Policies of Urban Research Institute

At URI, Environmental and Social Safeguards and Standards (ESS) form part of our institutional framework for responsible project design, implementation, monitoring, and oversight. We apply a risk-based and proportionate approach to identify, assess, and manage potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with our activities, while promoting transparency, inclusion, accountability, gender responsiveness, and stakeholder participation. Through this approach, URI seeks to avoid or mitigate harm, strengthen institutional integrity, and support sustainable and equitable development outcomes.

• Values, Ethics and Wrongdoing URI is committed to high standards of integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, and professional responsibility in all of its activities and operations. The organization maintains rules, responsibilities, and reporting mechanisms to promote ethical behaviour, prevent misconduct, and ensure that concerns or allegations of wrongdoing are subject to appropriate review, follow-up, and corrective action.
  URI's Code of Values and Ethics →
• Prohibited Practices, including Fraud and Corruption URI applies a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption, coercive, collusive, obstructive, and other prohibited practices, as well as to the misuse of funds, assets, or authority. Through internal controls, segregation of duties, oversight arrangements, documentation requirements, reporting channels, and response measures, URI seeks to prevent, detect, and address conduct that may compromise the lawful, transparent, and accountable use of resources.
  URI's Code of Values and Ethics →
• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing URI is committed to safeguarding its operations, partnerships, and financial flows from risks related to money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The organization applies a risk-based approach, including due diligence, screening, proportionate checks, documentation, and internal escalation procedures, in order to support compliance, protect institutional integrity, and reduce the risk of misuse of funds.
  URI's AML and CTF Policy and Procedures →
• Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment URI applies a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. The organization is committed to prevention, awareness, safe and confidential reporting, protection of affected persons, and prompt and appropriate action in response to concerns or allegations, with due regard to dignity, confidentiality, non-retaliation, and accountability.
  URI's Code of Values and Ethics →
• Gender Equality and Inclusion URI integrates gender considerations across its institutional practices and throughout the project cycle, including project design, implementation, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. The organization seeks to promote equality, inclusion, and meaningful participation, and to identify and address gender-related barriers, risks, and differentiated impacts in a systematic and proportionate manner.
  URI's Gender Policy →
• Environmental and Social Safeguards URI applies environmental and social safeguards to identify, assess, manage, and monitor potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with its activities. Through screening, proportionate risk assessment, mitigation measures, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, information disclosure, and complaints or grievance mechanisms, the organization seeks to support environmentally sound, socially inclusive, and sustainable interventions and to avoid, minimize, or remedy adverse impacts.
  URI's ESS Policy and Procedures →

Report Wrongdoing and Grievances

URI encourages any person who becomes aware of suspected wrongdoing connected to its activities or operations to report the matter in good faith through the designated reporting channels of the organization. Reports may relate, among other things, to fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, money laundering or terrorist financing concerns, sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment, breaches of values and ethical standards. URI encourages any person who becomes aware of environmental and social impact connected to URI's activity to report the grievance through the designated reporting channels of the organization. URI seeks to ensure that reports are received and handled in a confidential, fair, and timely manner, in accordance with its internal procedures, and that persons reporting concerns in good faith are protected from retaliation to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable framework. Where appropriate, reported matters may be reviewed, assessed, escalated, and, where appropriate, referred for external investigation or to competent authorities, in line with the national legislation.

• Reporting Channels Concerns regarding suspected wrongdoing or grievances may be reported through any of the channels below. Reports may be submitted by staff, contractors, partners, beneficiaries, or any other person who becomes aware of conduct that may be inconsistent with URI's rules, standards, or applicable requirements.
  E-mail Concerns may be reported by e-mail to info@uri.org.al. This channel may be used to submit information, supporting documents, or any relevant explanation regarding suspected wrongdoing. Reports submitted by e-mail should include, to the extent possible, sufficient detail to allow appropriate review and follow-up.
  Phone Concerns may also be reported by phone through URI's official contact number +355 4 224 5546. This channel may be used by individuals who wish to raise a concern directly and receive guidance on how the matter may be submitted and handled under URI's procedures.
  Mail Concerns may be reported via mail to URI's headquarter address: Street "e Barrikadave", building 14K, 4th floor, ap. 44, Tirana, 1057. Reports submitted via mail should include, to the extent possible, sufficient detail to allow appropriate review and follow-up.
  In Person Concerns may also be reported in person at URI's office. This channel is available for individuals who prefer to raise concerns directly and confidentially with an authorized representative of the organization.
  Online Report URI also provides an online reporting form for persons who wish to report concerns, also anonymously. Anonymous reports will be reviewed on the basis of the information provided, and meaningful follow-up will depend on the clarity, credibility, and sufficiency of the details submitted.

  Report

Procedures for Handling Reports

URI maintains formal procedures for the receipt, registration, review, assessment, escalation, where appropriate, referral for external investigation or to competent authorities, and closure of reports and grievances submitted through its reporting channels. These procedures are set out in the organization's Whistleblowing Policy and ESS Policy and Procedures, and related internal rules and are intended to ensure that concerns are handled in a structured, confidential, impartial, and timely manner. Following registration, each report is subject to a preliminary assessment to determine whether it falls within the scope of the applicable framework, whether additional information is required, and what follow-up action is appropriate.

• Investigation Procedure Where a report or grievance, after registration and preliminary assessment, indicates sufficient grounds for further action, the matter is escalated in accordance with URI's internal procedures through the appropriate management and governance levels, and, where required, to the Board of Directors. Depending on the nature, seriousness, and legal implications of the matter, URI may refer the case to the competent national authorities or mandate an external investigator to examine the facts and report on the matter.
  URI's Investigation Procedures →

Protection of the Reporter

URI prohibits retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports suspected wrongdoing or grievances, provides information, or otherwise assists in the review or investigation of a reported matter. The organization is committed to maintaining confidentiality to the fullest extent possible, protecting reporters from intimidation or adverse treatment, and handling reports in a manner that is fair, respectful, and consistent with applicable internal procedures. Measures for the protection of reporters are applied with due regard to due process, the integrity of the procedure, and the rights of all persons concerned.