Open Society Foundation for Albania

The Open Society Foundation–Albania works to strengthen democratic participation and promote more transparent governance in Albania. Most recently, it has focused its energies on helping the country prepare for admission to the European Union, which calls for a broad range of social and political reform and brings together many of the foundation's core areas of concern.

Through an extensive monitoring process and media campaign, the foundation has called attention to several of the key issues at stake in EU integration, including: democracy and rule of law, human rights and basic freedoms, institutional harmonization with the EU, and budget transparency. The foundation has been instrumental in encouraging open communication over EU integration among Albanian government authorities as well as the wider public. At the same time, the foundation has worked to ensure that Albanian integration remains a priority on the agenda of European policymakers and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Another key focus for the Open Society Foundation–Albania is electoral reform. The foundation works to bring together government, civil society groups, and media to ensure that national and local elections are fair, accessible, and efficient. In addition, the foundation continues its long-term work of building local nongovernmental institutions to help communities cope with economic and social distress, protect minority rights, and improve education.