Speeches Shim
The AgroTourism project aims to improve the living conditions of inhabitants of rural areas of Shkodra, Malësi e Madhë and Puka through employment in a sustainable and vibrant agro-tourism sector. The project will support the creation of replicable agrotourism models, providing technical assistance to six fully operational agro-tourism farms in the region. It is implemented by an Albanian NGO, CEED Albania, which provides entrepreneurs business know-how through its accelerator programs and connects participants to mentors and to a community of entrepreneurs that can help take their small businesses to next level.
USAID, the Embassy of Sweden in Tirana, and the Center for Economic and Business Education (CEBE Albania) are implementing a $1.435 million, 32-month project, which will establish a Tourism Investment and Finance Fund in Albania. The Fund will be a multi-partner, member-owned, nonprofit financial association that will provide capital and technical assistance to MSMEs operating in Albania’s tourism sectorThe Fund will concentrate efforts to develop the agro-tourism and eco-tourism communities in rural, and natural and protected areas.
In July 2013 USAID and YSB Global Initiatives signed an MOU to enter into public-private partnerships demonstrating mutual commitment to promptly and proactively work together to further the shared goals in various countries. The key objectives of the partnership in Albania is to promote entrepreneurship and the development and growth of social businesses that effectively address the needs of low-income, vulnerable and under-served communities; develop sustainable incubation services and investment approaches that effectively support the above goal; and engage a wide range of additional organizations in the private, public and non-profit sectors in the advancement of social business and other innovative approaches to fostering high impact entrepreneurship.
SmartCapital aims to boost economic growth through access to finance and smart technologies to SME entrepreneurs. The 3-year program will mobilize a significant contribution of resources on a 1:3 basis, through innovative and market-based solutions. SmartCapital interventions will be country-wide with attention to rural and under developed areas. Growth oriented services will be delivered through sustainable practices and a wide network of partners and beneficiaries.
USAID seeks to strengthen Albania's financial sector stability and increase public confidence in the banking system in order to stimulate private sector growth, foreign direct investment, and job creation. Through this project, USAID activities build the Bank’s capacity to manage risks in the financial sector and within financial institutions, and enable the Financial Supervisory Authority to build capital markets as a source of non-bank finance for the private sector.
USAID places a strong emphasis on integrating youth considerations as a crosscutting factor in all our programming. USAID uses the term youth and young people interchangeably and while youth development programs often focus on youth in the 15 to 24 year age range, USAID programs also are likely to engage individuals aged10-29 as a broader youth cohort. In Albania, USAID projects seek to improve the capacities and enable the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities. Our programs allow Albanian youth to be better able to access economic and social opportunities, fully participate in democratic and development processes, play active roles in civil society, and have a stronger voice in, and are better served by local and national institutions.
Corruption continues to be a complex and pervasive challenge in Albania, impeding economic growth and damaging the faith of citizens in government. While the legal framework and inter-agency structures to reduce corruption are in place, including the recently passed judicial reform, implementation remains uneven.
To support local ownership and enhance the sustainability of development results, USAID is providing government-to-government (G2G) assistance to three of Albania’s municipalities to strengthen their public procurement and financial management practices.
The Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF) focuses on empowering individuals with disabilities and their family members, providing technical and policy-level advice, and raising public awareness. ADRF operates Albania’s only wheelchair production factory to address the needs of the estimated 7,000 people with mobility needs. ADRF currently operates Elbasan, Shkodra, Tirana, and Vlora.
This is a 24-month program, led by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), to assist parties to strengthen and sustain internal practices for accountability and transparency, and to advance debate on party finance through cross-party efforts for reform and public monitoring. Assistance will center on the Democratic Party (DP), Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), and Socialist Party (SP), although it will also support smaller parties that express interest and/or are represented in parliament. The project will simultaneously target civil society and media activists to promote effective monitoring and public awareness, coupling grassroots demand for transparency with parties’ “supply-side” efforts at reform. The project will work with the Central Election Commission and other international actors to ensure transparency and accountability in party finance.
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