Sustaining Rural Development in the Deshati Mountain Range Region – Deshati LAGs
Promoted sustainable rural development through the expansion of mountain and rural tourism and stronger cooperation between communities across the Albania–North Macedonia border.
Project Overview
The Deshati LAGs project promoted sustainable rural development through the expansion of mountain and rural tourism and stronger cooperation between communities across the Albania–North Macedonia border.
ALCDF implemented the action in partnership with ANTTARC, which served as Lead Applicant.
What We Did
Two Local Action Groups (LAGs) were established and strengthened as platforms for community-led local development.
Tourism development strategies were prepared for the Deshati mountain region, and households involved in rural tourism received training to improve service quality.
The project also supported study visits, local-product fairs, tourism guides, promotional materials, tourism trails, signposting and joint activities among cross-border stakeholders.
Key Results
The project strengthened local participation in tourism planning and improved coordination of the tourism offer on both sides of the border.
It demonstrated the potential of the Local Action Group approach for mobilizing rural actors and creating community ownership around tourism and local development.
Project Details
- Donor / Funder
- European Union – IPA Cross-Border Programme North Macedonia–Albania 2007–2013
- Budget
- EUR 140,000
- Period
- Apr 2012 - Dec 2014
- Thematic Area
- Rural Tourism | LEADER/LAG Approach | Community Development | Cross-Border Cooperation
- Location
- Deshati Mountain Range, Albania and North Macedonia
