Tirana, Albania – February 6, 2025: As climate change intensifies and disaster risks escalate, Albania is taking a proactive approach to strengthening its disaster recovery capabilities. A workshop titled: The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Disaster Recovery Framework (DRF) Development will take place in Tirana marking an important step towards building a more resilient country.

This workshop is organized within the framework of the lobal initiative "Strengthening Capacities for Crisis Assessment and Recovery Planning," funded by the European Union implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in cooperation with the National Civil Protection Agency (NCPA). It will bring together central and local government officials, experts, and key partners. The key lessons learned from past disaster responses, including insights from Albania’s 2019–2020 PDNA process, emphasize the critical role of the National Civil Protection Agency in leading and coordinating recovery efforts. These lessons highlight the importance of strengthened institutional capacity, streamlined inter-agency collaboration, and effective resource mobilization to ensure a more efficient and resilient disaster recovery process.

Building upon the foundation laid by the September 19–20, 2024, PDNA and DRF workshop, this event will deepen discussions on Albania’s disaster recovery planning. The workshop will open with remarks from Haki Çako, Director General of the NCPA, and Francisco Roquette, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Albania, underscoring the critical role of NCPA in strengthening institutional coordination, policy development, and operational readiness for post-disaster recovery.

A key agenda item will be the review of Albania’s 2019–2020 PDNA, drawing critical lessons for refining the country’s disaster recovery framework, with focus to the National Civil Protection agency and its coordination role. UNDP international and national consultants will outline a structured recovery approach, ensuring that post-disaster efforts transition seamlessly from emergency response to long-term resilience-building.

One of the core objectives of the workshop is to enhance coordination mechanisms between national institutions, local governments, and international partners involved in disaster recovery. Discussions will focus on the following sectors:

• Housing: Strategies for delivering safe and resilient post-disaster housing solutions, ensuring that affected communities recover efficiently.
• Community Infrastructure: Addressing critical service restoration, including energy, water supply, and transportation networks.
• Agriculture: Supporting rural communities and farmers in mitigating disaster impacts and rebuilding livelihoods.
  As the lead institution for disaster recovery planning, NCPA is working to institutionalize and refine Albania’s DRF by integrating lessons learned from past disasters and international best practices. This workshop will contribute directly to this effort by:
• Strengthening NCPA’s leadership in post-disaster coordination.
• Enhancing inter-institutional cooperation at all levels.
• Refining sector-specific recovery planning
• Improving data management and decision-making tools for effective disaster response.

The workshop will conclude with actionable recommendations, ensuring that Albania continues to develop a structured, well-coordinated disaster recovery system. 

By reinforcing institutional capacities, particularly focused within the NCPA, Albania is taking a significant step toward ensuring that future disasters have a reduced impact on communities, infrastructure, and economic stability.