Albania

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TIRANA – 29 July 2008 – Approximately 30 media and businesses representatives met with experts in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to discuss the media’s key role as a socially responsible player in both promoting CSR best practices in Albania and showcasing the increasing ties that exist between the State, the private sector and civil society in the achievement of sustainable socio-economic development.

“The media is the voice of local communities in Albania,” said Ms. Marina Kaneti, UNDP CSR Western Balkans Project Manager. “The media encourages positive responses both from businesses and government to key corporate social responsibility issues such as environmental protection and labour rights.”

Dr. Gjergj Filipi, Research Director at the Agenda Institute provided an overview of CSR concepts and their application. His lecture was followed by presentations from representatives from Tirana International Airport, Birra Korca and Vodafone Albania, who showcased their work in the areas of environmental protection, labour, and human rights. 

Media Expert Diana Kalaja also gave a lecture on the media’s role in promoting corporate social responsibility, referring to recent examples from the Albanian press.

“The media is a main driver of cooperation between the state, business and citizen,” said Mr. En Muci, Executive Director of Korrieri newspaper. “We are most grateful to you for organizing this training as the new generation of journalists need to be able to reflect accurately on developments in this sector,” said Mr. En Muci, Executive Director of Korrieri Newspaper.

The United Nations Development Programme in Albania, under the UN Global Compact facilitates dialogue between the private and public sector in Albania to engage the business community in all socio-economic aspects of development. The media is an integral part of this long-term partnership that also includes labour, civil society organizations and academia.

Over 5,000 companies around the world have signed the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative inviting businesses to continuously align their operations and strategy with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. There are currently 33 members of the Global Compact in Albania.

*Photo: Dr. Gjergj Filipi, Research Director at the Agenda Institute discusses corporate social responsibility with media and business representatives

Millennium Development Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that 191 United Nations member states have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals sets out to: 1. Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day: 2. Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

For more information please contact:

Eriola Cela, Global Compact/Corporate Social Responsibility Programme Assistant
eriola.cela@undp.org

Nora Kushti, UNDP Communications Manager
nora.kushti@undp.org