“Integrated Program for Rural Development – 100 Villages Program”

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“Integrated Program for Rural Development – 100 Villages Program”

i) Purpose of the Program

The Integrated Program for Rural Development (PIZHR) – The 100 villages program aims to coordinate development interventions in the rural area of 100 villages, defined in appendix B of this strategy, according to the cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, breaking away from fragmented interventions and with strict sectoral approaches, that are happening or expected to happen in the country.

ii) Objectives of the Program

PIZHR will program interventions with integrated investments in the designated areas (100 villages), through 3 objectives as follows:

a) Improvement of public infrastructure (support for road infrastructure, revitalization of public/urban spaces, community infrastructure, public services, environmental and tourist infrastructure, monuments of cultural heritage, multifunctional community centers, environmental landscape, etc.)

b) Economic development through the diversification of economic activities (improvement of tourist potential in rural areas, agrotourism and rural tourism, investments in the improvement of commercial services, investments in the production of traditional products and other economic-financial services, etc. Support for product incubators traditional rural areas, promotion and marketing of rural areas, transport services, local fairs and festivals, etc.)

c) Development of social and human capital, (support for the creation of rural networks, local action groups as well as civil society in rural areas, professional training for young people and women, support for cultural heritage, support for the promotion of traditions and lifestyle in village, etc.)

Duration of the program

“Integrated Program for Rural Development – Program of 100 villages”, will be implemented in the period 2018-2020.

Application

The projects financed in the framework of the 100 villages program will be implemented mainly by municipalities as well as other public agencies (Regional Development Agencies 1,2,3 and 4, Regional Economic Development Agency, National Tourism Agency, ADF, MADA, etc.).

The program will also support projects proposed by civil society organizations (CSOs), individuals, farmers, legal entities, etc., in accordance with the legislation in force.

Funding of the program

The 100 villages program can be financed from the budgets of the ministries participating in the program. In detailing the funds for investments, allocated in the respective budgets of the ministries or their dependent institutions, the ministries participating in the program will aim to give priority to the projects identified and implemented in the defined area of 100 villages.

The projects identified in the framework of the 100 villages program can also be financed by the Regional Development Fund, according to the criteria and rules determined by the Regional Development Committee.

Participating ministries can sign cooperation agreements for grants, for the financing of this program by donors and with foreign funding.

The program can be financed from any other legal source or through public-private partnership mechanisms.

Strategic Projects

Within the framework of the 100 villages program, 3 strategic projects have been identified which will be implemented with high priority:

i) Creation of the Albanian agrotourism network

The program will aim to support about 27 new agritourism enterprises and 150 guesthouses. The support will also aim at the improvement of farms and livestock stables for the purposes of agritourism and rural tourism.

ii) Network of incubators of traditional products

The program will aim to create a network of “Traditional Product Incubators”, which will be spaces that provide ready infrastructure for the entire product value chain, starting from production/storage facilities and equipment, packaging lines and marketing, support for standardization and certification as well as space for product sales.

iii) The network of brands/shops of Albanian and traditional products

Traditional Albanian products have shown that they have difficulty penetrating the markets and retail stores, for the reasons explained in sub-point ii). In support of the last “link” of the value chain (sales), the program will aim to create a network of brands/stores that will be specialized in the sale of Albanian products, especially traditional products. It will be aimed for this network to have its own name (brand/brand) that distinguishes it from other networks and based on a special marketing and franchise strategy, it will be able to create a critical mass of stores that will make it possible increasing the sales percentage of Albanian/traditional products. Financial support for the establishment of this network will be provided within the framework of the 100 villages program.”

Administrative Authority

For the administration of the Integrated Program for Rural Development (PIZHR) – the Program of 100 villages, the “Interministerial Commission for the Program of 100 villages” is created with the composition of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy as well as Minister of Culture.

Interministerial Commission for the Program of 100 villages

The interministerial commission meets regularly to decide on the progress of the program, but not less than once every three months. The Commission, as the highest decision-making authority of the program, decides on all matters related to the administration, programming, financing, implementation and monitoring of the program. In particular, the Commission decides on:

• Review and approval of village development plans and project ideas, which are presented to the commission for support from the “100 Villages Program”;
• The proposal for the amount of annual financing for the 100 villages program, from the budgets of the ministries participating in the program, and/or other ministries as well as from the RDF;
• Cooperation agreements with donors and other partners, for the support of the 100 villages program;
• Approving the program implementation progress report;
• Any other matter related to the administration of the program;

For a better coordination and coordination of the program, the commission holds consultative meetings with the municipalities and the donor community.

For the implementation of this program, the Commission cooperates in particular with municipalities and Regional Development Agencies, as well as with other public or private partners, who are interested in supporting the 100 villages program.

Technical Secretariat

For the best possible administration of this program, the Commission is supported by the Technical Secretariat that is created at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Technical Secretariat performs auxiliary and administrative tasks.

Ministries participating in the program appoint their contact persons (at the level of the head of the ministry), who are the connecting bridge between the technical secretariat and the relevant ministries.

The Technical Secretariat performs the following tasks:

• Answers for the organization and keeping of minutes of the meetings of the Commission;
• Prepares materials and written reports on the progress of program implementation;
• Informs and coordinates the work with public institutions, municipalities, implementing agencies as well as with other partners, in implementation of the tasks determined by the commission;
• Takes care of the administration of the 100 villages program website;
• Cares for public information and transparency of the 100 villages program;
• Performs any other duties assigned by the commission.