Qatar continues to expand on its humanitarian operations around the world with the new grant agreement with the government of Albania to reconstruct educational facilities.

In recent months, Qatar has been at the forefront when it comes to providing aid – be it delivering medical equipment to countries as they combat the spread of COVID-19 or more recently to nation’s who’ve experienced large-scale disasters like Lebanon or Sudan.

This latest agreement was signed between the government of Albania and the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), a public development institution that works on delivering aid projects around the world. The grant of $5mn will help pay for the reconstruction of two secondary schools and one kindergarten in Albania’s capital. Qatar’s ambassador to Tirana, Ali bin Hamad al-Marri and the city’s Mayor attended the signing ceremony.

In a statement, QFFD said that the agreement aims at providing equal opportunities and high-quality education in Albania, through the reconstruction of schools equipped with all modern facilities.

Two secondary schools will be built on 8,000 and 3,632sq m, besides a kindergarten on an area of 1,875sq m. The new facilities will serve more than 3,000 children.

The project is one of the many collaborations between the two countries. Qatar had previously provided humanitarian aid to Albania through the QFFD in partnership with Qatar Charity, for the 2019 earthquake and to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The fund also finances the projects being conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The current agreement was signed during the celebration of the reopening of the Jeronim De Rada School in the municipality of Tirana, which was rebuilt with Qatari funding, after its destruction due to the floods in 2017.

In a speech during the opening ceremony, Ambassador Kuwari stressed that the reopening of Jeronim De Rada School ensures that Tirana children attain their right to education, a step towards achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals.

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