Launching Conference of the Second Call for Proposals
On March 31st, at the Tirana International Hotel, took place the launching conference of the second Call for Proposals of the Italian-Albanian Debt for Development Swap Agreement (IADSA II), in the presence of the Ambassador of Italy to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, AICS Tirana Representative, Stefania Vizzaccaro, the Albanian Minister of Economy and Finance Delina Ibrahimaj, the Director of the Albanian State Agency for Strategic Programming and Assistance Coordination (SASPAC), Ilir Beqaj, and the two co-directors of the IADSA Technical Support Unit, Basilio Toth and Ismail Ademi.
The current call aims to support initiatives promoted by Albanian public institutions in line with the national strategies and priorities for development and integration formulated by the Albanian Government and coherent with the Debt for Development Swap Agreement between Italy and Albania.
Projects may be implemented in cooperation with Albanian and Italian non-profit organisations, Italian local authorities, and Italian or Albanian universities.
Eligible initiatives are related to the following priority areas of intervention: inclusive and quality education, public health and preventive medicine services, social assistance services for people in need, social inclusion of vulnerable people, sustainable territorial development, valorisation of the Albanian cultural and tourism sectors, improved urban waste management, awareness-raising on the use of renewable energy, promotion of agricultural development and innovative solutions for protected areas and fragile ecosystems. The projects are selected through the Call for Proposals published on 20 March 2023 on the IADSA website. The deadline for submitting project proposals is 22 May 2023 at 12 p.m.
The conference was open to representatives of Albanian public institutions, Italian and Albanian NGOs, Italian local authorities, and international organisations operating in Albania.
During the presentation addressed to the journalists and the audience, the Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Bucci underlined the success that the IADSA Programme has gathered over the years, characterised by interventions with a concrete impact, which solve real problems of citizenship. Besides always raising a well-deserved interest, IADSA also represents an excellent example of Italian-Albanian collaboration.
The Representative of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the Western Balkans, Stefania Vizzaccaro, emphasised the positive experience of cooperation between the two countries represented by IADSA, and characterised by a strong focus on the principle of “leaving no one behind”.
Ms. Vizzaccaro also pointed out some innovative elements of the second IADSA II call, such as more funding for the single initiatives, between 400.000,00 and 500.000,00 euros, and co-financing by the Lead applicant.
The Albanian Minister of Economy and Finance Delina Ibrahimaj stated that IADSA may not have the visibility it deserves, however it remains of vital importance for regional development, social equality, disadvantaged groups, and remote areas, in line with Albania’s development policies.
The Director of the Albanian State Agency for Strategic Programming and Assistance Coordination (SASPAC), Ilir Beqaj recalled that also based on his experience, IADSA represents one of the best programs Albania has witnessed in the last 30 years. Both the Minister and the Director expressed the hope that this would not be the last IADSA call in the country.
