Connecting Mountain Communities: First Steps Towards the Balkan Mountain Forum
On 28 October 2026, representatives of eight civil society organizations from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro gathered in Peja for the first meeting dedicated to establishing the Balkan Mountain Forum, a regional network designed to strengthen cooperation, exchange knowledge and create new opportunities for mountain communities across the Western Balkans.
The meeting was organized under Activity A4 - Establishment of the Balkan Mountain Forum, within the project Mountain Connect: Balkan Mountain Forum, led by the Albanian Local Capacity Development Foundation (ALCDF), in partnership with CSCD (North Macedonia), Kosovo Development Center (KDC) and Regional Development Agency (RDA) Montenegro, with support from the Western Balkans Fund (WBF).
Building a Shared Vision for Mountain Development
Mountain communities across the Western Balkans share remarkable natural and cultural heritage, traditional livelihoods and valuable local knowledge. However, they also face similar challenges, including declining economic opportunities, migration from rural areas, limited market access and the need to preserve their natural resources and cultural traditions.
The Balkan Mountain Forum seeks to address these challenges by creating a practical platform through which grassroots organizations, local producers, tourism operators, community initiatives and other stakeholders can connect, learn from one another and develop joint solutions.
Rather than establishing another complex institutional structure, the Forum is envisioned as an open, voluntary and member-led network, built around shared interests and practical cooperation.
From Dialogue to a Common Commitment
The meeting in Peja provided an opportunity for participating organizations to exchange experiences, discuss common priorities and shape the Forum's future direction.
Discussions focused on several key elements:
- Vision and objectives: Defining the Forum's purpose and added value for mountain communities.
- Membership and inclusion: Establishing accessible membership criteria and encouraging participation from diverse sectors and communities.
- Coordination and communication: Agreeing on practical arrangements for maintaining cooperation across the four countries.
- Joint priorities and action planning: Identifying opportunities for knowledge exchange, regional partnerships and future initiatives.
Participants emphasized that the Forum should remain flexible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of its members, while providing a platform for continued cooperation beyond the project's duration.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Balkan Mountain Forum's Founding Act by representatives of eight participating organizations. This marked their initial commitment to developing the network and working together towards shared objectives.
Turning Shared Challenges into Opportunities
The Forum will encourage cooperation in areas that are particularly relevant to mountain communities, including sustainable mountain tourism, pastoralism, beekeeping, traditional handicrafts, local food production, rural entrepreneurship and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
Through the exchange of successful practices and the development of joint initiatives, the network aims to strengthen local capacities, improve the visibility of mountain products and services, and create new opportunities for cooperation across borders.
Special attention will be given to encouraging the participation of grassroots organizations, women, young people and smaller rural businesses, ensuring that the Forum remains connected to the communities it seeks to support.
Next Step: Expanding the Forum in Berane, Montenegro
The meeting in Peja represents the beginning of a broader regional process.
The next important milestone will be the regional event in Berane, Montenegro, organized under Activity A5 of the Mountain Connect project.
This gathering will provide an opportunity to present the Forum to a wider group of stakeholders, welcome additional organizations and businesses, seek broader endorsement of its founding principles and agree on the next steps for regional cooperation.
By gradually expanding its membership and strengthening connections among stakeholders, the Balkan Mountain Forum aims to develop into a lasting regional platform driven by the interests, experience and commitment of its members.
About Mountain Connect: Balkan Mountain Forum
Mountain Connect: Balkan Mountain Forum (PN-8-257) is a regional cooperation project implemented by the Albanian Local Capacity Development Foundation (ALCDF) in partnership with CSCD – North Macedonia, Kosovo Development Center (KDC) and Regional Development Agency (RDA) Montenegro, with support from the Western Balkans Fund (WBF) under the Support to the Promotion of Civil Society Regional Actions in the Western Balkans – Phase III programme.
Through stakeholder engagement, thematic capacity-building workshops, documentation of good practices and regional networking activities, the project aims to establish a sustainable cooperation platform connecting mountain communities and organizations across the Western Balkans.
The Balkan Mountain Forum is built on a simple belief: our mountain regions may be separated by borders, but their shared experiences, traditions and aspirations offer powerful opportunities for cooperation.
