20 September 2005

Tirana, Albania: Increasing public participation in efforts to help Albania meet its commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is the driving force behind a joint advocacy campaign recently launched in the Albanian capital.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Oxfam, and the Regional Environmental Centre (REC) for Central and Eastern Europe are combining resources to mobilize Albanians in support of the government’s mandate to eradicate extreme poverty, achieve universal primary education and address other targets set out within the MDG framework.

Building on already existing strong relationships of cooperation in Albania, the initiative’s partners are pooling expertise to target youth, students, the media, civil society, volunteer involving organizations and the private sector.

As the focal point for volunteerism, UNV Albania is planning several events to promote volunteering for the MDGs among secondary school students in Tirana. Successful MDG outreach activities held in 2004 – such as a touring MDG cinema that combined an Albanian movie with a short film on the MDGs – are expected to be organized on a larger scale. UNV is also teaming up with UNDP and Oxfam to raise awareness of MDG 1: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, as well as with REC in intensifying MDG 7: ensure environmental sustainability.

UNV Programme Officer for Albania Chiara Pace said the upcoming International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December will be an opportunity to kick-start the joint MDG advocacy campaign. She said this year’s IVD will pay special attention to bringing the MDGs closer to youth, and in particular to young people from vulnerable groups.

The UNV programme firmly established itself in Albania in September 2001 in an effort to build on the Albanian government's growing openness towards democratic governance and civic engagement. Together with UNDP, emphasis was also placed on tapping into the growing potential for working with civil society and the government in promoting volunteering for development in Albania.