www.eco-finance.org: Information for providers, users and analysts of environmental finance

Eco-finance in Albania

Domestic public finance

In Albania, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration provide finance for environmental investments, water sector investments and waste management related investments. An overview of recent activities is available in the dedicated institutional profile. Note that the profile also includes data on revenue from environment related taxes.

Do you know of additional mechanisms or institutions providing domestic public finance for environmental investments and thus should be mentioned here? Please let us know.

International, foreign sources

Below please find links to foreign and international institutions providing finance for environmental and/or water infrastructure projects. Bilateral mechanisms and institutions are listed first (in alphabetical order), followed by multilateral institutions.

One of the current focus areas of Austrian Development Cooperation and Cooperation with Eastern Europe, ADC (implemented by the Austrian Development Agency, ADA) is water, waste water and environment. For details see the dedicated ADA website.

In South East European countries, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) currently supports multilateral projects in the areas climate change and environment & security. Details on the CIDA website.

The Danish Carbon Program offers carbon finance. For details visit the dedicated website. So far, Danish Carbon has no projects yet in Albania.

The Dutch Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD) operates a "Program for Technical Cooperation with Emerging Markets (PSOM)" that supports Dutch companies investing in emerging markets (environmental criteria are applied in procedures): view website.

The Finnish Carbon Procurement Programme (Finnder) offers carbon finance. For details visit the Finnder website. So far, Finnder has no projects yet in Albania.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH is active in the environment / water area: view website.
See also GTZ/BMZ public-private partnership program (PPP): view website.

Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial: view website.

Hellenic Aid: view website.

Italian Development Cooperation: view website.

Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC): "Economic Cooperation (ODA) loans" are available to the public sector or to financial intermediaries in developing and transition countries, to assist in the development of key social and economic infrastructures, including for example effective use of water and energies. View website.

KfW Entwicklungsbank provides loans and other finance for infrastructure / environmental projects: view website

Luxembourg's Lux Development: view website.

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC): view website.

Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Development Cooperation: view website.

Netherlands Development Organization (SNV): view website.

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation: view website.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA): view website

Swiss Cooperation Office in Albania (see water program): view website

Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TICA): view website.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Albania: view website.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): EBRD energy efficiency and climate change finance; EBRD/EIB Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (MCCF); EBRD municipal and environmental infrastructure finance; EBRD renewable energy finance; EBRD TAM/BAS programme (TAM/BAS stands for "Turn Around Management and Business Advisory Services"; program includes environmental components); EBRD Albania homepage.

European Investment Bank (EIB): overview on loans offered by the EIB; examples of finance contracts signed; current project pipeline ("projects to be financed"). See also: EBRD/EIB Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (MCCF).

European Union (EU) / European Commission (EC): see EC Enlargement - Albania website

The ENVSEC Initiative addresses environmental problems, which threaten security, societal stability and peace, human health and/or sustainable livelihoods, within and across national borders in conflict prone regions. Details on the ENVSEC website.

Global Environment Facility (GEF): view website. For country relevant info, see GEF Country Profile portal.

International Finance Corporation (IFC): view dedicated IFC country webpage. The following programs and facilities are available: IFC Environmental Business Finance Program (focused on financing renewable energy, energy efficiency, biodiversity and sustainable land management projects of SMEs); IFC Carbon Finance; IFC Cleaner Technologies Program; IFC Sustainable Energy program; IFC infrastructure financing (including water, wastewater, solid waste management); DevCo Facility.

Islamic Development Bank: view website.

OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID): view website.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) supports the development of innovative financing methods and policy to enable investment projects in the renewable energies and energy efficiency sectors (REEEP is not a funding mechanism, however): view website.

United Nationes Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania: view website.

Information on the World Bank's environment and water sector portfolio can be found at the dedicated World Bank country website. In addition: view the World Bank Carbon Finance Unit website and the World Bank Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) website.

The website aidharmonisation.org.al contains information and data on international and foreign aid to Albania.

Do you know of additional mechanisms or institutions providing finance for environmental investments and thus should be mentioned here? Please let us know.

Domestic commercial finance

A list of domestic and foreign banks operational in Albania is available on the website of the Bank of Albania.

Last update of this page: 03 June, 2010

You are here:   Home / Institutions / Albania

Country background information

General info

• Official name: Republic of Albania
• Largest cities: Tirana (capital, 350’000 inhabitants), Durrës (115’000), Elbasan (100’000), Shkodër (110’000), Vlorë (85’000)
• Neighboring countries/territories: Greece, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
• Key links: National government; Ministry of the Environment, Forests and Water Administration; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy; Ministry of Agriculture; Bank of Albania; World Bank office; EBRD; EU Accession; EC Delegation; Wikipedia; Encyclopedia Britannica

Environment: background info

• State of the environment reports and governmental environmental policies: see UNECE Envtl. Performance Review 2002; EEA state of environment reporting; EEA (2007): "Europe's Environment: the Fourth Assessment"; EEA/UNEP (2007): Sustainable Consumption and Production…; UNDP (2007): Environmental Policy in SEE; IEA Albania website
• Reports related to eco-finance in Albania: PPC/REC/OECD (2007): Mobilizing Finance for Environmental Priorities…; REC (2007): Environmental Financing Trends in SEE: 2001–2005; REC (2007): Municipal Environmental Investments in SEE 2001–2005; REC PEIP website
• For additional reports related to eco-finance, please visit our library & reference pages

Currency and exchange rates

Currency: 1 Albanian Lek (ALL) = 100 qindars (current and past exchange rates)

ALL/USD, end-year exchange rates:

ALL/EUR, end-year exchange rates:

  Source: oanda.com