Development Cooperation

Norwegian development assistance to Albania Norway has provided extensive development and humanitarian assistance to Albania since the late 1990s.

Whereas much of the early assistance was of a humanitarian nature, and related to the 1999 Kosovo crisis, Norway has since supported activities within education, rule of law, good governance, energy, innovation, human rights, culture and the arts. Norwegian assistance has had a particular emphasis on improving the situation for minorities, women and youth.

Current priorities

The overarching objective of Norwegian support to the Western Balkans today is to promote the development of lasting stability and democracy. To this end, Norway supports a series of initiatives in Albania and the wider region, to foster:

• Closer regional cooperation, also including countries that are EU members;
• Reconciliation and implementation of transitional justice;
• Socio-economic development through enhanced economic growth and competitiveness, increased capacity in the field of environment/climate/energy, and increased social and economic inclusion of marginalised groups;
• Good governance through support for development of the rule of law, defence sector reform, civil society and the media, minorities, and the fight against organised crime and corruption.