Albania

Albania is a middle-income country with high unemployment (14%-22%) and underemployment, particularly among youth (40%), and a large informal sector (>30%) as key challenges. A functional democracy with improved public services and an inclusive, competitive market economy in support of the European integration are among the goals of international cooperation strategies for the country.
About Albania

Country Facts

  • Area: in km2: 28,748
  • Population: 2,845,955
  • Capital: Tirana

Swisscontact in Albania

  • since 1994
  • 6 running projects

Projects

Albania
Labour market insertion, Sustainable tourism, Migration
New Perspectives in Kukës County (Perspektiva të reja)
The project aims to improve key socio-economic conditions of Kukës County and increase youth resilience towards illegal migration, and the joining of the ranks of serious and organised crime in the United Kingdom. 
Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Vietnam
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Swiss Entrepreneurship Program
The heart of any entrepreneurial ecosystem is the community of entrepreneurs themselves. The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) has incorporated this belief and supports building local startup communities bottom up by working with ecosystem leaders and builders since 2015. We do this by working with selected startup support organizations...
Albania
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Kickstart – Business mentoring and access to finance for young micro-entrepreneurs
The project supports young, disadvantaged micro-entrepreneurs to enhance their capacities through business mentoring, e-learning on financial literacy and access to loan, the latter being tailored to their needs and capabilities by partner microfinance institutions.
Albania
Trade
Albanian-Swiss Intellectual Property
The Albanian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (ALSIP) is a development cooperation project between the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Albania. The objective is to contribute to entrepreneurs, creators, researchers and producers in Albania benefiting from the effective protection of intellectual property objects.
Albania, Kosovo
Labour market insertion
Boost Employment: Continued efforts for labour market inclusion in Albania and Kosovo
After the successful 10-year intervention for the employability and economic integration of marginalized and youth groups - based on the “Coaching for Employment” methodology - Boost Employment Project brings Swisscontact’s support to labour market in Albania and Kosovo to another level.

News

Albania
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
21.03.2023
Kickstart Project organized nine financial literacy workshops with 180 young entrepreneurs 
Young, disadvantaged entrepreneurs access information and develop their skills during financial literacy workshops of Kickstart Project.
Albania
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
13.03.2023
Kickstart project signed MoUs with three partner MFIs, and they will have a special focus on Young Entrepreneurs
Partner MFIs of Kickstart Project offer access to finances through Loans for Young Entrepreneurs.
Albania
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
23.02.2023
Kickstart Project Certifies 9 Business Mentors who will mentor 500 young entrepreneurs
Mentors will support young entrepreneurs to develop their micro businesses to increase their net incomes.
Country Director Albania
Jan van Montfort

Swisscontact in Albania

Swisscontact’s portfolio in Albania is the largest in the region. Through our projects, we contribute to equitable economic development, by building sustainable systems for vocational skills development and enterprise promotion.

Innovation, labour-market oriented training and private sector involvement are at the core of Swisscontact’s interventions in Albania. The goal is to provide more and better economic opportunities and perspectives to all, but especially to young women and men.

Swisscontact’s work in Albania is an essential part of Switzerland’s development strategy in the country.

Collaboration Opportunities
Want to collaborate with Swisscontact? See available opportunities here.
Jobs
See here available job opportunities from Swisscontact Albania
Team
The abilities and readiness for action of our employees are decisive for our projects’ ability to achieve sustainable impact, as well as our long-term success. As an attractive employer, Swisscontact invests in a positive management and work culture. This is defined by our fundamental understanding of development intended to serve not only our beneficiaries in project countries but our employees as well.
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Contact

Swiss­con­tact
Rruga Skën­der­bej
Villa no. 49
1001 Ti­ra­na
Al­ba­ni­a