11 Civil Society Organisations Will Receive Grants to Support Social and Economic Development Through Cultural Heritage


July 19, 2022

A Grants’ Award Ceremony brought together representatives of civil society organisations supporting social and economic development through the promotion of cultural heritage and tourism. The ceremony was opened by UNOPS Albania Country Manager Pamela Lama, Minister of Culture Elva Margariti and Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Albania Hubert Perr.

The grants awarded through the EU4Culture project will fund initiatives by civil society organisations promoting development of crafts, innovative tourism, digital platforms and cultural events in the municipalities of Durrës, Kavaja, Rrogozhina and Kruja that have significant cultural heritage assets affected by the 2019 earthquake.

“Civil Society Organizations play a fundamental role in engaging and empowering local communities to develop programs that meet their own needs, in raising awareness on issues that need to be resolved and advocating for change and development. These projects will receive funding to boost socio-economic growth opportunities for local communities through supporting cultural and creative sectors near cultural heritage sites. They will also increase awareness of the role of cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development” – noted Ms. Pamela Lama, Country Manager of UNOPS in Albania.

“The title of this Programme “Recraft the Past: Build Up the Future” is very telling. It tells us that we have to appreciate, preserve, honour and value our past, history and cultural heritage and at the same time strive to present it in an attractive way for younger generations and for tourists. This programme will focus on creating partnerships among civil society organisations and municipalities to capitalise from history and cultural heritage and use them as a tool to boost socio-economic and local development”- noted Mr. Hubert Perr, the Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Albania

The following organisations are receiving grants that range from 42,000 to 60,000 USD:

  1. Cultural Heritage without Borders – Albania in support of the “Heritage Empowering and Learning Platforms” project.
  2. HELP – Help Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe E.V – in support of the “Revival of Local Traditional crafts in Kavaja” project.
  3. “Udhëtim i Lirë – Liberi di Viaggiare”-in support of the “Creative Culture-Based Durrës Heritage Development” project.
  4. TID KRUJA -in support of the “And tradition continues in Kruja” project.
  5. PROGRESS Foundation – in support of the “Artisans Between past and future” project.
  6. Joscelyn Foundation – in support of the “Restoration of craft tradition” project.
  7. AULEDA – Local Economic Development Agency -in support of the “Routes4culture” project.
  8. Urban Research Institute (URI) – in support of the “Artisans for Cultural Heritage – ArtCult” project.
  9. Qendra “DURRËSI AKTIV” – in support of the “When the Past meets the Future – Durres Cultural Heritage revitalization” project.
  10. Qendra ESN AL – in support of the “TourAZZO – Promotion and valorisation of cultural heritage as a driver of tourism and socio-economic development in Durrës” project.
  11. Instituti i Politikave Publike dhe Private (Institute of Public and Private Policies) – in support of the “3E “Explore – Experience – Enhance Cultural Tourism in the post-earthquake area” project.

The next Call for Grants Proposals (CfP) is currently being designed and is expected to be launched by Autumn 2022.