The National Association of Municipalities (ShKBSh), in partnership with EDM, Strehëza Edlira Haxhiymeri (SEH), the Municipality of Durrës and the Municipality of Shkodër, has launched the implementation of the project “SAFE TOGETHER ALBANIA: Women Alliances Leading the Way in Survivor Protection”, funded by the European Union’s CERF Programme. The project will be implemented during the period 2026–2028.
Project Objective
The project aims to build an integrated, sustainable and coordinated model of protection for women and girls survivors of gender-based violence and domestic violence, by strengthening cooperation between municipalities, public institutions, civil society organizations and the community. Through this partnership, the aim is to improve the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of services at the local level, in accordance with national and European standards for the protection of victims.
Within the framework of the project, two Safe Together Hubs will be established in the Municipality of Shkodra and the Municipality of Durrës, which will serve as integrated centers for the coordination and provision of support services for survivors of violence. In parallel, the project will strengthen inter-institutional referral and coordination mechanisms, increase the capacities of local actors and support the drafting of local policies and budgets that guarantee quality, coordinated and sustainable services, contributing to the protection, social reintegration and empowerment of women and girls survivors of violence.
Main components of the project
The project foresees the implementation of a series of strategic activities, including:
Drafting gap analyses of services for the protection of survivors in the Municipality of Durrës and the Municipality of Shkodra;
Creation and operationalization of two Safe Together Hubs;
Development of standardized protocols for the assessment of risk and safety of survivors;
Training of multidisciplinary teams of municipalities and partner institutions;
Strengthening Women’s Advisory Alliances for monitoring services and advocacy at the local level;
Developing the national “Safe Together” campaign to raise public awareness and promote ethical reporting on gender-based violence;
Organizing policy dialogues, drafting recommendations and developing a package of proposals for improving local policies and budgets in support of survivors.
Through this project, the National Association of Municipalities reaffirms its commitment to supporting Albanian municipalities in developing local protection mechanisms and providing more comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable services to citizens, while contributing to strengthening local governance in line with European standards and values.