Social Protection
Care and protection
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A Fair Start for Every Child
By 2031, fewer children live at risk of poverty and exclusion in Albania, and children at risk, in conflict with and in contact with the law, are better protected from violence, have access to legal remedies, and are healthy, well-nourished, and developmentally on track.
In Albania, many children need a little extra help to grow up happy and healthy. Some of these children don't have as much as others, and they face challenges that make life tough. UNICEF Vision 2031 says that all children, especially those who are poor or vulnerable, have access to everything they need to be safe, healthy, and happy. They want to make sure every child can go to school, see a doctor when they are sick, and live in a safe and loving home.
To make this dream come true, UNICEF is working closely with government ministries such as the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education. Together, they are developing a plan called the Child Guarantee Plan, which runs from 2024 to 2030.
The National Action Plan on Child Guarantee is designed to ensure that children at risk of poverty or social exclusion have access to essential services like healthcare, education, and adequate nutrition. Its main goals are to provide these key services, reduce child poverty and social exclusion, offer targeted support to vulnerable groups such as minorities and children with disabilities, and strengthen the capacity of institutions responsible for child welfare to better meet the needs of all children.
These goals are part of a broader European initiative to address child poverty and inequality, ensuring that all children can succeed and lead fulfilling lives.
Challenges
Bringing this vision to life means working together to address the challenges that children and families face and strengthen the support available to them. And we are doing so through a plan that includes:
- Making sure that the people who care for children, such as social workers, are well-trained and know exactly how to help. They are supporting the government to ensure children receive benefits and special services when they need them.
- Keeping families together: They are encouraging moving children from big institutions to warm, loving families with the support of the community.
- Make the law work: UNICEF is helping create new laws to protect children's rights and ensure they are always safe.
- Safe Places: For children to find all sorts of help in one place, like seeing a doctor, talking to a counselor, or getting support for their family.
- Caring for All: They are also making sure there are services for children who have been through tough times, helping them heal and feel better
Solution
Through these efforts, UNICEF Albania and its partners are helping to create lasting change for children and families by:
- Supporting the implementation of the National Plan of Action of Child Guarantee 2026-2030 as the core framework to combat child poverty and exclusion.
- Supporting the capacities of key relevant institutions at the local and national level responsible for social protection, child protection, health, and justice systems
- Using data, monitoring, and evidence to inform policy, budget decisions, and accountability.
In the end, thanks to the efforts of UNICEF and its partners, the children of Albania are growing up in a world where they feel safe, loved, and able to reach for their potential.