The final progress report of ‘Strengthening the Social Protection Response after the Earthquake in Albania’ (ESPR) project, provides a statement of progress made, key results achieved, and other details on the implementation of the project.

As part of the overall efforts of the Government of Albania to address the damages and effects of the 26th November 2019 earthquake felt in a considerable area of the country, UNDP is supporting the Government of Albania in its recovery efforts through several interventions. The project ‘Strengthening the Social Protection Response after the Earthquake in Albania’ (ESPR) addressed social inclusion, protection and the needs for the most vulnerable groups impacted in the aftermath of this natural disaster by aiming to increase social and economic resilience of the affected communities.

Funded through a pool of donors – Governments of United Kingdom, Norway and Finland – as well as SDG Acceleration Fund, the project supported government and local authorities to develop strategies and action plans to respond to social issues in emergencies. In addition, it empowered and supported people and their families, communities directly impacted by the earthquake as well as those living in poverty, people with disabilities, other vulnerable categories and ethnic minorities, both in urban and rural areas. Further, the ESPR project integrated measures that further contribute to resilient communities and increased transparency and strengthening of voices of those benefiting directly or not from this project and other similar initiatives supported by UNDP Albania.