Welcome to the web site for the Albania Mission of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  One year since my arrival as Mission Director, USAID has accompanied Albania through several positive developments, while experiencing a few of our own changes as well.

Over the last year, we have seen a strengthening in the competitiveness of Albanian products in international markets; a marked improvement in the administration of the 2007 local elections; health reforms are being adopted throughout the country; child protection units have now been established in five cities to prevent child and human trafficking; and advances in public procurement, tax administration, and business registration through the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. We are encouraged in our efforts to support Albania’s continued transition to a market economy and democracy based upon the rule of law.

For our part, USAID has undergone a series of changes that involve significant shifts in our strategic focus, while also marking the successful completion of long-standing programs, designing several new activities, and consolidating the overall portfolio.

Since 2006, the Albania Mission of USAID has realigned programs to better support the transformational diplomacy objectives outlined by the U.S. Secretary of State, Condeleeza Rice. The new, comprehensive foreign assistance strategy through which all U.S. foreign assistance is delivered has the goal to build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system. Our programs, now categorized in four priority objective areas, Promoting Economic Growth, Governing Justly and Democratically, Investing in People, and Achieving Peace and Security, will ensure a greater degree of efficiency and focus in the delivery of U.S foreign assistance from the American people to Albania.

I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the efforts of three recently completed projects, USAID’s Small Business and Credit Assistance (SBCA), Fostering Religious Harmony in Albania, and the Women’s Legal Rights Initiative. All made positive, indelible contributions to Albania’s social and economic development. In the coming months, USAID will begin three new programs focused on improving the rule of law and the administration of courts, strengthening accountability of local governments to citizens, and improving the competitiveness of Albanian farmers. We look forward to sharing our progress and successes in these and other future endeavors.

We welcome your feedback on our web site as we regularly present new stories and post updates about USAID’s program in Albania.

Best wishes, 

Edward T. Landau
Tirana, Albania