Tirana, March 7, 2025 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and UN Women, with the support of the Italian Government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) – Tirana Office have officially launched a new project to promote the economic empowerment of women in the rural areas of Northern Albania. Funded with 2.1 million euros over a total duration of 36 months, the project aims to strengthen gender-sensitive governance, combat gender-based violence, and promote the economic and social empowerment of women in rural communities.
The initiative focuses on four municipalities in Northern Albania: Shkodër, Bulqizë, Malësi e Madhe, and Dibër, selected according with socioeconomic challenges, including high female unemployment rates, poverty, and limited access to services. The project includes an integrated approach aimed at:
- Strengthening local governance mechanisms to ensure fair and inclusive policies and services for women;
- Supporting the economic empowerment of women through training and development of entrepreneurial and professional skills;
- Promoting gender-sensitive value chains in the agricultural and craft sectors;
- Combating gender-based violence and improving support services for survivors;
- Raising awareness in local communities about women’s rights and gender equality.
The launch ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila Denaj, and the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Marco Alberti. “Italy strongly supports the empowerment of women in rural areas of Albania, within the framework of SDG 5 and as a factor for growth and social development” stated the Ambassador. “Today, we are launching this project, supported by the Italian Cooperation, in order to celebrate International Women’s Day. We are grateful to the Albanian Ministries of Health and Agriculture, to UN Women, and to the various NGOs involved for their collaboration.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anila Denaj, stated that the project “will empower 220 extraordinary women in Bulqiza, Dibra, Malësia e Madhe, and Shkodra, who will receive support to build their future in beekeeping, the food sector, and agritourism”. Emphasizing the importance of empowering women in mountainous areas through sectoral policies and support schemes, the Minister added: “From 600 women benefiting from grant schemes, today we have reached 6,000, but the challenge remains: how to increase the representation of women in rural entrepreneurship.” With new investments in agriculture, agro-tourism, and subsidized financing for small businesses, we aim to create a stronger and fairer economy for women entrepreneurs. “These are not short-term policies but part of a five-year vision for a more developed Albania, more integrated into Europe.”
