Civil society and media in the country have played an important role in the management of both crises.To better understand the challenges faced and to improve for future response to similar crises the WFD in Albania commissioned a research study into the role of CSOs and media.

The study has found that civil society organisations during both crises proved to be instrumental in providing relief aid to the affected parts of population. The organisation underwent a rapid process of evolution and innovation in terms of self-organising, learning from one crisis to inform the response to the other, creating platforms to match needs and help, and employing digital tools to provide support, especially for psychological needs. These adaptations and changes in the mode of working were also driven by the lockdown and physical distancing necessities.

Meanwhile, the Albanian media has played a crucial role in providing timely information on the crisis, promoting human solidarity, mobilising funds, and conducting awareness-raising campaigns. During the Covid-19 pandemic the access to media information was limited for those directly affected by the sickness. A major issue noticed during both crises relates to the access to public information and institutions’ transparency. It should be noted that the crises emphasised the existing issues of transparency and trust in institutions.