The cooperation between the Republic of Albania and UNESCO represents a strategic and long-term partnership, built on shared values of peace, dialogue, education, culture, science, and sustainable development.

Albania is an active partner of UNESCO, contributing to the implementation of the Organization’s Conventions, participating in intergovernmental processes, and advancing global priorities in the spirit of multilateralism and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Main Areas of Cooperation

🏛️ Cultural and Natural Heritage

A central pillar of Albania’s cooperation with UNESCO is the protection, safeguarding, and management of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value.

In this context, Albania works closely with UNESCO on the management and conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, including, among others:

• Butrint National Park, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean region;
• The Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra, recognised for their traditional urban architecture;
• The Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region, a transboundary World Heritage property;
• The Albanian components of the Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of Europe, part of a serial and multinational natural property.

This cooperation includes continuous technical dialogue, advisory support, and the involvement of local communities in the long-term safeguarding of these properties.

🎭 Intangible Cultural Heritage

Albania cooperates closely with UNESCO under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, promoting living heritage as a key element of cultural identity, social cohesion, and intercultural dialogue.

Albania is represented on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists by elements illustrating the diversity of its living traditions, including, among others:

• Albanian Iso-polyphony, a unique form of multi-voiced vocal heritage;
• The Xhubleta, including the knowledge and craftsmanship related to its making and use;
• The Dance of Tropoja, as a choreographic expression of local cultural identity;
• The Art of Playing, Singing and Making the Lahuta, a musical and poetic tradition transmitted from generation to generation.

Cooperation in this field focuses on the implementation of safeguarding measures, support for tradition bearers, and the active participation of local communities.

📚 Documentary Heritage

Within the framework of the Memory of the World Programme, Albania cooperates with UNESCO on the preservation and promotion of documentary heritage of outstanding universal value.

A representative example in this category is:

• The Marubi Photographic Archive, comprising hundreds of thousands of negatives and photographs documenting Albania’s social, cultural, and political history from the 19th to the 20th century.

This cooperation aims to strengthen collective memory, support digitisation efforts, and enhance public access for educational and research purposes.

🎓 Education, Science and a Culture of Peace

Albania strongly supports UNESCO’s mandate in promoting quality and inclusive education, strengthening science as a basis for informed policymaking, and using culture as a tool for peace-building and dialogue.

Cooperation in this area includes the exchange of best practices, capacity-building initiatives, and active participation in UNESCO’s international programmes and policy discussions.

💬 Freedom of Expression and Communication

In line with UNESCO’s mandate, Albania reaffirms its commitment to the protection of freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, and the promotion of media and information literacy as essential pillars of democracy, transparency, and social trust.

🤖 Innovation and the Ethics of Technology

Albania actively contributes to UNESCO’s discussions and initiatives on the ethics of artificial intelligence and the responsible use of technology, with the objective of ensuring that digital transformation serves people and society, in full respect of human rights and international standards.