Albania

Output I. National Report on Corporate Social Responsibility
1.1 Activity Prepare and carry out a survey that will be to assess the level of Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Output II. Launch of the GC network
2.1 Activity. Meeting with GC members on reporting requirements and potential network activities. 3.1 Activity. Organize meetings with governments, media, civil society, their engagement on GC/ CSR initiative.
3.2 Activity Develop outreach materials to support GC/CSR activities.
3.3 Activity: Dissemination of useful information to stakeholders on GC/CSR related issues.

The Global Compact project aims to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors in Albania and engage the business community in all socio-economic aspects of development. The Global Compact's operational phase was launched at UN Headquarters in New York on 26 July 2000. Today, thousands of companies from all regions of the world, international labour and civil society organizations are engaged in the Global Compact, working to advance Ten Universal Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. As members, companies have agreed to comply with the ten universal principles and report annually on their compliance progress.

The Global Compact and Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in Albania promotes the Ten Universal Principles of the Global Compact. It also facilitates the long-term partnerships between the Albanian private sector, central and local government, labour organizations, civil society organizations, academia and media. Given the rapid private sector growth in Albania in the last two decades, and the country’s continuous path to membership in the European Union, the integration of economic, environmental and social concerns is a major task of all sections of society, including the business community. This, coupled with an ever-increasing global competition, highlights the need for striking an optimum balance between freedom and security and has led to an increased emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR stresses the need for companies to address their impacts on the environment, their relationship with their own workforce, as well as impacts on the markets in which they operate, and on the local community and wider society. Existing CSR practices come mainly in the form of philanthropy and are most developed in branches of multinational corporations and in particular sectors, notably banking and telecommunications.

The Global Compact and CSR Project supports the mission of the Government of Albania to create the best possible enabling environment for the adoption of CSR practices in Albania through ongoing, open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders. UNDP has supported the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy (METE) in the process of drafting a National Action Plan on CSR. The latter underpins a clear vision, in which Albania promotes CSR in ways that develop the sustainable competitiveness of companies, create social value for the long-term prosperity and welfare of Albanian citizens, and protect the environment for future generations.

As CSR has gathered momentum, the Global Compact has been transformed into a multi-stakeholder initiative. The multi-stakeholder forum on CSR, launched on December 5, 2011, acts as an advisory and consultative body promoting CSR in Albania and bringing all relevant stakeholders together.

The main project activities relate to:
• Support METE in the implementation of the National Action Plan on CSR
• Serve as the secretariat for the Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR
• Increase awareness of the Global Compact principles and recruit business community representatives to become members of the Global Compact

Members of the Albanian Business Community
Private Sector Intermediary Organizations
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, and other relevant Government Institutions
International and Local NGOs
National media

Global Compact project aims to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors in Albania and engage the business community in all socio-economic aspects of development. Through investing in viable business operations and the power of collective action, the Global Compact seeks to promote responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization. In this way, the private sector – in partnership with other social actors can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

Jorina Kadare
CSR/PPP Associate
E-mail: jorina.kadare@undp.org
Tel: 00355(0)694094678

Global Compact and Corporate Social Responsibility - Signed Project Document - EN - 2009