Biological hazards are a major source of risk that may result in emergencies and disasters. They cause significant loss of life, affect many thousands of people, have the potential for major economic losses through loss of livestock and crops, and may also cause damage and loss to the natural heritage, including to endangered fauna and flora. The management of risks due to biological hazards is a national and community priority. It has been recognized as part of the Sendai Framework, and is globally addressed under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Biological hazards are of organic origin or conveyed by biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants, and mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents. These hazards are usually the result of a natural occurrence but can also result from deliberate or accidental release. Biological hazards also pose a risk to animals, including livestock, and to plants. The consequences of a biological hazardous event may include severe economic and environmental losses. Some examples of recent large outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics due to biological hazards either on their own or following a disaster are the Ebola Virus Disease (2013-2016), the ongoing outbreak of Zika virus infection, outbreaks of yellow fever (2016), and the ongoing Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic (2020-present). The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic situation has resulted in severe global social and economic disruption, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. It has led to widespread supply shortages exacerbated by panic buying, agriculture disruption, food shortages, and decreased emissions of pollutants. In Albania, the total number of affected by coronaviruses is 136.000 people, and 2463 deaths. In the second quarter of 2020, Albania had an economic contraction of 10.2%. This recession was first driven by a contraction in investments, private and public consumption, as well as a large fall in exports of 35%. Trade, transport and hospitality services contributed to the recession with a 27% decrease. As for the employment rates, there was a loss of 34000 jobs and an increase of the unemployment rate by 12.5%, showing a deterioration of the labor market in Albania. UNDP response on the pandemic situation was immediate and together with the UN family and other partners started to work on three priorities: supporting the health response including the procurement and supply of essential health products, under WHO’s leadership, strengthening crisis management and response, and addressing critical social and economic impacts. The occurrence of different types of hazards impacts the society, economy and environment in the country, deteriorating country risk profile. Increased vulnerability follows increased physical exposure of people and assets. Higher levels of exposure are a result of many factors including a lack of integration of disaster risk criteria into development planning generally and at all levels, and a lack of compliance with existent safety norms and standards. Assessing the risk of biological hazards can be challenging owing to their unique characteristics as agent diversity, routes of transmission, pathogenicity and virulence, hazard identification, endemic diseases with potential for epidemic transmission, sensitivity to climate, environmental or land use changes. Approaches in assessing the risks of biological hazards differ according to the purpose of the assessment and includes Strategic Risk Assessment, Rapid risk assessment and Post Event Assessment.[1] RESEAL project, intends to support the efforts of the Government of Albania for improving the disaster risk management (DRM) system in the country. The overall objective of the project is to strengthen Albania’s DRM system and support country’s efforts in becoming a fully-fledged member of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The project is also in line with promoting the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and is developed based on the Albania’s earthquake PDNA recommendations. Also, in light of the severe and acute public health emergency due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, measures related to risk preparedness and risk mitigation of biological hazards will be provided. The project is built upon the results of an ongoing two-tier UNDP pilots i) National DRR Capacity Assessment and ii) pilot intervention in Lezha Municipality. At central level, the findings of the DRR Capacity Assessment would facilitate the process of strengthening DRM policy framework through drafting of the National DRR Platform for DRR and the National DRR Strategy and its Action Plan. During the capacity assessment a parallel process focused on preparedness and response capacities related to management of biological hazards as a national and community priority. It has been recognized as part of the Sendai Framework and is globally addressed under the International Health Regulations. Civil Emergency Plans will be developed based on disaster risk reduction strategies, disaster risk assessment documents, civil protection capacities, new expert findings, as well as experiences gained in disaster management. At the institutional level, the project supports institutional strengthening of the new Civil Protection Agency (NCPA), whereas for creating an enabling framework for DRR, the project will further support membership to EUCPM. Therefore, UNDP is seeking for qualified expertise to continue and expand its work in the area of DRR at national level and ensure the continuity and coherence through building upon the results and progress made in 2021. In this respect, the services of an International Expert on Biological Hazards Risk Assessment to assist and work closely with national expertise are highly demanded contributing to the update of the Albania National Risk Assessment. [1] Words into Action Guidelines: National Disaster Risk Assessment Biological Hazards Risk Assessment -UNISDR 2017
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