Fourteen new social services were presented today by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, within the framework of the event “Social Fund 2026 – A Guarantee for the Sustainability of Social Welfare Services for Citizens”, attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
During 2026, the Social Fund will finance 14 new services dedicated to children and mothers in need, children and adults with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls who are victims of violence, as well as children without parental care. Of these, 12 new services will be provided in the municipalities of Durrës, Prrenjas, Kurbin, Skrapar, Himarë, Kavajë, Vorë, Korçë, Mat, Patos, Cërrik and Kamëz, while two new Emergency Services and a Child Counseling Line will be established at regional level.
Prime Minister Rama highlighted the profound and fundamental transformation of the social services system over the past decade, stressing that today Albania provides organized support to approximately 65,000 individuals through a network of institutions and services at both central and local levels. He emphasized that the most important innovation of this process is the expansion of services at the local level and the active involvement of municipalities, as a guarantee of sustainability and efficiency.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama:
Good afternoon to everyone.
It is genuinely a strong reason for pride to see the comprehensive and fundamental transformation of the system of social support and services in Albania over the past decade. This effort began under extremely difficult conditions, with accumulated debt amounting to tens of millions of euros to persons with disabilities and families receiving economic assistance. It was a heavy burden within the mountain of inherited debts, which had to be addressed through great effort, reforms, and persistent measures.
At the same time as settling this debt and building a new approach based on a vision that embodies the very purpose of this governing majority, significant work was required from a number of passionate and dedicated individuals. I would like to thank them publicly, in addition to having done so personally whenever possible. Today, I wish to particularly highlight Deputy Minister Denada, who has played a decisive role in this transformation, and the Director General Reme Lala, who has also played an important role in implementing what was written on paper.
The decisive innovation of this process has been the expansion of services at the local level and the active involvement of local government. While this process is still in its early stages, it has already provided every reason to believe that this is the right path. And certainly, under the leadership of an experienced and successful mayor, now serving as Minister of State for Local Government I am confident that the necessary synergy with municipal mayors will be created to move this process forward.
Moving this process forward means going beyond volume and beyond the figures, which are indeed extremely encouraging. The fact that Albania today provides special care to 65,000 individuals is highly significant. These are not individuals merely touched by a financing system, but individuals supported by an organized system of institutions, service points, caregivers, and more.
On the other hand, given the way Albanian society still fortunately functions and is not yet fully westernized to the point where people do not greet each other despite living face to face, it is important to push much further, together with municipalities, the involvement of families in this social care system.
The example presented here was deeply motivating, and encouraging in seeking more families willing to take part in this social effort and care for children who need not just shelter, but a shelter with family warmth. Financing mechanisms must be developed jointly with local government, but at thisime point local government is key, and municipal mayors are absolutely the main actors in conveying the meaning of this approach and in carrying out the necessary persuasive work with families who may join this effort, to whom a dedicated fund must be allocated.
Having said all this, I would like to add that the budget is becoming increasingly significant. It has increased sixfold since we began this effort. It is 17 percent higher this year compared to last year. However, the budget is not everything and cannot solve everything on its own. This is why we need to further deepen and consolidate the decentralization process and, at the same time, certainly improve the quality of life within social care facilities.
We have initiated a process in Tirana with the transformation of the conditions of the well-known orphanage, the children’s care home “Zyber Hallulli”, into a care village within the city. In this spirit, it would be good to explore with municipalities other opportunities to create important community spaces, both in terms of conditions and quality.
In closing, I would like to sincerely thank the Ambassador of the EU Delegation. Everything that has happened would not have been possible without the support of the European Commission. This is a vision based on a strategy praised by the UNICEF representative, who comes from a country like Turkey with extensive experience in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. He stated that Albania has a strategy in this sector that stands out across the region.
This is true because of the strong interaction with the European Commission and the accession negotiation process. This is a concrete example of the importance of accession negotiations, not merely as exams to be passed to eventually sit at the EU table, but as moments that raise quality standards across every sector they touch.
The European Union is the most sophisticated mechanism of social support and welfare. It possesses the most advanced network of state support for families, individuals, and vulnerable social categories. The lessons learned through this process have translated into concrete results here.
Thank you very much, Silvio, for all the support.
I would also like to thank the UNICEF representative. We truly need this cooperation. If the EU has both money and expertise, UNICEF may not have the money, but it has the expertise and the heart. As the Chinese say, “one mind is no mind; two minds are one mind; three minds are two minds.” The combination of your minds becomes one for us.
Thank you all very much.
