What works in Albania

Albania has undertaken major investments across multiple sectors to modernize public services and enhance equity. Gender-responsive budgeting has grown tracked gender-equality programmes from 9 to 77, with associated public investment rising from roughly $90 million (2017–2019) to over $803 million (2025–2027), though outcome-level evaluation remains limited. Digital education initiatives have established 216 SmartLabs and designed five Youth Innovation Centers as part of a $145 million World Bank programme targeting 35,000 primary-school children and 4,000 youth with digital skills by 2029. In environmental management, a $20.9 million World Bank/GEF/Sida programme supported 229 upland communities to sustainably manage 12,320 hectares of forest and pasture, with female participation on forestry boards rising from 31% to 50% and an estimated 811,262 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions avoided over 20 years.