The Football Association and UNHCR (the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) signed today at the “House of Football” a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in promoting the inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons, as well as social cohesion and youth development through football.
This memorandum, signed by the President of the Albanian Football Association, Armand Duka, and the UNHCR Representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kawauchi, reflects a joint commitment to use the power of football to strengthen the bonds between refugees and host communities across the country.
The agreement builds on the long-standing global partnership between UNHCR and UEFA, recognizing sport as a powerful tool for protection, inclusion, and well-being.
According to the memorandum, UNHCR and AFA will work together to create more opportunities for children and youth from both host and refugee communities to engage in football. The partnership will ensure safe and inclusive spaces where they can develop their skills in an environment that promotes teamwork, resilience, and solidarity.
Following the signing of the memorandum, President Duka stated that the signing of this memorandum is very important for the inclusion and support of all refugees living in Albania.
“This is not the beginning of our cooperation with UNHCR for the inclusion, integration, and support of refugees. We also held a friendly match in May, on the national day of refugees. Through this agreement, we will continue to develop awareness and inclusion activities for all refugees in our country.
Next month, we will take part in the Unity Cup, organized by UEFA, with a team of refugees from Albania. It’s not easy, as the refugees in Albania are undocumented. But in cooperation with the Dutch Embassy, we’ve put everything on the right track to make this activity happen.
This memorandum we are signing today formalizes our collaboration, which we’ve already had, and aims to elevate it to an even higher level. One of our goals is to impact the lives of Albanian society and all those living in our country through football. This agreement also serves that goal — to help improve the lives of refugees through football and to convey this message through our beautiful game.
I thank you once again for the trust you have in cooperating with us and for signing this agreement,” – said President Duka in his speech.
The UNHCR Representative in Albania, Toshitsuki Kawauchi, expressed his happiness and praised the Albanian Football Association for its support and solidarity towards the refugee cause.
“I am very happy that today we are formalizing this cooperation through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
For us, the UN Refugee Agency, the foundation is undoubtedly to provide refugees with the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity, wherever they may be — including in Albania.
Refugees who choose to live in Albania enjoy safety and a good standard of living. But sport is something universal, it speaks to everyone. And I would especially like to emphasize football, a sport beloved by a large part of the population in Albania and around the world.
Therefore, I sincerely want to thank you, President, and your team for this collaboration. Because not only are you and your team showing solidarity with the refugee cause, but in practice, some refugee children have already taken part in matches.
They’ve expressed, and I quote, ‘we don’t speak the same language, but we understand each other when we play.’
This is the spirit of sport, the spirit of football.
Thank you once again for your support and for the solidarity you are showing for the refugee cause. I am confident that our cooperation will continue to grow even stronger,” said Toshitsuki Kawauchi, UNHCR Representative in Albania.
