Counseling Line for Women and Girls

What Counseling Line for Women and Girls does

Counseling Line for Women and Girls (Linja e Këshillimit për Gra dhe Vajza, LKGV) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization founded in 1996 in Tirana, Albania, to support women and girls who are victims of domestic and gender-based violence. It operates the national 24/7 helpline 116117 from a single call center in Tirana, providing free telephone counseling, face-to-face individual and group counseling, legal aid, and referrals. The organization has supported over 300,000 women and girls with direct assistance since founding, delivered more than 60,700 individual counseling sessions and 15,000 group sessions, and received 3,650+ calls in the first 11 months of 2025.

LKGV's service portfolio extends beyond crisis response to include the Counseling Line for Men and Boys (CLMB), the first and only rehabilitation program for perpetrators in Albania, and psychosocial support for women and children returning from conflict zones in Syria. Supporting infrastructure includes a 24/7 anonymous chat system on the website, a WhatsApp communication channel with safety-guidance features, and a Training Platform for local-level case assessment and referral units. The organization has been instrumental in shaping Albania's gender equality legal framework, contributing to the Law on Gender Equality, Family Code, Law on Measures Against Domestic Violence, and the National Registry of Sexual Offenders, which was operationalized through the e-Albania platform in July 2022.

The business model is nonprofit and grant-funded: all services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries, with operating costs covered by international donors (European Union Delegation, US Embassy, GCERF, Hedayah, Norway's Civil Society Programme), government contracts with multiple Albanian ministries, and strategic partnerships (Embassy of France, Vodafone Albania). The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on inter-institutional cooperation, referral mechanisms across 12 Albanian regions, awareness campaigns, and educational workshops in schools, rather than commercial sales.

Name

Counseling Line for Women and Girls

Legal name

Linja e Këshillimit për Gra dhe Vajza (LKGV)

Website

https://hotlinealbania.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Counseling Line for Women and Girls (LKGV) is a Tirana-based nonprofit founded in 1996 that operates Albania's national 24/7 helpline (116117) and provides free psychological counseling, legal aid, and referrals to women and girls who are survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services - Gender-Based Violence Support

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAAAG

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Gender violence counseling
• Domestic violence support
• Crisis helpline services
• Psychological counseling services
• Legal aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tirana

HQ country

Albania

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Project Funding: The organization operates as a nonprofit receiving funding from international donors, government partnerships, and foundations to support its programs and services.
2. Free Services Model: All services including psychological counseling, legal aid, and referrals are provided free of charge to survivors of gender-based violence. The organization advocates for free services including psychosocial and legal support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LKGV provides free psychological counseling, legal aid, and referral services to women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence in Albania. Services are delivered through a national 24/7 helpline (116117), face-to-face counseling sessions in Tirana, anonymous web chat, WhatsApp support, and municipal referral mechanisms. The organization also operates the Counseling Line for Men and Boys (CLMB), a rehabilitation program for perpetrators of violence.

Product overview

Counseling Line for Women and Girls (LKGV) is a nonprofit social services organization that operates as a single integrated service platform providing crisis support and counseling for survivors of gender-based violence. The core offering consists of the National Helpline 116117 (24/7 telephone counseling), face-to-face individual and group counseling, and referral services. Supporting services include anonymous chat and WhatsApp chat for confidential communication, plus a Training Platform for Case Assessment and Referral Units. The organization also runs the Counseling Line for Men and Boys (CLMB) rehabilitation program and publishes resources like the COVID-19 checklist. The Sorority app, which they promoted, is an international partner platform, not their own product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Counseling Line for Men and Boys (CLMB): First and only rehabilitation program for perpetrators of domestic violence and gender-based violence in Albania
• The Sorority

Products and services

• National Helpline 116117 24/7 toll-free national helpline providing free telephone counseling, psychological support, legal aid, and referral services for women and girls who are victims of domestic and gender-based violence across Albania.
• Face-to-Face Counseling In-person individual and group counseling sessions providing psychological support, legal advice, and social services for survivors of violence at the counseling center in Tirana.
• Counseling Line for Men and Boys (CLMB) Structured rehabilitation program for perpetrators of domestic violence and gender-based violence, providing behavior change interventions to prevent recurrence of violence.
• Training Platform for Case Assessment and Referral Units Online training platform providing capacity-building resources (training videos, promotional videos, podcasts) for professionals involved in case assessment and referral at the local level.
• Anonymous Chat Support 24/7 anonymous chat window on the website guaranteeing 100% anonymity for users to communicate directly with staff for confidential support.
• WhatsApp Chat Support Private and fast communication channel via WhatsApp for users to connect with counselors for support, including safety guidance on deleting communications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300,000 women and girls supported with direct assistance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Embassy of France in AlbaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Collaboration with Embassy of France to launch The Sorority app in Albania - an innovative solidarity platform with 370,000+ global users for community response and support for women and girls. Embassy also supports inter-institutional workshops on digital innovation for women's protection.
• Vodafone AlbaniaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 December 2025Collaboration during 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence for awareness activities and community outreach.
• Ministry of Health and Social ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry partnership for healthcare, social services, and gender equality programs across Albania.
• Ministry of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for legal reforms, free legal aid services, and justice system improvements for survivors of violence.
• Ministry of Education and SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for youth education programs, gender equality curricula, and violence prevention in schools.
• Ministry of Internal AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on violent extremism prevention, national security, and law enforcement coordination for protection of women and girls.
• Prefectures across AlbaniacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional coordination with prefectures in all Albanian regions for local implementation of programs and referral mechanisms.
• Prefecture of DibërminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional training for Committees on addressing violent extremism and radicalization in Dibër region.
• Prefecture of GjirokastërminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional training for Committees on violent extremism prevention and case management in Gjirokastër.
• Prefecture of KukësminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining for Regional Committees on violent extremism and community resilience building in Kukës.
• Prefecture of ElbasanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwo-day training for Regional Committees on radicalization prevention in Elbasan.
• Prefecture of KorçëminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining for Regional Committees on violent extremism and religious radicalization in Korçë.
• Prefecture of VlorëminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwo-day training for Regional Committees on violent extremism and religious radicalization in Vlorë.
• e-Albania PlatformcoreTechnology or IntegrationNational Registry of Convicted Sexual Offenders operationalized through e-Albania platform, enabling identification of sexual offenders.
• National Coordination Center Against Violent ExtremismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body co-organizing events and programs for violent extremism prevention and coordination.
• Center for Security and Peace Albania (SICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the organization structure, implementing security and peace programs including violent extremism prevention.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Women's Aid (UK): A UK-based federation providing domestic violence helplines, refuges, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a national-level DV/GBV service organization offering free helpline, counseling, and referral services with a focus on survivor empowerment.
• Refuge (UK): UK charity operating the National Domestic Abuse Helpline with a 24/7 service model, providing confidential support and refuge for women and children experiencing domestic abuse. Closely matches LKGV's helpline-plus-counseling model.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): US national 24/7 hotline for domestic violence survivors offering crisis intervention, safety planning, and referrals. Operates a very similar service model (always-available phone/chat hotline) for a comparable survivor segment.
• WAVE – Women Against Violence Europe: European network of women's shelters and specialist GBV service providers. Comparable as a regional umbrella for DV/GBV service organizations, with overlapping focus on legal advocacy and policy work in Europe.
• Kvinna till Kvinna (Woman to Woman): Swedish foundation funding and partnering with women's rights organizations in conflict-affected and transition countries, including the Western Balkans. Directly comparable as a funder/peer ecosystem partner to LKGV in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• UN Women – Albania Office: UN entity focused on gender equality and women's empowerment operating in Albania. Overlaps on GBV prevention, survivor support, and policy advocacy, with broader thematic and geographic remit.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization running women's protection and empowerment programs, including in the Balkans. Comparable on GBV case management, refugee/returnee support, and violence prevention programming.
• CARE International – Western Balkans: Large humanitarian organization with gender-based violence programming in the Western Balkans. Overlaps with LKGV on survivor support, GBV prevention, and women's rights advocacy but at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• UNFPA – Albania: UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and GBV response, active in Albania with survivor support and policy work. Comparable as a larger institutional actor in the same GBV service category.

Regional players

• Caritas Albania: Albanian social services and humanitarian organization providing community support, including some gender-related programming. Comparable as a domestic Albanian nonprofit operating in adjacent social support categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/hotlinealbania
• Facebookfacebook.com/hotlinealbania
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/counseling-line-for-women-and-girls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Counseling Line for Women and Girls