On 18 October 2018, CNVP Albania provided training in Shkoder concerning business plan preparation for key people from the boards of Shkoder, Lezha, Berat and Elbasan Regional Forest and Pasture Users’ Federations (RFPUAs)

The purpose of the training was to help the boards to create more opportunities to deliver services and increase their prospects for financial sustainability. Training focused on practical knowledge about concepts, activities, criteria and templates of good business planning.

The training was organised through Forests for Local Economic Development, a Sida-funded project that is being implemented by CNVP Albania. One of the project’s five result areas is Enhanced relevance and sustainability of at least 24 FPUAs, 9 Regional Federations and the National Federation. This will lead to: the improved structure and functioning of FPUAs, Regional Federations and National Federation through necessary institutional changes and democratic elections; increased capacities of targeted FPUAs; increased service delivery of targeted Federations, based on improved business planning; and improved civil society actions for anti-corruption issues in support of enhanced forest governance.

Most regional federations have prepared business plans, and, as a result, have been successful in applying for funding for their projects.