1. SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN ALBANIA SOCIALNET This project is funded by the European Union.

2. 2 History of Social Enterprises in Albania History of Social Enterprises in Albania Social enterprise is in its earliest phase of development in Albania, with only a handful of organisations actively applying business practice in the pursuit of social aims. Social enterprise is in its earliest phase of development in Albania, with only a handful of organisations actively applying business practice in the pursuit of social aims. The concept remains virtually unknown outside of a select number of civil society organisations that have in almost all cases been long-term partners of Italian development NGOs working in Albania from which they have received considerable financial support and capacity-building assistance over an extended period for their non-profit activities. The concept remains virtually unknown outside of a select number of civil society organisations that have in almost all cases been long-term partners of Italian development NGOs working in Albania from which they have received considerable financial support and capacity-building assistance over an extended period for their non-profit activities. This project is funded by the European Union.

3. 3 History of Social Enterprises in Albania History of Social Enterprises in Albania The social enterprise in Albania is already a reality, even though in the absence of the legislation that defines its special status. The social enterprise in Albania is already a reality, even though in the absence of the legislation that defines its special status. This project is funded by the European Union.

4. 4 Its economic and social impact, although in a small size, is meaningful for the community where it operates for the quality and the type of services it provides, and also for the employment of the vulnerable categories that usually remain out the labor market. Its economic and social impact, although in a small size, is meaningful for the community where it operates for the quality and the type of services it provides, and also for the employment of the vulnerable categories that usually remain out the labor market. This project is funded by the European Union.

5. 5 When we talk about social enterprises in Albania, we refer to an existing reality that according to Law nr. 8788/01 has the legal status of Non-Profit Organizations NPOs (Association, Foundation or Center), carries out an economic activity that: When we talk about social enterprises in Albania, we refer to an existing reality that according to Law nr. 8788/01 has the legal status of Non-Profit Organizations NPOs (Association, Foundation or Center), carries out an economic activity that: has no intention to generate profit (profit can be generated, that is not distributed to shareholders, has no intention to generate profit (profit can be generated, that is not distributed to shareholders, but is used to achieve the objectives of the organization); but is used to achieve the objectives of the organization); has a social objective serving the general interest of the collectivity; has a social objective serving the general interest of the collectivity; is based on democratic principles and participation regarding to internal organization and governance system. is based on democratic principles and participation regarding to internal organization and governance system. This project is funded by the European Union.

6. 6 Legal Framework Legal Framework Even in the absence of legal recognition, many Albanian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have set up real social enterprises, with all the features outlined in the recent European Documents. Therefore, in absence of a dedicated legislation in our country, we have referred to the definition provided by the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, COM (2011) 682, in order to create a favourable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and innovation. Thus, the term “social enterprise” can be defined thus: Even in the absence of legal recognition, many Albanian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have set up real social enterprises, with all the features outlined in the recent European Documents. Therefore, in absence of a dedicated legislation in our country, we have referred to the definition provided by the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of the Regions, COM (2011) 682, in order to create a favourable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and innovation. Thus, the term “social enterprise” can be defined thus: enterprises providing social services and/or goods and services to vulnerable persons (access to housing, health care, assistance for elderly or disabled persons, inclusion of vulnerable groups, child care, access to employment and training, dependency management, etc.); and/or enterprises providing social services and/or goods and services to vulnerable persons (access to housing, health care, assistance for elderly or disabled persons, inclusion of vulnerable groups, child care, access to employment and training, dependency management, etc.); and/or This project is funded by the European Union.

7. 7 Legal Framework Legal Framework enterprises with a method of production of goods or services with a social objective (social and professional integration via access to employment for people disadvantaged in particular by insufficient qualifications or social or professional problems leading to exclusion and marginalization) but whose activity may be outside the realm of the provision of social goods or services. enterprises with a method of production of goods or services with a social objective (social and professional integration via access to employment for people disadvantaged in particular by insufficient qualifications or social or professional problems leading to exclusion and marginalization) but whose activity may be outside the realm of the provision of social goods or services. This project is funded by the European Union.

8. 8 Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is the first strategic supporter of drafting the law on social entrepreneurship in Albania, with the technical assistance of the Emilia Romagna Region Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is the first strategic supporter of drafting the law on social entrepreneurship in Albania, with the technical assistance of the Emilia Romagna Region The creation of social enterprises will favor hiring of vulnerable categories of people as well as the production of goods and services with social benefits and in the community’s interest. The creation of social enterprises will favor hiring of vulnerable categories of people as well as the production of goods and services with social benefits and in the community’s interest. The new law, which is expected to be approved in 2013, will create conditions for the promotion of social entrepreneurship in various areas of services and manufacturing activities but it will help the implementation of policies and strategies developed by the Ministry for the coming years, in view of the country path of accession to the European family The new law, which is expected to be approved in 2013, will create conditions for the promotion of social entrepreneurship in various areas of services and manufacturing activities but it will help the implementation of policies and strategies developed by the Ministry for the coming years, in view of the country path of accession to the European family This project is funded by the European Union.

9. 9 CSO Movements to prepare for Social Entrepreneurship CSO Movements to prepare for Social Entrepreneurship An Albanian Forum of Social Enterprises was created in January 2012 by a group of social enterprises and civil society organizations, which feel that time has come for social enterprises to find its place and fully participate in the cultural, political, economic development and above all in the moral growing of Albania, in view of our country's accession to the EU. A part of these social enterprises have already accomplished training with the support of the Emilia Romagna Region and participated in a consultation roundtable to draft a law on social enterprises, carried out by MOLSAEO. An Albanian Forum of Social Enterprises was created in January 2012 by a group of social enterprises and civil society organizations, which feel that time has come for social enterprises to find its place and fully participate in the cultural, political, economic development and above all in the moral growing of Albania, in view of our country's accession to the EU. A part of these social enterprises have already accomplished training with the support of the Emilia Romagna Region and participated in a consultation roundtable to draft a law on social enterprises, carried out by MOLSAEO. The Forum is inspired by universal the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, and supports the creation of a social economy through the promotion of development, mutual aid, community networking, the right to work of socially excluded and vulnerable persons, quality service delivery to citizens and communities. The Forum is inspired by universal the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, and supports the creation of a social economy through the promotion of development, mutual aid, community networking, the right to work of socially excluded and vulnerable persons, quality service delivery to citizens and communities. This project is funded by the European Union.

10. 10 The Forum has gained a strong support by TACSO Project in Albania and A Research Report: Social Economy in Albania – A Survey on Social Enterprises has been produced in March 2013 in order to identify and map the status of social enterprises in Albania, including recommendations and highlights how social enterprises are able to provide innovative answers to social the needs, for they feel free from bureaucratic constraints and closer to the people The Forum has gained a strong support by TACSO Project in Albania and A Research Report: Social Economy in Albania – A Survey on Social Enterprises has been produced in March 2013 in order to identify and map the status of social enterprises in Albania, including recommendations and highlights how social enterprises are able to provide innovative answers to social the needs, for they feel free from bureaucratic constraints and closer to the people Social enterprises are founded on the basis of a mission that makes them very reliable and brings enthusiasm to the social operators’ performance. This increases their efficiency and adds the social impact. The service beneficiaries feel appreciated not as being part of a group with difficulties or social problems, but as human persons with dignity, rights and freedoms. Social enterprises are founded on the basis of a mission that makes them very reliable and brings enthusiasm to the social operators’ performance. This increases their efficiency and adds the social impact. The service beneficiaries feel appreciated not as being part of a group with difficulties or social problems, but as human persons with dignity, rights and freedoms. This project is funded by the European Union.

11. 11 Why Social Enterprises in Albania? Why Social Enterprises in Albania? At the regional level, social enterprises are a privileged partner of the local government, regarding social inclusion strategies, because they do create employment for people with disadvantages, as well as in the provision of qualitative and often innovative social services. Social enterprises are particularly effective in the area of communities with scarce resources and tools. At the regional level, social enterprises are a privileged partner of the local government, regarding social inclusion strategies, because they do create employment for people with disadvantages, as well as in the provision of qualitative and often innovative social services. Social enterprises are particularly effective in the area of communities with scarce resources and tools. Social enterprises can be an effective tool for civil society organizations to ensure financial and economic stability, in terms of the global economic crisis and the reduction of foreign donations. They can also support the legislative process in favor of the civil society. Social enterprises can be an effective tool for civil society organizations to ensure financial and economic stability, in terms of the global economic crisis and the reduction of foreign donations. They can also support the legislative process in favor of the civil society. In the community context, the social enterprise helps to involve citizens in creating a welfare system for the community, responding to its cultural, economic and social characteristics. The direct participation of citizens and groups in need increases the level of responsibility and solidarity. In the community context, the social enterprise helps to involve citizens in creating a welfare system for the community, responding to its cultural, economic and social characteristics. The direct participation of citizens and groups in need increases the level of responsibility and solidarity. This project is funded by the European Union.