Investing in skills, ideas and the future of rural areas
In the rural areas of Shkodër, Kukës and Dibër, ten young people have made a choice that is not always an easy one: to stay, to return, and to invest in their own communities. Through the Scholarship Programme for Talented Young Farmers in the districts of Shkodër, Kukës and Dibër, they have strengthened their agricultural enterprises and taken concrete steps towards sustainable livelihoods.
The scholarship programme was implemented by the Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD) within the framework of the Ruralbania project, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and coordinated by RTM – Volontari nel Mondo, in partnership with the local organisations ADAD Malore and AgroPuka, and with the support of the Centers for Advisory Agricultural and Rural Centres in Kukës, Pukë and Dibër.
The programme’s approach is simple yet carefully designed: young people are not supported with funding alone, but through a comprehensive process that accompanies them from skills development, to hands-on practical experience, and finally to investment in their own economic activities. This approach has transformed the scholarship into a real driver of youth empowerment, rural entrepreneurship and sustainable development in northern Albania.
Building on local value chains and territorial potential
The scholarship programme focuses on local agricultural and rural value chains, building on the specific potential of each territory.
Beneficiaries come from diverse rural contexts and represent different segments of the local economy. In Dibër, young participants have focused on fruit production, working with traditional varieties and applying new techniques that enhance quality and resilience. In Kukës, the programme has supported initiatives in livestock farming and poultry production, where family farms are consolidating and becoming more sustainable sources of income. 
In Pukë, beekeeping, agritourism and supporting services such as digital marketing and graphic design are creating new development models that link agriculture with tourism and market access.
Ten youth stories investing in their communities
Over the course of the programme, participants attended certified professional training courses tailored to their needs and interests, and undertook practical placements with farms and relevant businesses. For many, this was the first opportunity to receive structured training and to directly apply newly acquired knowledge to their day-to-day activities. At the same time, each beneficiary received financial support to make concrete investments, ranging from production equipment and agricultural inputs to infrastructure improvements, packaging, branding and market presence.
Participants’ voices
“This experience has motivated me enormously to continue working in beekeeping and has connected me with many skilled beekeepers who have progressed significantly in this field” – Daniel Perdeda, beekeeper from Pukë
“Thanks to the training, I have managed to achieve higher-quality and cleaner production” – Besian Kica, Dibër
“This is the first time I have been given the opportunity to invest in my farm. This support has restored my confidence to continue” – Eliona Laçi, young farmer from Pukë
A programme investing in the rural future
The Ruralbania Scholarship Programme has shown that when young people are supported with knowledge, tools and trust, they choose to remain in and invest in rural areas. Through this initiative, ANRD and its partner organisations are contributing to the development of a new generation of rural entrepreneurs capable of creating economic value, preserving local identity and revitalising their communities.
