Albania, classified as an upper-middle-income country, faces significant developmental hurdles such as economic diversification, and social exclusion. The demographic shift, marked by a decline in the population of children aged 0-14 from 21.6% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2022, poses future labor market challenges. Approximately 25% of young people are categorized as NEET (not in education, employment, or training), exacerbating labor market difficulties. Furthermore, 27.4% of children live in poverty compared to 20.6% of the general population.  The 2023 Census shows that almost one in five persons (19.7 percent) is 65 years of age or older, compared to one in nine persons (11.3 percent) in the 2011 Census. The transition of the population towards a much older population structure is also observed in the dependency ratios. The young-age dependency ratio decreased to 24.0 percent – from 30.4 percent in 2011 – and the old-age dependency ratio increased to 30.4 percent – from 16.7 percent in 2011. The rise in the geriatric population and the increase in life expectancy impels the need for services. The unmet needs of older adults and of persons with disabilities also contribute to the industry growth over the upcoming years and the need to invest in long term care skills development, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive social protection systems.

The LEAP programme seeks to extend social protection coverage and integrate systems that enhance service quality for children, youth, women, elderly and families. By investing in social protection—currently at 9.6% of GDP compared to the EU average of 20.5%—the programme aims to create a sustainable fiscal space for child-focused investments.

The LEAP Albania programme represents a comprehensive approach to addressing pressing socio-economic challenges through integrated social protection systems and targeted employment initiatives. By focusing on marginalized populations—particularly children, women, youth and the elderly—the programme aims to foster sustainable development aligned with national priorities and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, by demonstrating a life-cycle-approach. 

Through collaboration among diverse stakeholders, LEAP seeks to create a more inclusive society that supports long-term socio-economic resilience in Albania.

In June 2023, Albania committed to joining the Global Accelerator initiative focused on enhancing jobs and social protection systems. The roadmap emphasizes four key entry points:

• Strengthening adaptive social protection for persons with disabilities.
• Building an inclusive social protection system for economic security.
• Increasing private sector involvement in vocational education programs.
• Ensuring sustainable financing for employment initiatives.

LEAP joint programme, as part of this roadmap aligns with national strategies aimed at improving employment rates and lifelong learning participation by 2030.

This joint programme is supported by the Joint SDG Fund. We sincerely appreciate the contributions from the European Union and the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland in accelerating progress towards the SDGs.