Women and girls from rural areas of Albania are the driving force that keeps our communities alive, contributing at every stage in the value chain and benefiting local economies. Despite this, the contribution of rural women often remains invisible, undervalued and unsupported. Even though they are the backbone of agriculture and rural development, they own only around 11% of agricultural land in Albania. In many cases, they are co-owners within the household, yet their names are missing from property certificates. This denies their rights, limits their access to services and financial support and reduces their ability to grow as economic actors.
Continuing our annual tradition, the 2025 Pro Rural Women Edition convened nearly 80 rural women and girls on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women, for the seventh year in a row. This gathering deliberately centered on lands property rights of rural women, aiming to raise women’s awareness of their legal entitlements and advocate for systemic changes that guarantee equality in land ownership and asset distribution.
We are delighted to share with you the DECLARATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES – an important document arising from the discussions during the 2025 edition. This declaration serves as an awakening call to advance rural women’s rights in Albania.
We invite you to read the Declaration and reflect how you, along with other stakeholders, can harness its recommendations to effect tangible change for the well-being of women and girls in rural areas.