Given the possibility for EU integration and the potential of industries such as tourism and agriculture there are tremendous opportunities for economic development in the region.

This future prospect influences the local mindset and activities of international organizations present in the region (EU, UNDP, World Bank, SIDA, GTZ, and others). SNV Balkans is part of this international effort and aims to contribute to development in the region by implementing a strategy focused on Localisation of the EU, or building capacity at the local levels to prepare them for EU accession and ensure that the eventual benefits of EU integration are experienced at local levels. SNV Balkans implements this approach through a focus on three primary economic sectors, forestry, tourism and agriculture and one basic service sector, drinking water supply.  We also support governance, local economic development, gender and social inclusion initiatives within our regional strategy. 

We have a multi-national team of 64 advisors located here in the region and broad in-country presence.

SNV Balkans has chosen to work in the following sub-sectors:

• Water & sanitation, more particularly safe drinking supply 
• Rural, community and/or nature and cultural tourism 
• Communal and private forest products 
• Agriculture, more particularly fruits and vegetables from small holder farms

Governance for empowerment, decentralization and gender are central to all of our work in the Balkans.  

SNV Balkans is a growing programme and this is clearly demonstrated in the current budget. While in 2007 there were Euro 5.4 million spent in our activities, this year there is an increase of 30% from the subsidy agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. This increase will be translated in more staff for our offices, more products, and increased partnerships with local capacity builders benefiting from our capacity development services. SNV Balkans is seeking to diversify its funding base and has already started to do so with some projects with the World Bank and SIDA in Albania.   

Read more about the way we work: the Support Program for the Strengthening of Local Government in the Diber region in Albania.