interlinking of social care service provision with other components of social protection (particularly cash assistance benefits, child protection, protection of survivors of domestic violence, as well as with employment and social housing policies/ services). The programme’s support for the development of Social Care Plans and capacity building on their implementation with active participation of LGU Social Services and Budget Departments has developed a shared understanding/ vision on the need of linking social protection cash assistance schemes (NE and PAK) with integrated social care services for vulnerable groups at the local level. Three small LGUs (Devoll, Puka, and Rrogozhina) now offer public social care services for the first time in addition to providing “traditional” cash assistance supports. Interviews with municipality staff (e.g. in Pogradec. Puka, and Tirana) also showed an increased cooperation of municipality Social Services with Regional/Local Employment Offices to support final-user clients with employment opportunities as part of the process of the expiry of benefit payments under the NE scheme after 5 years, or as part of the on-going roll-out of reform of the disability assessment system (e.g. reviewing NE and PAK recipients file, their educational level, and potential employment skills to develop through vocational/skills training).

Following the development of the regulatory framework on integrating health and social service delivery, and relevant methodologies, standards and protocols and guided by the priorities set out in the Social Care Plans developed by them in the course of the programme, the pilot LGUs diversified the social care services offer and quality at local level, expanded the beneficiary categories of vulnerable groups as well as service outreach/accessibility in remote rural areas. 6 pilot LGUs and 7 CSOs operating in targeted LGUs territories developed and implemented new services (mobile services, integrated health and social care services, specialized services, home visits) through a multidisciplinary and inter-sectoral approach for a diversity of vulnerable groups categories (persons with disabilities, children with disabilities, older persons, youth, families in need, vulnerable women, R&E, LGBTIQ+) and reached them with mobile services in rural areas also during the lockdown period of COVID-19 (via CSOs).

10,533 vulnerable people have benefited from access to quality integrated social services, which otherwise would have been left behind. To address the multi-dimensional impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups, LGUs were supported through the introduction of new tools and modalities (emergency food and hygiene packages, and humanitarian cash transfers), which supported the multipurpose needs of circa 7,000 vulnerable people during COVID-19. Interviews with LGU staff, CSOs and final-user beneficiaries, as well as reports from the field, provide evidence that the programme improved access to quality integrated social services to vulnerable groups particularly to persons with disabilities (Pogradec, Devoll), children with disabilities (Kamza and Puka), older persons (Rrogozhina), children in street situation, youth, older persons and families in need in rural areas (Tirana) and also LGBTIQ+ people. The beneficiary vulnerable groups particularly children and persons with disabilities and older persons were provided with on-site specialized services, services in families, mobile services in rural areas facilitating their access to the service and saving them additional service and transportation costs for receiving the needed service in bigger urban areas. There were certain rural areas in Puka, Devoll, Pogradec, where adults and children with disabilities received physiotherapy, speech therapy and psychological services for the first time. Families living in remote areas in Mokra, Pogradec and especially older persons living alone had access to mobile health care services during COVID-19 (nurse and medication) through the project implemented by Diakonia Foundation. Older persons in the Administrative Units in Rrogozhina received in-family health care support and medication. Families living in rural areas in Tirana and particularly 488 children in street situation received mobile primary health care and social care services. While the number of beneficiaries supported through the programme is 10,533, it has indirectly and positively impacted all their families, who have received psychological support and counselling and improved the overall psychological wellbeing of families.

Output 1. Integrated social care services institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms functional with clear roles and responsibilities at local level in 6 municipalities.

The Joint Programme supported 6 targeted municipalities (Tirana, Kamza, Rrogozhina, Puka, Pogradec and Devoll) to design guidance note, workflows, protocols and effective mechanisms to implement improved integrated social care services. The achievements of this programme outcome have been implemented hand in hand with those of the second one. Technical assistance has been provided on a set of organizational, managerial and technical knowledge, skills and competences for planning, budgeting and monitoring social care services. 

• The programme supported 6 municipalities to establish adequate processes, workflows, protocols and effective mechanisms to ensure administration of integrated social care services; revise and update terms of reference, job descriptions and responsibilities of the teams and officials for social care services planning and management. 
• Established and made functional Covid 19-related local intersectoral coordination groups on integrated social care services with representation of related public and private local institutions. 
• Facilitated social mobilization campaigns to attract society’s attention on the additional challenges faced by minorities during COVID-19. IMSPSD provided emergency food assistance and hygienic items to 980 households from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
• Through Budget Brief designed for the municipalities of Fushe-Arrez, Rrogozhina, Kamza, Skrapar and Polican, the programme supported the capacities of national, regional and local government relevant units into better planning and managing Social Fund for social care services as part of the overall budget planning and monitoring processes.
• Supported MoHSP develop the new National Action Plan on the Integration of Roma and Egyptians 2021-2025 with a particular focus on integrated social care services.

Output 2. Institutional capacities strengthened through training and mentoring for the development of social care plans and accessing the Social Fund.

The capacities of social care service providers are being enhanced via a number of practical training actions for professional staff, while support is being provided to review or update university curricula on social work (pre-service and in-service skills and qualifications). 

• IMSPSD Joint Programme supported municipalities strengthen their capacities in operationalizing social protection policies at local level by developing and costing social care plans which respond to the needs of vulnerable men and women. New innovative models of integrated social services, community-based services for persons with disabilities are developed at the local level.
• The programme measured for the first time in Albania the SDG indicator 1.3.1. ”Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, new-borns, work injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable”. Based on the preliminary findings of this exercise, the proportion of persons effectively covered by a social protection system, including social protection floors is 70% while the proportion of the total population receiving cash benefits under at least one of the contingencies (contributory or non-contributory benefits) or actively contributing to at least one social security scheme is 53.8%.

Output 3. Innovative models of integrated social care services piloted, including established local linkages between health and social protection services.

The improvement of management of social services at local level is supported by the development of human resources and of organizations, including their processes, as well as by the divulgating, across Albania, good and innovative practices for providing social services and promoting social protection. 

• The programme supported 6 municipalities in setting up social fund and modelling and delivering innovative and integrated health and social care services in implementation of social care plans. A grant scheme is developed and is agreed with MoHSP and the 6 targeted municipalities to model and deliver integrated health and social care services. 
• A framework/ guide book  is developed on integrated health and social care model of services.
• With focus on integrated health and social care for older persons, initial steps are being made to develop the home care services through municipal support and related social fund. 40 older persons (28 women and 12 men) living alone received support. 
• Database mapping health and social conditions is developed. 
• The initial steps to create the Social Operator profession are being paved in partnership with Tirana Municipality. 
• With the aim to upgrade community social services facilities for providing new inclusive social and health care services with the focus on vulnerable groups, municipalities of Devoll and Rrogozhina are supported for the construction and establishment of new multifunctional community centers.

Output 4. Vulnerable communities (disaggregated by gender, ethnicity, disability etc.) are empowered to actively participate in decision making and make institutions accountable.

The empowerment of the joint programme target groups to request social protection and access social services is a precondition for improving their social situation and their livelihoods. The programme has contributed to the improvement of a constructive dialogue and culture of participatory decision-making between municipal structures and target groups, the capacity of service providers and beneficiaries to interact effectively and efficiently and establishing a culture of mutual dialogue and decision-making.

• To promote intergenerational solidarity, older persons in Kashar, Kombinat and Paskuqan were engaged in activities organized by young people in these administrative units. Part of activities was the development of a healthy lifestyles booklet with information on health and psycho-social support available for older persons. 
• Vulnerable communities and their organizations in Tirana, Puka, Rrogozhina, Devoll, Pogradec and Kamza are supported with competitive grants to uphold their rights and hold local institutions accountable for delivering social services. From the local initiatives benefited in total: 10,533 individuals/ final-user beneficiaries, 55% of whom are women and girls (5,791 F/ 4,477 M / 265 LGBTIQ+).

Output 5. Financing options for extending social protection coverage and benefits developed and assessed at the national and municipality levels.

The public spending for social protection programmes increased.

• Social protection budget transferred to municipalities is increased by 48% btw 2019 and 2020.  (88,713,000 ALL VS 131,313,000 ALL)
• Social Care budget versus Total Social Protection in 2020 is 5.5%.
• Annual increase of central government’s budget for social care services between 2019 and 2020 is 2.1%. 
• Rrogozhina municipality social services budget of the total municipality budget for 2020 is 0.16%. It increased by 38% in comparison to 2019 (558,000 ALL in 2019; 770,460 ALL in 2020) 
• Devoll municipality social services budget for 2020 is doubled in comparison to 2019 (2,813,617 ALL in 2019; 4,861,160 ALL in 2020)
• Kamza municipality social services budget for 2020 increased by 17% (457,110,000 in 2019; 535,237,000 in 2020)
• Pogradec municipality social services budget for 2020 increased by 7.6% (786,562,398 in 2019; 847,021,890 in 2020)
• Kamza municipality social services budget for 2020 increased by 17% (457,110,000 in 2019; 535,237,000 in 2020)
• Pogradec municipality social services budget for 2020 increased by 7.6% (786,562,398 in 2019; 847,021,890 in 2020)

Output 6. Project managed.

The programme management structure – consists of a Steering Committee (SC) to oversee and coordinate the intervention and its results delivery, including the assessment of risks and mitigating actions to overcome bottlenecks, plus a Technical Committee (TC) to ensure a coordinated approach in the implementation of the programme. Overall programme management, coordination, monitoring and formal reporting is undertaken by UNDP (IMSPSD programme team), in cooperation with and based on inputs provided by the PUNOs. Formal progress reporting is undertaken as a minimum every 6-months, provided to the SC and, via the UN Resident Coordinator, also to the UN Joint SDG Fund Secretariat.

The risk management plan identified six potential risks (and mitigating measures) for the programme (a seventh risk was added linked to COVID-19): turnover of the leadership and staff of central and local government partners; the extent of local ownership and commitment, including resources; that national level allocation of financial resources will be insufficient; that potential final-user beneficiaries do not see their interest in participating in developing social services; the wider Albanian society may negatively perceive the focus given to prioritize the support to benefit specific target groups, rather than more broadly; the scaling-up of successful innovations introduced by IMSPSD may be at risk due to low commitment by government.