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New Regional Development Programme in Northern Albania

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A consortium of Intercooperation, ÖAR Regionalberatung (Austria) and co-plan (Albania) has been selected by SDC and ADA to implement a new Regional Development Programme in Northern Albania. The project is starting in January 2011 a four year phase, with a budget of 6 mio CHF.

The programme purpose is to support regional development in the Qarks (regions) of Lezha and Shkodra. These regions, inhabited by approximately 575'000 people are among the poorest areas in the country which faces important disparities (urban/rural, coast/mountains). There is a high rate of unemployment and very poor infrastructure. However, both Shkodra and Lezha have a number of assets that could allow further socio-economic development.


Albania’s decentralisation and regional development shall foster a more equitable national development. The Qarks shall play a major role in coordinating regional development planning while municipalities and communes are the lowest state level. RDP shall contribute significantly to an equitable social and economic development in Shkodra and Lezha regions (overall objective) while improving ‘equal access of citizens to quality public services and economic opportunities, in particular in disadvantaged areas through strengthening Quark institutions’ (programme purpose).

The expected results and their related key activities are four-fold: 1) supporting an effective institutional framework for decentralisation, aiming at equitable development outcomes; 2) strengthening the capacities of Qarks for development planning and delegated functions ; 3) comprehensive regional development planning and budgeting; and 4) accelerated regional development through project initiatives and their implementation.

The key target groups are the two decentralised government institutions (Qarks) of Shkodra and Lezha and, indirectly, a population of 330’000 inhabitants and their organisations. The two Ministries (MOI & METE) that are providing the framework and policies for regional development and decentralisation are complementing these key partners.

This new programme will be complementary to the SDC funded project “Decentralization and Local Development Program in Shkodra and Lezha Region” (DLDP II) also implemented by Intercooperation, that focuses on decentralisation.

For more information about RDP, please contact: pascal.arnold@intercooperation.ch.



Last modified 18-01-2011 12:01 PM
Achieving more together

Helvetas and Intercooperation entered a strategic partnership in 2008. Within the next 12 months, they will become one organisation under the name of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.