About WHO in Albania

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO was founded in 1948 to work for the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all peoples. WHO works with 194 Member States, providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, and articulating evidence-based policy options. It also provides technical support to Member States, monitors and assesses health trends, funds medical research and provides emergency aid during disasters. Through its programmes, WHO also works to improve nutrition, housing, sanitation and working conditions around the world. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has six regional offices around the world.

The European Region (WHO/Europe)

WHO/Europe is one of WHO’s six regional offices around the world. It serves the WHO European Region, which comprises 53 countries, covering a vast geographical region from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. WHO/Europe staff are public health, scientific and technical experts, based in the main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 7 technical centres and in country offices in 30 Member States (plus one planned). In addition, WHO/Europe coordinates with the European Union and its agencies, and is host organization and partner of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

The WHO Country Office

The WHO Country Office, Albania was established in 1991 in Tirana to assist the Government in shaping the national health agenda, providing technical support, monitoring and assessing health trends.

The role of a WHO/Europe country office is to respond to requests from the host country to support policy-making for sustainable health development, taking a holistic health-system approach. This includes providing guidance, building up local relationships to implement technical cooperation, making standards and agreements, and ensuring that public health measures are coordinated and in place during crises.

The Office is the focal point for WHO activities in Albania. The country team consists of 4 people.

The priorities for the Country Office are set out in the biennial collaborative agreement between WHO/Europe and the host country. The Office implements the agreement in close collaboration with national institutions and international partner agencies.

South-eastern Europe Health Network

SEEHN is a political and institutional forum set up by the governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia and North Macedonia to promote peace, reconciliation and health in the region. In 2011, Israel became a 9th member of the Network. WHO/Europe lends technical support to SEEHN’s various health projects, based on the Sub-Regional Cooperation Strategy signed bilaterally in Tel-Aviv on 10 July 2018.