The LED project, funded by the Swedish Embassy in Tirana and being implemented by CNVP Albania, is supporting families who were most severely affected by the earthquake which hit Albania on November 26, 2019. 
The support consists of the provision of free seedlings of fruit trees/NUTs (walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, olive trees, citrus, grape, and pomegranate) to the identified families in the regions of Durres and Tirana. The target is to support about 200 most affected families, which are identified in collaboration with local government units in respective regions and interviewed to identify their needs for the cultivation of MAPs and fruit trees.  According to the needs assessment results, the project will provide support in two value chains, MAPs, and fruit trees.  

The support for these families started In December 2020 in Kruja and Tirana municipalities and the provision of seedlings is continuing in Thumane, Bubq, Nikel, and Ishem administrative units. 

This is the best time of the year for plantations and families are proceeding with the plantation process and the work is progressing well. 
The target families are familiar with the cultivation techniques for different plants. Their capacities vary from plantation to harvesting, processing, and labeling of their products. Some of them want to diversify their products which will bring more income for them and leads to sustainable development. 
Connection with the market actors and companies is seen as a good experience for them and it makes them confident that they will have a secured market for their products. MSD approach, being applied by the LED project, will facilitate more income generation opportunities for the selected families and will bring mutual benefits for companies and families.
Till mid-January 2021 about 35% of the selected families were provided with seedlings and planted the selected varieties. This support is appreciated by both the affected families and local government units.