In November 2019, Albania was hit by the country’s most deadly earthquake in the last 50 years. Estimated at a Richter magnitude 6.3, it caused extensive damage across 11 municipalities. The EU4Culture project is funded by the European Union (EU) and is implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in close partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Albania. It focuses on renovation and revitalization of major cultural heritage sites damaged by the earthquake and represents one of the largest cultural heritage programmes funded by the European Union with a total budget of € 40 million. Guided by the “Building Back Better” principle, EU4Culture focuses on renovation of major cultural heritage sites in line with the UN Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. In parallel, the project aims to enhance Albania’s tourism potential, thus directly contributing to local and regional socio-economic recovery. To that aim, special focus is given to innovative technologies, including digital story-telling and creation of multimedia products designed to be accessible for all. At the same time, the project is supporting local entrepreneurship, artisanship and cultural initiatives evolving around selected sites through the allocation of grants, providing a direct boost to the local economy.

UNOPS is a UN agency that provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services for a
more sustainable world. We combine the best of the UN and the private sector to ensure our partners
maximize the positive impact of their peace and security, humanitarian and development projects – with
equality, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience as the foundations of our work. Unops supports
projects in more than 80 countries around the world with a total delivery of 2.2 billion $ during 2020.
We help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We bring
to this task the values and principles of the United Nations and the innovation, boldness, speed and
efficiency of a self-financed institution.
UNOPS Albania office was established in September 2020. In Albania, we work with our partners on a
range of projects. This includes the EU4Culture project, our support to the government of Albania on the
COVID-19 response efforts, regional (Western Balkans) programs, supporting reform processes to
achieve EU accession and progress on country development agendas. We also work closely with the UN
Country team on sustainable development actively contributing to the UN Sustainable Development
Cooperation Framework 2021-2026 with the Albanian government.

Municipalities targeted by the Program
Ongoing Sites

Total Budget
Policymakers, academics, media, community representatives participated in Consultation meetings

Restored Sites
Site | Category | Region | Administrative Unit | Type of Intervation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mosaic on the façade of the National Historical Museum | Second Category | Tirana | Tirana | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
National Puppet Theatre | First Category | Tirana | Tirana | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans | Read More |
Ethnographic Museum in Kavaja | First Category | Kavajë | Kavajë | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content/ Musealization | Read More |
Archaeological Museum in Durres | Not a monument | Durres | Durres | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content/ Musealization | Read More |
Ethnographic Museum in Durres | First Category | Durres | Durres | Restoration | Read More |
Hamam in Durres | First Category | Durres | Durres | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content | Read More |
Venetian Tower | First Category | Durres | Durres | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content | Read More |
St. Anthony Church, Cape of Rodon | First Category | Durres | Durres | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Ethnographic Museum in Kruja | First Category | Krujë | Krujë | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content/ Musealization | Read More |
The Kurcaj Bridge | First Category | Krujë | Nikël/Kurcaj | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Monastery Church of Rubik | First Category | Mirditë | Rubik | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Bashtova Castle | First Category | Rrogozhinë | Kryevidh/Ballaj | Conservation/Infrastructure/Cultural Heritage and Bussines plans/ Digital Content | Read More |
Castle of Ishëm | First Category | Durrës | Ishëm | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Ruins of St. Mary | First Category | Kurbin | Mamurras/Shën Mëri | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Building of Formerly Persecuted | Second Category | Tiranë | Tiranë | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Former Archbishopric of Durres, Delbnisht | Second Category | Kurbin | Milot/Delbnisht | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
Ministry of Culture | Second Category | Tiranë | Tiranë | Conservation/Infrastructure | Read More |
National Library Fund | First Category | Tiranë | Tiranë | Digitalization | Read More |
National Gallery of Arts | Second Category | Tiranë | Tiranë | Digitalization | Read More |