For the third consecutive year, SOLIDAR continues to build on a growing record of impact built with local communities across Albania. With the launch of the third year of the Small Grants Scheme, the project further strengthens its partnership with organizations that have become trusted partners and drivers of change within their own communities, bringing greater preparedness, stronger collaboration, and increased resilience in the face of health emergencies. SOLIDAR – Together in Health Emergencies is a project by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by GFA Consulting Group GmbH. Under Outcome 3, which focuses on empowering communities to prepare for and respond to health emergencies, SOLIDAR continues to work with five civil society organisations in Përmet, Pukë, Gramsh and Cërrik, Dajç, and Fushë-Krujë. For the past three years, these organisations have worked directly with local communities to strengthen preparedness, raise awareness, and support more effective responses to health emergencies. These organisations are no longer simply grant recipients. They have become established and trusted local partners, with strong connections to the communities they serve. Through sustained collaboration with SOLIDAR, tailored mentoring, and practical experience, they have strengthened their organisational capacities and expanded their impact at the local level.

A New Focus: Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health in Emergencies 

This year introduces a renewed and important focus on addressing domestic and gender-based violence during crises, while also strengthening mental health and psychosocial support in emergency situations. These challenges often become more severe during periods of crisis and tend to affect vulnerable groups most profoundly. The activities are designed to be inclusive and community-led, engaging women and girls, men and boys, young people, Roma communities, healthcare professionals, social workers, and other local stakeholders. The aim is to help communities become not only better informed, but also better prepared to respond, support one another, and navigate emergencies more effectively.

From the Field: Local Partners at Work 

On the ground, activities have already begun to deliver tangible results. In Dajç, the organization “Të Ndryshëm dhe të Barabartë” has launched its first trainings and started to develop a practical manual to support the prevention and response to domestic violence during emergencies. In Përmet, FLOEMI brought together healthcare and social service professionals in Këlcyrë for dedicated training on the identification and referral of gender-based violence cases, strengthening coordination at the local level. Porta Romë për Integrim in Fushë-Krujë continues ongoing meetings with Roma communities and school-based sessions with young people, focusing on mental health, wellbeing, and youth empowerment as agents of change. In Gramsh and Cërrik, Tjetër Vizion is implementing activities dynamically, placing communities at the center of discussions on preparedness and response to emergencies. In Pukë, Agropuka has facilitated discussions with young people and pensioners, highlighting real community needs, with particular attention to elderly people living alone, who are often among the most vulnerable during crises.