Tirana, 25 August- After extensive stakeholder consultation, information collection and analysis, SNV is ready to start the Prokletije/Bjeshket e Namuna programme, named after the protected area shared between Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. Meaning “Cursed Mountains” in both Albanian and Montenegrin, this area is home of about 45 000 people and among these are some of the poorest communities in Europe.

 “We are giving good news to the Albanians living in the North, “- the Albanian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration said today during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding with SNV on “Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation & Sustainable Rural Economic Development in Prokletije/Bjeshkët e Namuna (Montenegro/Albania)”

Minister Xhuveli expressed his gratitude to SNV for the readiness and the commitment to help sustainable rural development. “We are sure that this cooperation will bring fruitful results because SNV is a reliable partner for us as demonstrated in previous and ongoing activities in forestry sector with SIDA and World Bank”- Mr Xhuveli said.

On behalf of SNV, the MoU was signed by Jack Cortenraad, Director of SNV in Albania. “For SNV it is important that people living in these protected areas stay there and have opportunities to run a decent life, have job and incomes and access to basic services”, he said. “We are happy to join hands with the government (central and local), IUCN, WWF and the Government of Finland to build the capacities of the public, private and civic actors for dialogue and joint action for the development of Bjeshket e Namuna/Prokletije area.”

With the financial support of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SNV in partnership with IUCN and WWF will start preparing the ground for the establishment of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in both sides of the border. The cross-border dimension is of particular importance as both countries are in the process of EU membership.

LAGs are made up of public and private partners from the rural territory, and must include representatives from different socio-economic sectors. They can receive and manage financial assistance to implement local development strategies, by awarding grants to local projects. LAGs are expected to be the main conduit of future EU funding for rural development (pre-accession processes and eventually structural funds). LAGs will be instrumental in designing and implementing various economic development projects – including supportive infrastructure, and specifically in the fields of natural produce/non-timber-forest-products, organic agriculture and tourism – under the frame of a larger Programme.

A similar and separate agreement has been established between SNV and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Consumer Protection in Albania and the respective Ministries in Montenegro.

For questions, remarks or discussion please call or e-mail:

Jan-Willem Knegt

Project team leader

jknegt@snvworld.org

+382 – 67 – 245 230