Since its accession to the Organisation in October 16, 1958, Albania has proven its continuous commitment to UNESCO by upholding its values and principles, its strategic objectives through an active and engaged participation within the work of the organisation while promoting cooperation, dialogue, transparency and coherence.

As a long-standing partner of UNESCO, the Republic of Albania is a firm supporter of effective multilateralism sharing UNESCO’s goals of promoting peace and security through collaboration in the four main domains of the organisation.

As a member of UNESCO, Albania seeks to intensify its efforts to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by joint efforts and inclusive dialogue. Some of our priorities for action include quality education, protection of cultural heritage while adressing climate change impacts, respect for fundamental freedoms, support for the diversity of cultural expressions, digital transformation, leave no-one behind – broader participation of women and youth in all four areas of the Organization’s activity.

Albania has been elected to various UNESCO bodies: four times to the UNESCO Executive Board (at the 34th Session of the UNESCO General Conference, it was elected for the second time as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2013-2017. Albania was re-elected in 2017 for a second term, for the period 2017-2021) and recently, during the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference, Albania was elected for the fourth time as a member of the Executive Board for the period 2023-2027.

Albania has been elected once as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the period 2010-2014. In 2027, Albania was elected a member of the Committee of the 1970 Convention on Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property and Chairman of the Committee for the period 2017-2018.

Albania is also a member of the Group of Friends for heritage, for gender equality, for the prevention of violent extremism through education and safety of journalists.

World Heritage

Albania has 4 World Heritage Sites:

2 cultural – Burint (inscribed in1992) and Historic Centers of Berat (2005) and Gjirokastra (2008);
1 natural (transboundary) – Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine – Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (inscribed in 2007);
1 mix – Albania and North Macedonia – Natural and Cultural Heritage of Ohrid Region.

ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage) elements

Albania has 2 elements inscribed in ICH:

Albanian Folk Isopoliphony – Representative List inscribed in 2008.
Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usage – Urgent Safeguarding List. Inscribed in USL in 2022.