Development of Disaster Risk Assessments for the Municipalities of Shkodër County and Shkodër Prefecture
Donor: Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and the Government of Albania, through UNDP’s RESEAL II project, with the cooperation of the National Civil Protection Agency
Implementation period: January 2026 – August 2026
This assignment aims to support the municipalities of Shkodër County and Shkodër Prefecture in the preparation of Disaster Risk Assessments, as key documents for strengthening local planning, improving institutional preparedness and reducing disaster risk at the local level.
The process covers the municipalities of Shkodër, Vau-Dejës, Pukë, Malësi e Madhe and Fushë-Arrëz, which present different risk profiles, ranging from floods in lowland and riverine areas to landslides, wildfires, seismic risk, technological hazards and the growing impacts of climate change in mountainous and rural territories.
In the framework of this assignment, CoPlan and MetroPOLIS will support the municipalities and the Prefecture through a structured, participatory and evidence-based process, combining technical analysis with local knowledge. The methodological approach includes vulnerability and capacity assessment, risk identification and analysis, GIS-based risk mapping, consultations with local stakeholders and institutional validation of findings.
The assessment will address the main dimensions of risk, including the physical exposure of buildings, infrastructure and critical services; the social vulnerability of groups in need; economic impacts on livelihoods, agriculture, tourism and local businesses; environmental risks and ecosystems; as well as the exposure of cultural heritage and locally important assets.
An important part of the process is dedicated to strengthening the capacities of local civil protection structures. Through technical meetings, workshops, trainings and the engagement of Municipal Civil Protection Commissions, the assignment aims to improve the ability of local institutions to understand, update and use risk data in planning and decision-making.
Special attention will be given to the inclusion of communities and vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, communities in need and groups exposed to different hazards. This ensures that the risk assessment is not only a technical document, but also an instrument that reflects the real experiences, needs and priorities of local communities.
The expected results include the preparation of risk assessments for each municipality, the development of a consolidated assessment at county/prefecture level, the updating of GIS-based risk data and maps, and the strengthening of institutional capacities to use these instruments in local planning, emergency preparedness and investments for disaster risk reduction.
This initiative continues CoPlan’s tradition of supporting local actors in strengthening their capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction, following the pilot experience with the Municipality of Lezhë; the development of DRR Strategies for the municipalities of Fier County; and a series of inter-municipal trainings on disaster risk data management and financing for disaster risk reduction.
This assignment is developed in the framework of RESEAL II – Strengthening Resilience in Albania, implemented by UNDP, with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Government of Albania, in cooperation with the National Civil Protection Agency.