Projects

Social Mapping LNOB in the Municipality of Mat for Elderly

Title of the project: Conducting LNOB social mapping and evidence-based policymaking in the municipality of Mat for Day-care Center services for the elderly
Duration of the project: July 2023- May 2024
Donor: The Association for Local Autonomy of Albania
Aim and Objectives of the Project: The overall aim of the assignment is to contribute towards the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, improving the quality of life as well as fostering social cohesion at a local level by promoting the localization of Agenda 2030 and its objectives, in particular, the Leave no One Behind – LNOB principle at the municipal level.

The specific objectives:
- Contribute towards better design of local social protection policies for vulnerable groups in harmonization with national development plans
- Support the Municipality of Mat in implementing LNOB social mapping methodology in coordination with the local government staff. The methodology is elaborated within the NALAS e-Learning course “LNOB Social Mapping and Evidence-based Policy Making”.
- Support the Municipality of Mat in the development of policy recommendations based on social mapping findings and in line with priority SDGs and respective targets.
- Support the Municipality of Mat in the integration of the policy recommendations within the respective social protection program.

Key Achievements of the Social Mapping in Mat
Comprehensive Data Collection: Successfully conducted face-to-face interviews with 270 elderly individuals (135 women and 135 men) across all 8 administrative units of Mat Municipality, providing a gender-balanced and territorial representation.
Focus on Elderly Vulnerabilities: The mapping identified elderly people as a key LNOB group, highlighting issues such as poverty, social isolation, limited access to services, gendered vulnerabilities, and poor health infrastructure.
Identification of Service Gaps: The report revealed that Mat has only one Day Care Center for the elderly, visited by 91 men only, with no women attending, indicating a gender gap in access to services.
Policy Recommendations Developed: Concrete evidence-based recommendations were developed for the municipality, focusing on expanding services, increasing accessibility, enhancing gender-sensitive programming, and integrating Day Care services into local social protection plans.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement: The process engaged municipal staff, Red Cross representatives, health professionals, and NGOs through in-depth interviews and focus groups, creating a foundation for cross-sector collaboration.
Recognition of Socioeconomic Disparities: The research found that over 68% of elderly respondents' income does not meet basic needs, with 29.3% having no income at all, and a high prevalence of isolation and limited access to healthcare or social support.
Digital and Infrastructure Gaps Identified: Over 70% of the elderly lack digital access (computer/tablet) and many live in houses without suitable amenities, such as indoor plumbing or heating.
Targeted Analysis for Policy Alignment: The findings were aligned with the National Aging Plan (2020–2024) and the 2030 Agenda, supporting local efforts to localize SDG implementation and strengthen evidence-based planning.
Presentation of the LNOB Social Mapping Report in Mat Municipality. Click here for more information.