First social enterprises in Albania to boost the employment of women and disadvantaged groups

Executive Director of the Youth Albania Professional Services (YAPS) social business Mr. Arben Shamia during the launching of the social enterprises call. Photo: UN Women Albania

For the first time in Albania civil society organizations can apply for the status of social enterprises. The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu announced a call for applications from social enterprises with a view to boosting the employment of disadvantaged groups. The government has allocated $2.2 million to finance social enterprises over the next three years.

Making the announcement, Minister Manastirliu said: "This is a new financial mechanism that will support social reintegration and the professional skills of marginalized groups. It promotes gender equality and the spirit of social responsibility.

The law on social enterprise was drafted in 2016 with the technical assistance of UN Women, which also supported the full legal framework as part of the UN joint program, "Leave no one behind" funded by the Swiss Government. The law provides an alternative to improve the social and economic reintegration of disadvantaged individuals into society, based on the philosophy of leaving none behind. The law also sets out the characteristics, as well as the social and economic conditions to be fulfilled by an organization to be legally considered and recognized as a social enterprise.

Addressing the significance of supporting vulnerable populations and social development, Michele Ribotta, UN Women Officer in Albania said, “The passion of women and men who put a social mission at the heart of their business creates added value that benefits the most vulnerable or marginalized. Social entrepreneurs are citizens who do not stop in front of inequalities but instead decide to act, find a need and meet it – supporting sustainable change”.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Albania, Brian Williams underscored the importance of social enterprises and emphasized the need to allocate public resources to support social enterprises, not only at the national but also at the municipal level.

Read more on UN Women's website for Albania.