RURAL-YOU
RURAL
ALBANIAN
YOUTH
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The experience gained by RTM, starting from 2015, in the mountainous regions of northern Albania has highlighted the strong isolation and scarcity of opportunities for young people in these most remote areas of the country. For this reason, in the first half of 2020, RTM and experts from local organizations carried out a feasibility study to analyze the condition of young people in the Shkoder, Kukes, and Diber regions. The study revealed a deep concern over the life perspectives of young people, and at the same time, rural youth was identified as a key actor to introduce substantial changes and support the development of their territory.
Context
The Albanian population is the second youngest in Europe although, the absolute number of young people has decreased in the last two decades. The national youth unemployment rate is 28.1%, certainly worse in rural areas, and the situation of young women is particularly worrying as well. Therefore, urban areas have been experiencing steady population growth, while a large decrease is observed in target rural areas.
These rural areas are characterized by a small number of urban centers and a large fragmentation of the population into small villages. Often the only chance available to rural youth is represented by migration towards urban areas or abroad.
Public policies have been ineffective so far in addressing issues related to the involvement of young people in agriculture and rural development, as well as the ever-increasing trend of their migration.
The possibility for these areas to survive and revitalize cannot be separated from retaining and attracting young people by focusing on the potential of the economic sectors already present (agri-food, rural tourism, etc.) and supporting youth participation in the social-economic life of the territory.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- young people (aged 18-35 years): 200
- formal grassroots organisations active in the agricultural and rural development: 12
- members of Rural Youth Hub (networking and advocacy platform for rural youth): 60
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The experience gained by RTM, starting from 2015, in the mountainous regions of northern Albania has highlighted the strong isolation and scarcity of opportunities for young people in these most remote areas of the country. For this reason, in the first half of 2020, RTM and experts from local organizations carried out a feasibility study to analyze the condition of young people in the Shkoder, Kukes, and Diber regions. The study revealed a deep concern over the life perspectives of young people, and at the same time, rural youth was identified as a key actor to introduce substantial changes and support the development of their territory.
Context
The Albanian population is the second youngest in Europe although, the absolute number of young people has decreased in the last two decades. The national youth unemployment rate is 28.1%, certainly worse in rural areas, and the situation of young women is particularly worrying as well. Therefore, urban areas have been experiencing steady population growth, while a large decrease is observed in target rural areas.
These rural areas are characterized by a small number of urban centers and a large fragmentation of the population into small villages. Often the only chance available to rural youth is represented by migration towards urban areas or abroad.
Public policies have been ineffective so far in addressing issues related to the involvement of young people in agriculture and rural development, as well as the ever-increasing trend of their migration.
The possibility for these areas to survive and revitalize cannot be separated from retaining and attracting young people by focusing on the potential of the economic sectors already present (agri-food, rural tourism, etc.) and supporting youth participation in the social-economic life of the territory.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- young people (aged 18-35 years): 200
- formal grassroots organisations active in the agricultural and rural development: 12
- members of Rural Youth Hub (networking and advocacy platform for rural youth): 60
GOAL
The overall objective is to strengthening rural youth’s interest representation and contribution to the implementation of Albania’s EU accession agenda in the agricultural and rural development sector in the long-term. The specific objective is to enhance youth participation in the social, economic, and political life of rural and remote communities of north-eastern Albania in the medium-term, namely in Shkoder, Kukes, and Diber Regions.
GOAL
The overall objective is to strengthening rural youth’s interest representation and contribution to the implementation of Albania’s EU accession agenda in the agricultural and rural development sector in the long-term. The specific objective is to enhance youth participation in the social, economic, and political life of rural and remote communities of north-eastern Albania in the medium-term, namely in Shkoder, Kukes, and Diber Regions.
ACTIVITIES
The project is an invitation to look at the rural world from the perspective of young people: enables rural youth to be aware of the opportunities available at the sector level, actively participate in the sustainable growth of their territories, exercise their voice in the public arena.
Activities are divided into 3 Clusters (AC), pillars of the intervention strategy, reflected in Project outputs:
AC 1 – AWARENESS
To increase awareness on the role of youth in Albania’s agriculture and rural development reform.
Information campaign targeted at young people on the agricultural and rural development situation in Albania; training on the empowerment of rural youth for civil society organizations, grassroots organizations, local authorities, and young people; a campaign on social media on good practices of the Project.
AC 2 – ACTIVISM.
To increase activism of young people on sustainable development of target rural areas.
Set-up of the RURAL-YOU Endowment Fund to guarantee financial support for innovative initiatives for rural development in agriculture, sustainable tourism and safeguarding the rural environment. The Fund will target grassroots organizations for medium-scale initiatives, focused on youth employment and professional development; informal groups of young people and / or young people, for the launch and / or promotion of small-scale entrepreneurial and self-employment initiatives through the “Young Rural Producers” competition. Establishment of a youth support pool, made up of experts from partner organizations, to provide technical assistance throughout the implementation cycle of their initiatives.
RURAL-YOU ENDOWMENT FUND
AC 3 – NETWORK
To consolidate the Rural Youth Hub platform as a pilot experience to engage young people living in remote areas in networking actions and the policy dialogue.
Participatory workshops to develop its internal organization and strategic planning; peer-to-peer visits for sharing experiences with important rural youth initiatives at the national and EU level; a training course on advocacy for rural development. All this with the aim of offering more opportunities for Albanian rural youth to better represent their interests and influence policies and decision-making at local, national and EU levels.
RURAL YOUTH HUB – PRESS RELEASE
RURAL YOUTH HUB –DEKLARATË PËR SHTYP
PARTNERS
- PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION – PFD
- ADAD Malore – The Organization of Agriculture Development in Mountainous Regions
- AGROPUKA
Affiliated Entity
Associate
Other cooperations
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
NEWS
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