The Center for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to the study of economic and social issues in Albania following the democratic changes of 1990. Naturally areas like migration, issues related to marginalize societal groups like Roma, economic and social development as well as regional and European integration became the main areas of CESS research activity. With more than 100 successfully implemented projects and research studies in Albania and South Eastern Europe, CESS currently constitutes a main informative resource center on socio-economic issues, specifically on Albanian migration. CESS continuously and actively engages in public awareness activities, encourages professional debate and policy formulation on socio-economic issues.
Established by a group of academics and researchers in 1995, CESS has been consolidated throughout the years considering not only the large number of implemented studies and/or projects, but more importantly concerning their significance and importance for the Albanian reality. Its work has continuously been supported by a large number of diverse international donors including the EU programmes, the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, IFAD, DFID, Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development, Open Society Foundation Albania, Democracy European Training Foundation (ETF), British Council, Roma Education Fund (REF), Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Olaf Palme Center and many others.
The research work of CESS has been included and referred to in many important publications of international organizations.
In addition, CESS cooperates in regional research projects with think tanks and universities from the Balkans, Western Europe and the US. CESS is currently a member of three research networks:
The International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion Centre of Excellence (IMISCOE) since January 2007;
The Development Research Center on Migration Globalization and Poverty (Migration DRC, http://www.migrationdrc.org/partners/cess.html) since 2003; and
The European Values Study (http://www.europeanvaluesstudy.eu/) since 2008.
Mission
Through research studies, project implementation, and public events, CESS aims to influence public policy-making and increase public awareness on economic and social challenges in Albania.
CESS continuously works for building a regional research network on migration issues and in other areas of interest by exchanging information and engaging in joint research studies with similar organizations.