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ALBANIA

GCERF has been investing in Albania since 2019, supporting civil society organisations and frontline practitioners working to prevent violent extremism and strengthen community resilience in a context shaped by the return and rehabilitation of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and their families from North-East Syria, including women and children associated with ISIS. Albania has registered one of the highest per capita rates of FTFs in Europe, making rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) a key national priority.

  • locationCreated with Sketch Beta.
  • Shkoder
  • Kukës
  • Dibër
  • Durrës
  • Tirana
  • Elbasan
  • Korçë
  • Berat
  • Vlorë
Background and Context
Country Snapshot
Key Results
Investment Strategy
Story of Change
Background & Context

Understanding Violent
 Extremism in Albania

Despite sustained efforts by the Government of Albania and international partners to prevent and counter violent extremism, challenges linked to radicalisation and the return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) continue to pose risks to social cohesion and community resilience. Albania has recorded one of the highest per capita rates in Europe of individuals who travelled to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), including women and children who later remained in camps in North-East Syria (NES). The country continues to face the complex task of ensuring the safe return, rehabilitation, and reintegration (R&R) of returnees, while addressing underlying drivers of vulnerability to violent extremism such as unemployment, poverty, social marginalisation, and limited educational and economic opportunities. 

GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL

Country
 Support Mechanism

GCERF pioneers a unique model of investment designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programmes. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).

In Albania, CSM is chaired by the Director of The Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism – Albania and brings together relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and donor representatives to provide strategic direction for the programmes, ensure results and progressively inherit ownership of funding community-level efforts to prevent violent extremism.

Download Country Snapshot
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
Internal and external security threats

Persistent regional instability and the return of individuals formerly associated with violent extremist groups continue to pose security and reintegration challenges for affected communities.

Limited economic opportunities and social exclusion

Unemployment, poverty, and limited access to education and livelihoods increase the vulnerability of marginalised individuals and communities to radicalisation and social exclusion.

Online dissemination of extremist narratives

The spread of extremist propaganda and radical narratives through online platforms continues to facilitate recruitment, polarisation, and exposure to violent extremist ideologies among vulnerable groups.

Results at a Glance

Key Results

Total amount invested (USD)
$ 0 M
Grants
0
Civil society organisations
0
Returnees received legal and administrative support to facilitate their reintegration process
0 +
Women and children returning from Iraq and Syria received comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration support
0
Community members, religious leaders and young people engaged through initiatives aimed at increasing awareness on preventing violent extremism
0 +
Frontline workers trained to facilitate effective rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees
0 +

Investment & grant figures updated May 2026 · Programme results updated December 2025

Our Approach

Investment Strategy in Albania

Visuel avec couleur mauve vif
Establish a National Referral Mechanism to identify at-risk individuals and returnees and refer them to service providers through established pathways
Strengthen the capacity of multi-agency local bodies, first responders and government institutions to deliver effective R&R services
Design sans titre
Create an effective, self-sustainable system for P/CVE while ensuring the successful reintegration of individuals previously involved in extremist activities
Our IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Active Grants in Albania

Current Grants 2 Active
01 Initiative for Social Change
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 500,000
Duration
Aug 2024 – Jul 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Initiative for Social Change ARSIS
Sub-Recipients
Albanian Center for Population and development
Programme Objectives
1
Strengthen coordination mechanisms for P/CVE and R&R through the establishment of an online server.
2
Implement awareness-raising initiatives to promote community resilience through the engagement of religious leaders and journalists.
3
Provide case management services for returning children and their families to facilitate their reintegration into Albanian society.
Areas of Implementation
Vlora Fieri Kavaja Cerriku Pogradeci Tirana
02 Terre des Hommes Albania
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 910,000
Duration
Jul 2023 – Jun 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Terre des Hommes Albania
Sub-Recipients
Tirana Legal Aid Society, IANS
Instituti per Aktivizem dhe Ndryshim Social
Programme Objectives
1
Ensure case management support to returnees and vulnerable populations.
2
Support sustainable transition case management services to government led facilities.
3
Ensure community resilience, inclusion, and tolerance building activities contributing to reintegration of returnees and at-risk individuals and prevention of violent extremism.
Areas of Implementation
Tirana Municipality
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