EU4SocialCare is a three-year project (2023–2026) implemented by UNICEF Albania and World Vision in Albania (WVA), funded by the European Union under the EU for Social Inclusion in Albania (IPA 2019) programme. The project operates in 14 municipalities across Albania – Gjirokastra, Vora, Cërrik, Librazhd, Kavaja, Kurbin, Kukës, Kruja, Pogradec, Korça, Kamza, Vlora, Elbasan and Durrës – to strengthen local social care services in line with EU standards.

The project establishes and extends community-based and specialised social care services, builds the capacity of local governments and frontline professionals, engages youth volunteers in outreach, and supports the long-term sustainability of services through improved planning, budgeting and monitoring. It directly benefits approximately 18,000 individuals and 6,000 families at risk of poverty and social exclusion, including persons with disabilities, survivors of violence, women and children.

• Establish new or extend community-based and integrated social care services, and further strengthen a structured approach to case management, standards of services and outreach work through the mobile and home-based services to support families and individuals at risk of exclusion.
• Provision of specialised social care services (for women and children with disabilities and survivors of violence), and tailored capacity building and mentoring for frontline professionals to ensure adequate quality of integrated services.
• Strengthening municipal capacities to establish and deliver social care services in the long run and ensure financial and policy sustainability for the social care services.

• At least 10 new or extended community-based and integrated social care services established in partnership between local governments and civil society organisations in 10 municipalities, benefiting approximately 18,000 individuals and 6,000 families at risk of exclusion.
• At least 4 new or extended specialised social care services (for people with disabilities, women and children, survivors of violence) established in areas of highest need.
• Approximately 350 frontline social care professionals capacitated through tailored on-the-job training, mentoring and peer networking.
• 14 municipalities with improved management systems, including use of the National Electronic Register on Social Care Services (NERSCS) and shock-responsive social care planning tools.
• Social care services and Needs Assessment and Referral Units (NARUs) integrated into the mid-term budgets of targeted municipalities, ensuring sustainability beyond the project cycle.