In November 2021 the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development commissioned the realization of a 30-month project with the title “Promotion of Economic Diversification in Rural Areas of South Eastern Europe (SEDRA II) in SEE – Value chain capacity building on agriculture and rural tourism to promote rural employment opportunities”.
The project strives to contribute to balanced socio-economic development of rural areas in the Western Balkans, through efficient regional cooperation and strengthened regional capacities for rural economic diversification and employment. The overall goal of the project is to stimulate competitiveness and employment in the region through strengthening capacities and promoting entrepreneurship. This will ultimately increase the attraction of the areas, improve the market access, encouraging young people and women to get more involved and contribute to reduced out-migration.
The project objective is to enhance economic diversification by facilitating capacity building measures in the tourism sector with a potential of levitating gainful employment opportunities. The project focus is on strengthening the economic inclusion of the rural and marginalized population, supporting the rural formal/informal sector, fostering sustainable natural resource management practices, as well as, promoting women & youth entrepreneurship in rural areas.
The Secretariat of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in Southeast Europe is responsible for implementation and management of the project. It will be implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo*.
Time frame: November 2021-May 2023
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
