“Fighting corruption in forestry through public awareness and collaborative partnerships” is an 18 month initiative funded by EU CARDS 2006, implemented through SNV in Korça Region, to increase public participation and community action against illegal and corrupt activities. The project will also support improved mechanisms for addressing corrupt activities in forestry through collaborative partnerships between civil society groups, the State and local government, particularly in Korça Region.

“Although it is society that bears the costs of corruption, ultimately, it is the people whose livelihoods are directly affected and who live with the consequences of corrupt practices that suffer the most”- says Stavri Pllaha, team leader of SNV in Korça. “The public are either not aware of their role or rights to tackle corruption or feel disempowered to take action without clear mechanisms or support processes. Therefore SNV will try to raise public awareness and community action for anti-corruption issues and create collaborative partnership between actors civil society (Federation of Forest Users Associations), the State (District Forest Service, Bailiff, Prosecutors) and local government (Communes) as a mechanism to support anti-corruption efforts in forestry in Korça Region and beyond”- Pllaha says.

SNV winning proposal to EU include public awareness campaigns, establishing community “watch dog” groups within the existing structures of the commune level Forest and Pasture Users Association, building their capacity to monitor and report illegal activities and corruptive cases in their areas. The total sum of the project is 112,357 Euro and the EU covers 88.8%.

SNV has a successful track record in the forestry sector in Albania, which starts in 1996 with the Albanian Forestry Project. Due to SNV support, Albania has an extensive network of Forest Users Associations, organized in Regional Federations and National Association of Forest Users. SNV has offered capacity development support to local organizations involved in the reform of the forestry sector.

For further information, please contact Stavri Pllaha at spllaha@snvworld.org

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