8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 1

ADVOCACY TRAINING

08 November 2013

Sofia, Bulgaria

ADVOCACY TRAINING

08 November 2013

Sofia, Bulgaria

VIS Albania experience on

• LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

• TOURISM TOURISM TOURISM TOURISM CAPACITY CAPACITY CAPACITY CAPACITY

• & FOOD & FOOD & FOOD & FOOD PRODUCTION PRODUCTION PRODUCTION PRODUCTION

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 2

The specific problem

The rural area The rural area The rural area The rural area and mountainous in particular and mountainous in particular and mountainous in particular and mountainous in particular in Albaniain Albaniain Albaniain Albaniais far away from is far away from is far away from is far away from of the socioof the socioof the socioof the socio----economic economic economic economic ddddevelopment process evelopment process evelopment process evelopment process of the countryof the countryof the countryof the country

Identification

� AverageAverageAverageAverage farmfarmfarmfarm extentextentextentextent inininin AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania:::: 1111,,,,40404040 Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,inininin mountainousmountainousmountainousmountainous areaareaareaarea 0000,,,,60606060 HaHaHaHa andandandand lesslesslessless

� NoNoNoNo banksbanksbanksbanks presentpresentpresentpresent inininin ruralruralruralrural areaareaareaarea andandandand nonononocreditcreditcreditcredit availableavailableavailableavailable

� PersonalPersonalPersonalPersonal experience,experience,experience,experience, livinglivinglivingliving amongamongamongamong andandandandwithwithwithwith ruralruralruralrural familiesfamiliesfamiliesfamilies

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 3

What has been done to address the problem

� TheTheTheThe ItalianItalianItalianItalian CooperationCooperationCooperationCooperation TechnicalTechnicalTechnicalTechnical UnitUnitUnitUnit inininin AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania inininin 2006200620062006invitedinvitedinvitedinvited NGOsNGOsNGOsNGOs totototo definedefinedefinedefine aaaa strategicstrategicstrategicstrategic planplanplanplan forforforfor thethethethe developmentdevelopmentdevelopmentdevelopmentofofofof NorthernNorthernNorthernNorthern AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania

� InInInIn 2007200720072007 VISVISVISVIS setsetsetset upupupup thethethethe assessmentassessmentassessmentassessment andandandand inininin 2008200820082008 thethethethe projectprojectprojectproject ofofofofthethethethe IntegratedIntegratedIntegratedIntegrated RuralRuralRuralRural DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment inininin thethethethe mountainousmountainousmountainousmountainouscommunescommunescommunescommunes ofofofof KelmendKelmendKelmendKelmend andandandand ShkrelShkrelShkrelShkrel ((((2200220022002200 familiesfamiliesfamiliesfamilies livinglivinglivingliving inininin20202020 villages)villages)villages)villages)

� Later,Later,Later,Later, projectprojectprojectproject implementationimplementationimplementationimplementation beganbeganbeganbegan withwithwithwith thethethethe economiceconomiceconomiceconomiccensuscensuscensuscensus ofofofof allallallall thethethethe familiesfamiliesfamiliesfamilies livinglivinglivingliving inininin thethethethe areaareaareaarea

� CentralCentralCentralCentral andandandand peripheralperipheralperipheralperipheral levelslevelslevelslevels ofofofof Ministries,Ministries,Ministries,Ministries, RegionalRegionalRegionalRegionalandandandand LocalLocalLocalLocal AuthoritiesAuthoritiesAuthoritiesAuthorities werewerewerewere involvedinvolvedinvolvedinvolved forforforfor thethethetheassessmentassessmentassessmentassessment

� AAAA finalfinalfinalfinal MoUMoUMoUMoU waswaswaswas signedsignedsignedsigned bybybyby allallallall policypolicypolicypolicy actors,actors,actors,actors, locallocallocallocalCSOsCSOsCSOsCSOs andandandand NGOsNGOsNGOsNGOs ((((22222222 subjectssubjectssubjectssubjects))))

� PolicyPolicyPolicyPolicy actorsactorsactorsactors interestinterestinterestinterest growsgrowsgrowsgrows orororor fallsfallsfallsfalls dependingdependingdependingdepending onononontheirtheirtheirtheir realrealrealreal concernconcernconcernconcern inininin thethethethe areaareaareaarea

Policy Actors

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 4

Achievements

TheTheTheThe threethreethreethree yearsyearsyearsyears RuralRuralRuralRural DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment ProjectProjectProjectProject waswaswaswas setsetsetset up,up,up,up, mainlymainlymainlymainlyoperatingoperatingoperatingoperating throughthroughthroughthrough aaaa LocalLocalLocalLocal DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment FundFundFundFund,,,, consistingconsistingconsistingconsisting ofofofof::::

o aaaa CREDITCREDITCREDITCREDIT LineLineLineLine,,,, forforforfor peoplepeoplepeoplepeople whowhowhowho normallynormallynormallynormally areareareare excludedexcludedexcludedexcluded� 450450450450....000000000000 €€€€,,,, forforforfor 198198198198 microcreditsmicrocreditsmicrocreditsmicrocredits (it(it(it(it continuescontinuescontinuescontinues…………))))

o andandandand aaaa COMMUNITYCOMMUNITYCOMMUNITYCOMMUNITY InitiativesInitiativesInitiativesInitiatives FundFundFundFund,,,, totototo allowallowallowallow locallocallocallocalcommunitiescommunitiescommunitiescommunities totototo decidedecidedecidedecide onononon theirtheirtheirtheir needsneedsneedsneeds andandandand prioritiesprioritiesprioritiespriorities� 34343434 CommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity initiatives,initiatives,initiatives,initiatives, 443443443443....000000000000 €€€€ invested,invested,invested,invested,

nearlynearlynearlynearly 300300300300....000000000000 €€€€ thethethethe community’scommunity’scommunity’scommunity’s contributioncontributioncontributioncontribution

The Rural Development Project has allowed VIS to address the The Rural Development Project has allowed VIS to address the The Rural Development Project has allowed VIS to address the The Rural Development Project has allowed VIS to address the specific problem for for for for

a. Tourism capacity LackLackLackLack ofofofof awarenessawarenessawarenessawareness ofofofof ruralruralruralrural peoplepeoplepeoplepeople ofofofof thethethethe greatgreatgreatgreat valuevaluevaluevalue thatthatthatthathavehavehavehave theirtheirtheirtheir territory,territory,territory,territory, theirtheirtheirtheir productsproductsproductsproducts andandandand theirtheirtheirtheir cultureculturecultureculture

b. Food productionTheTheTheThe productionproductionproductionproduction atatatat familyfamilyfamilyfamily levellevellevellevel usuallyusuallyusuallyusually doesdoesdoesdoes notnotnotnot guaranteeguaranteeguaranteeguaranteeaaaa constantconstantconstantconstant qualityqualityqualityquality standardstandardstandardstandard andandandand aaaa regularregularregularregular delivery,delivery,delivery,delivery, whichwhichwhichwhichareareareare thethethethe mainmainmainmain criteriacriteriacriteriacriteria totototo respectrespectrespectrespect whenwhenwhenwhen enteringenteringenteringentering intointointointo thethethethemarketmarketmarketmarket economyeconomyeconomyeconomy

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 5

RURALRURALRURALRURAL TOURISMTOURISMTOURISMTOURISM appearedappearedappearedappeared asasasas thethethethe bestbestbestbest waywaywayway totototo easeeaseeaseease thethethetheinsertioninsertioninsertioninsertion ofofofof mountainousmountainousmountainousmountainous areaareaareaarea intointointointo marketmarketmarketmarket economyeconomyeconomyeconomy....TheTheTheThe problemproblemproblemproblem totototo facefacefaceface waswaswaswas persuadingpersuadingpersuadingpersuading farmersfarmersfarmersfarmers notnotnotnot totototo substitutesubstitutesubstitutesubstitute theirtheirtheirtheir oldoldoldold bedsbedsbedsbedsandandandand curtainscurtainscurtainscurtains withwithwithwith other,other,other,other, usuallyusuallyusuallyusually Chinese,Chinese,Chinese,Chinese, modelsmodelsmodelsmodels andandandand theirtheirtheirtheir traditionaltraditionaltraditionaltraditional foodfoodfoodfoodwithwithwithwith somesomesomesome fastfastfastfast----foodfoodfoodfood typetypetypetype sausagessausagessausagessausages orororor spaghettispaghettispaghettispaghetti....

LocallyLocallyLocallyLocally (but(but(but(but thethethethe realityrealityrealityreality ofofofofmountainousmountainousmountainousmountainous areasareasareasareas suggestssuggestssuggestssuggests totototosaysaysaysay “generally”),“generally”),“generally”),“generally”), anananan issueissueissueissue totototo addaddaddaddisisisis thatthatthatthat economiceconomiceconomiceconomic activitiesactivitiesactivitiesactivities arearearearemostlymostlymostlymostly “informal”,“informal”,“informal”,“informal”, thatthatthatthat isisisis notnotnotnotregisteredregisteredregisteredregistered atatatat all,all,all,all, nononono exceptionexceptionexceptionexceptionforforforfor touristtouristtouristtourist services,services,services,services, eveneveneveneven ifififif newnewnewnew....

RulesRulesRulesRules onononon hygienehygienehygienehygiene conditions,conditions,conditions,conditions,forforforfor homehomehomehome----producedproducedproducedproduced foodfoodfoodfood ininininparticular,particular,particular,particular, comecomecomecome onlyonlyonlyonly fromfromfromfrompersonalpersonalpersonalpersonal behaviorbehaviorbehaviorbehavior andandandand projectprojectprojectprojecttrainingstrainingstrainingstrainings....

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 6

AAAA voluntaryvoluntaryvoluntaryvoluntary CONSORTIUMCONSORTIUMCONSORTIUMCONSORTIUM ofofofof allallallall thethethethe handlershandlershandlershandlers ofofofoftourismtourismtourismtourism----relatedrelatedrelatedrelated economiceconomiceconomiceconomic activitiesactivitiesactivitiesactivities hashashashas beenbeenbeenbeen setsetsetset upupupup((((guestguestguestguest----houses,houses,houses,houses, touristtouristtouristtourist guides,guides,guides,guides, traditionaltraditionaltraditionaltraditional foodfoodfoodfood producers,producers,producers,producers,herbsherbsherbsherbs gatherers,gatherers,gatherers,gatherers, …………))))....

ItItItIt hashashashas aaaa commoncommoncommoncommon BRANDBRANDBRANDBRANDforforforfor all,all,all,all, sosososo thatthatthatthat thethethethe goodgoodgoodgood (or(or(or(orbad)bad)bad)bad) behaviorbehaviorbehaviorbehavior ofofofof eacheacheacheach oneoneoneonehashashashas goodgoodgoodgood (or(or(or(or bad)bad)bad)bad) effectseffectseffectseffects ononononthethethethe marketabilitymarketabilitymarketabilitymarketability ofofofofeverybodyeverybodyeverybodyeverybody....

TheTheTheThe ConsortiumConsortiumConsortiumConsortium givesgivesgivesgives aaaa formalformalformalformal lawfulnesslawfulnesslawfulnesslawfulness totototo allallallall thethethethe activitiesactivitiesactivitiesactivitiesofofofof itsitsitsits membersmembersmembersmembers………… ((((thethethethe incipientincipientincipientincipient stepstepstepstep ofofofof belongingbelongingbelongingbelonging totototo aaaabroaderbroaderbroaderbroader statestatestatestate communitycommunitycommunitycommunity))))

TheTheTheThe commoncommoncommoncommon brandbrandbrandbrand isisisis alsoalsoalsoalso aaaatooltooltooltool totototo introduceintroduceintroduceintroduce thethethethe neededneededneededneededrulesrulesrulesrules totototo respectrespectrespectrespect asasasas aaaa membermembermembermember....

A new task of the project is to adopt those rules, driven by A new task of the project is to adopt those rules, driven by A new task of the project is to adopt those rules, driven by A new task of the project is to adopt those rules, driven by the idea of a the idea of a the idea of a the idea of a “tomorrow in EU” “tomorrow in EU” “tomorrow in EU” “tomorrow in EU” for Albania. for Albania. for Albania. for Albania.

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 7

The road ahead… Next steps

………… areareareare definingdefiningdefiningdefining PRODUCTSPRODUCTSPRODUCTSPRODUCTS &&&& SERVICESSERVICESSERVICESSERVICES SPECIFICATIONSSPECIFICATIONSSPECIFICATIONSSPECIFICATIONSofofofof allallallall touristtouristtouristtourist servicesservicesservicesservices andandandand foodfoodfoodfood products,products,products,products, totototo increaseincreaseincreaseincrease theirtheirtheirtheirqualityqualityqualityquality andandandand totototo guaranteeguaranteeguaranteeguarantee thethethethe maintainingmaintainingmaintainingmaintaining ofofofof constantconstantconstantconstantcharacteristicscharacteristicscharacteristicscharacteristics....

…but also inviting Albanian policy makers to perform their …but also inviting Albanian policy makers to perform their …but also inviting Albanian policy makers to perform their …but also inviting Albanian policy makers to perform their duty as drafters of duty as drafters of duty as drafters of duty as drafters of the proper own rules the country needs the proper own rules the country needs the proper own rules the country needs the proper own rules the country needs to to to to advocate the basic role of small farmers on national welfare.advocate the basic role of small farmers on national welfare.advocate the basic role of small farmers on national welfare.advocate the basic role of small farmers on national welfare.

Lessons learnt

If EU is the If EU is the If EU is the If EU is the dreamed destination (FPAs is ready to signed), dreamed destination (FPAs is ready to signed), dreamed destination (FPAs is ready to signed), dreamed destination (FPAs is ready to signed), let the path be long and the walk be slow, ...let the path be long and the walk be slow, ...let the path be long and the walk be slow, ...let the path be long and the walk be slow, ...

(...otherwise Albania runs the risk of leaving on the road its rags)(...otherwise Albania runs the risk of leaving on the road its rags)(...otherwise Albania runs the risk of leaving on the road its rags)(...otherwise Albania runs the risk of leaving on the road its rags)

…SLOW EUROPE…SLOW EUROPE…SLOW EUROPE…SLOW EUROPE

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 8

8 November 2013

ESSEDRA Advocacy Training 9

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

VIS Albania – Vullnetarizmi Ndërkombëtar për Zhvillimin(International Volunteering for Development)

Rr. Don Bosko, Pall. Grapshi, Sek. I, K. 4, Ap. 1

Tirana-Albania

Tel./Fax: +355 4 24 06 114

Mob. +355 68 20 56 693

vistirana@albaniaonline.net

www.volint.it