SNV Balkans has operations and offices in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro. In these countries, poverty, social exclusion and unemployment rates are amongst the highest in Europe and delivery of basic services is declining.  All four Western Balkan countries have small economies in need of connection to external markets, but face difficulties in competing on these markets due to limited capacities, insufficient infrastructure and low quality products. Significant portions of the population are unable to participate in the formal national economies and are forced to survive in the informal and marginalised economy. Rural poor areas and particularly minority ethnic groups and women suffer most from decreases in the quality of, and access to, basic services.

EU integration is the highest priority for development in the region. All four countries have signed Stabilization and Association Agreements with the EU which drive the development agendas in each country.  Macedonia is the only of these four countries to have achieved candidate status.  There are still many challenges to be overcome through the process of EU accession including improved governance, democratization and rule of law.

It is here that SNV Balkans has positioned itself, working with clients and partners to prepare institutions and communities for the EU accession process: its associated benefits and challenges. Besides this, we are trying to facilitate relationships and build trust among various actors of development in a region where the culture of conflict and mistrust has been dominant for centuries.

In addition, SNV Balkans is focused on the three primary sectors for rural economic development, tourism and forestry to increase income and employment in rural areas. These three sectors have been identified by the national governments as the most promising for the development of their countries.

Central to all of SNV’s work in the Balkans is fostering citizens’ participation in governance. In their communist past, Balkans’ citizens were used to wait everything from the state, and saw governance as something done in capitals by the “party leaders”. Strengthening the capacities of local organizations helps to ensure the inclusion of local needs and priorities in rural and regional development initiatives and in national policy development.