This means that a child born in Albania today is still not receiving all the conditions needed to fully develop their abilities and be as productive as possible when they grow up.

The document, published by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, places this indicator below the regional average of 69%, linking the situation to the need for stronger investment in early childhood development, quality education, social protection, and well-being.

According to the document, the challenges are also accompanied by the demographic developments of recent years. Data from the 2023 Census show an accelerated population decline, high levels of emigration, and widening territorial inequalities, factors which, according to the agenda, directly affect children’s access to services and the country’s long-term development.

The agenda notes that Albania has made progress in strengthening the legal and institutional framework for children’s rights, but considerable challenges remain in guaranteeing equal access to quality services, strengthening protection mechanisms, and reducing social and territorial inequalities.

The document also underlines that the European Union Progress Reports and the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child continue to highlight the need for improvements in education, social protection, and institutional coordination.

In the education sector, the agenda states that Albania continues to face low learning outcomes, digital skills below the European Union average, a shortage of teachers in remote areas, and inequalities in access to quality services.

The National Agenda for Children’s Rights 2027–2030, released for consultation, considers human capital development to be one of the key elements for the well-being of future generations and for Albania’s European integration process./Monitor

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