UNDP, in cooperation with the Institute for Contemporary Studies in Tirana, has presented an Early Warning System Report to the Government of Albania and donors. The report identifies current risk factors, as expressed also through a nationwide ad hoc public opinion survey, and proposes the monitoring of social, political, and economic indicators in order to maintain national and regional stability within the framework of the Stability Pact.

The UNDP ARRO (Area Rehabilitation and Recovery Operations) offices, in cooperation with the Albanian National Training and Technical Assistance Resource Center, have initiated an integrated training course in communication skills and resource and project identification for local authorities and NGOs in the prefectures of Fier and Elbasan, as well as data collection & analysis and information management training to increase regional capacity for development planning. Other projects begun in January under the ARRO umbrella include: agricultural support to regions effected by industrial contamination; the supply of information technology to local government offices; and the linking of international donors to realize the rehabilitation of a 27 km rural road.

UNMIK opened a liaison office in Tirana in December 1999, headed by Nasra Hassan. The main task of the office is to support UNMIK HQ in Pristina, and to liaise with Albanian authorities on matters of mutual interest.

UNDP financed and provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Trade for the preparation of the first National SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) Strategy to create an institutional and legal framework for the promotion and strengthening of this weak sector.