24 minute read
Dr. SONJA KURZ: Working to Make Albania Fit for the Future
In Conversation with Dr. Sonja Kurz, GIZ Albania, Country Director
By Rudina HOXHA & Jose Pinto
Opening of New Premise s of he German Development Cooperation Office in Albania
Photo Credit: GIZ Albania
Dr. Sonja Kurz, GIZ Albania, Country Director
Photo Credt: GIZ Albania
“Germany is the biggest bilateral donor in Albania and GIZ has been on the ground, implementing projects on behalf of the German Government since 1988 in the area of technical assistance. This makes us a reliable partner for sustainable development, contributing for more than 30 years to improve conditions for the Albanian population, youth perspective as well as gender equality.”
We sat with Dr. Sonja Kurz, GIZ Albania Country Director to discuss in details the GIZ projects in Albania and her so far experience in Albania empowering local institutions to create a better perspective for people living in Albania.
Kurz said that GIZ, alongside with partner institutions at regional, central and local levels, is actually implementing 27 projects in total, 7 of them bilateral, 13 regional, and 7 global. “They are all in line with the priorities of the Albanian Government and our principles of sustainability and institutionalization of supported measures,” Kurz stated, adding “Our main areas of intervention are: sustainable economic development and employment, rural and urban development, water and solid waste, climate change, biodiversity, and European integration.”
Full interview :
Please tell us about your so far journey at GIZ Albania?
I first came to this amazing country for the role of Country Director of GIZ Albania in 2019. It was a tough start with the earthquake and the Corona pandemic afterwards. However, I am more than proud that together with the fantastic team I found here in Tirana, we coped with the situation and adapted the measures we undertake through our projects to the needs of the partner institutions we capacitate and the people we help build a better future in Albania.
A lot has been done and achieved in this so-far journey at GIZ Albania, particularly when it comes to what makes our work special as an organization, taking Albanian institutions on board and empowering them to create a better perspective for people living in Albania.
We have a special focus on young people and women. Through technical assistance and financing, we work hand in hand with the Albanian side to facilitate processes, bring the best expertise to have a more innovative perspective, bring stakeholders from different groups together, and capacitate institutions through the instrument of integrated experts. It is a long way, but more sustainable, and we are sure this will make Albania fit for the future, a future with European Union standards.
In this context, I am very happy that Albania has been granted the new status of opening negotiations with the European Union. This will certainly have an influence on what we are doing in Albania, but the good thing is that there is a plan and it’s very clear now.
Composting plant in Cerrik
Can you share the ongoing and forthcoming GIZ projects with our readers?
Germany is the biggest bilateral donor in Albania and GIZ has been on the ground, implementing projects on behalf of the German Government since 1988 in the area of technical assistance. This makes us a reliable partner for sustainable development, contributing for more than 30 years to improve conditions for the Albanian population, youth perspective as well as gender equality.
Together with partner institutions at regional, central and local levels, GIZ is actually implementing 27 projects in total, 7 of them are bilateral, 13 regional, and 7 global and they are all in line with the priorities of the Albanian Government and our principles of sustainability and institutionalization of supported measures. Our main areas of intervention are: sustainable economic development and employment, rural and urban development, water and solid waste, climate change, biodiversity, and European integration.
Composting plant in Cerrik
Building on the good experience of our projects in employment promotion and Vocational Education and Training, GIZ is continuing in this area with the second “chapter” of a programme which started in April 2022. The aim is to focus even more on the creation of a sustainable economy and the support of businesses that are active in the green and digital sectors which are the sectors of the future and where we need to develop and promote skills and attitudes that we don’t have in the labor market of the country. The objective is to create prospects for employment through qualification and work-based learning, economic development and growth, strengthening of capacities, and inclusive society. Through this programme we also support our main partner, the Ministry of Finance and Economy and its implementing institutions such as the National Agency for Employment and Skills.
In the employment sector, a big effect is also given through seasonal workers. We have supported a National Study on the Engagement of Seasonal Workers in Albania in Agriculture and Tourism and data shows that around 15,500 people are seasonally employed in the tourism sector only during summer, and up to 88,000 people in the agricultural sector. With the Ministry of Finance and Economy, we are working on a Seasonal Workers Reform, which aims to facilitate procedures and formalize informal employees.
In Rural Development, the follow-up project builds on the experiences of the current measures as well and identifies opportunities in agriculture value-chains such as fruits and nuts, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, and small ruminants, whereas, in the tourism sector, we focus on products like hiking, camping, cycling, and climbing. To strengthen the sustainability strategy, the focus on the demand side of the market will be incorporated even more strongly into the project design. Through this, the interaction between the state, business, and civil society will be improved. Important framework topics will include support for the EU rapprochement process, the green economy, and digitization, here as well.
An important topic for GIZ is waste management services in the municipalities. Around 190 thousand families benefited from the work done so far in 10 municipalities. 3 waste resource centers have been established in Himara, Saranda, and Cërrik, where 39 tons of paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum cans are collected separately, bailed, and sold to recycling companies.
German Information Center for Migration, Vocational Training and Career, DIMAK, Albania
More than 300 tons of organic fertilizer have been produced and used to improve municipal greening areas. These are pilot examples as pioneers for the first time in Albania. Examples are being replicated and scaled up in other municipalities such as Rroskovec and Belsh. With the ban of carrier plastic bags starting from the 1st of June 2022, GIZ has supported the Albanian government with the legal amendment and a big awareness campaign. We will further support preparing a road map and implementing measures for phasing out single-use plastic items that consist of the vast of plastic waste leaking into the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, we will support in the next three years the Balkan region with instruments and to enhance authorities for achieving the common target by reducing the leakage of plastic waste to the Adriatic Sea by 10 % till 2030.
The current situation in the water supply and sanitation sector of Albania requires a profound and radical reform, particularly with regard to reliability, transparency, performance orientation, and accountability for a better and more sustainable provision of the water supply and sanitation services for the population and in the respect of the environment. The Albanian government is committed to further restructuring the sector, aiming at the aggregation of water supply and sewerage services with the sole purpose of improving the quality of services and increasing the effectiveness of the operating processes of Water Utility companies. GIZ will be assisting the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the National Agency for Water Supply Wastewater and Waste Infrastructure, and Water Utilities in the implementation of the water sector aggregation reform, designed to improve the quality of water supply and sewerage services, which will help reduce poverty, improve the health situation and contribute to economic growth and sustainability.
Opening of New Premises
EU for Innovation - ICT HUB Korca
EU for Innovation - ICT HUB Korca
GIZ Albania Labyrinth
In the transport sector, we work to promote climate-friendly mobility in Tirana, one of the densest and fastest-growing cities in Europe. The number of vehicles rose from almost zero at the end of communism in the late 1980s to around 200 cars per 1,000 inhabitants, creating extreme traffic and severe air quality. This means for Tirana that the number of cars is increasing to 180.000 and with this trend, it will increase with 7000 more in one year. We are supporting the Municipality of Tirana to improve the service quality of the bus system, establishing a data-driven mobility management culture, and promoting walking and cycling through demonstration projects. This all is much needed in a city where more than 70% of car trips are shorter than 5km and could be easily replaced by walking, cycling or public transport.
Migration is an important topic in Albania. Through the German Information Centre on Migration, Vocational Training and Careers (DIMAK Albania), which is now located at the new premises of the German Development Cooperation Office in Tirana, and another office in Shkodra, we continue to provide information, support, and individual counseling to everyone looking for employment opportunities, attending vocational education or qualification courses in Albania and Germany. Through DIMAK intervention, approximately 3.200 persons have been placed into employment, or have found a job; we have provided more than 16.580 Education and Qualification measures, and 18.875 counseling sessions. We are supporting for the second year paid on-the-job internship and training. Around 240 people, especially returnees, have the chance to acquire new skills in a real working environment for 8 weeks in the tourism and hospitality sector, in 4 different cities in Albania.
GIZ Albania Staff
Focusing on youth is at the center of our work and we believe that we should be creating a culture of mobility, intercultural exchange, and reconciliation. Young people should also be active contributors to democratic development, social and economic prosperity, and European integration in an increasingly open Western Balkans region. Together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), GIZ is implementing a regional school exchange scheme called “Superschools” through which we are giving the opportunity to high school students from the entire Western Balkan region to participate in the first regional school exchange scheme.
Last but not least, we of course support Albania in the EU accession negotiations in chapters of the Acquis covering the internal market.
What are the contributions of GIZ towards the landscape of start-ups in Albania?
Since 2018, GIZ is the lead organization in the implementation of the “EU for Innovation” Multi-Donor project, co-financed by the European Union, the German, and Swedish governments.
Pro-SEED Expo - Business Innovation in Action
EU for Innovation - Tirana Inc. Mentoring Session
Through this project, we have contributed to the improvement of the innovation ecosystem and boosted start-up creation throughout Albania. It is focused on three areas: Increasing capacities among Albanian innovation ecosystem actors (Start-ups, Innovation Support Organizations, Universities, and Policy Makers); Strengthening linkages within the Albanian entrepreneurial/innovation ecosystem locally and internationally; Improving access to funding for innovative start-ups and Innovation Support Organizations (through the Challenge Fund implemented by Sida).
As a result, GIZ has supported 349 Albanian start-ups and 42 Innovation Support Organizations, out of which 25 universities. We have trained and increased the capacity of 542 aspiring entrepreneurs all over Albania. Speaking of impact on the real economy, Albanian start-ups signed 18 commercial agreements with commercial partners. We have supported drafting 5 policy inputs for Albanian policymakers and the main impact is the Albanian Law “On the support and development of innovative start-ups” which entered into force in March 2022 alongside a governmental grant scheme for start-ups and Innovation Support Organizations (1st tranche of 2.5 Mio. EUR in 2022).
Agritourism, Shijak, Albania
Long before working more specifically with start-ups, GIZ supported the private sector development in Albania, mainly the numerous Micros, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that make up a major part of the private businesses in the country and provide most of the employment. We focused on training and financial support for young entrepreneurs, as well as on strengthening MSMEs to better compete in the market, by expanding their portfolios and becoming generators of new jobs and employment, with the aim to directly contribute to the overall economy of the country.
Moreover, we supported the creation of a new brand - IDEA, Innovative Development of Entrepreneurs in Albania (IDEA), which aims at increasing entrepreneurial skills among owners of new or existing small and medium enterprises. By the end of 2021, we’ve had over 2500 participants, out of which around 800 returnees attending capacity development programs and entrepreneurship IDEA training, which help Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and start-ups grow and innovate and, in this way, create new jobs. And we’re happy that the results amount to over 750 new jobs created by existing and new startups. Furthermore, over 150 young entrepreneurs, of which 43 are returnees to Albania from Germany and other countries, have obtained small grants for setting up their businesses.
With all these activities, we firmly created the basis for an innovative start-up support but will of course continue with supporting the overall private sector in Albania, in this way complementing each other also in the future.
In the regional context, we are supporting the professionalization of the start-up ecosystems in the Western Balkans. With funds from the German Government, we are working, in the first place, to analyse ecosystems within the region in order to understand in which segments or sectors they excel and support the start-up support organizations to further strengthen their services in those areas.
Agritourism, Fishte, Albania
Urban Mobility in Albania
In addition, the project provides capacity-building services to the start-up support organizations and networking opportunities to boost their connectedness at regional and EU levels. Moreover, with the support of GIZ, the startup support organizations established the Western Balkans Start-up Alliance with the aim to unite all ecosystem stakeholders, foster the exchange of knowledge and promote the success stories of the start-ups from the region.
How has GIZ managed to improve the conditions for sustainable tourism and agritourism in Albania?
GIZ is somehow considered a pioneer in rural tourism development not only in Albania but in the Balkan region too. Between 2005 and 2007, GIZ boosted tourism in Theth with first support for local houses to help them transform into accommodation structures and set minimum standards there. In 2011 the Peaks of the Balkans trail was launched and in 2014 the trail received the “Tourism of Tomorrow Award” from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) where the former US President Bill Clinton, in his laudatory speech quoted: “The trail has opened minds and borders, it is a tribute to the vision and energy of cooperating governments, municipalities, and local tourism stakeholders.”
Sustainable tourism concepts have emerged along this trail by creating new perspectives for the local population and somehow counteracting rural exodus in Albania with families returning to their villages and offering their homes as a shelter for tourists.
Having this as a model, as of 2017 GIZ is developing a new long-distance hiking trail on a mountainous landscape characterized by unspoiled nature, so far little developed for tourism, but with very high potential.
Climate change
This is exactly why the idea of the High Scardus Trail was born, namely, to create a highly attractive long-distance hiking trail for the booming target group of “traveling long-distance hikers” and there by based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - at the same time a very sustainable regional economic development of the peripheral mountain regions along the border mountains of Albania, Kosovo & North Macedonia.
During these past two difficult years for the tourism sector due to corona, more interventions have been made or planned, all focused on rural areas. More hiking trails have been identified and developed, together with emerging new touristic products such as mountain biking, climbing, and cycling, many of these which are also offered at the South Outdoor Festival in the south and N’Altitude Festival in the north of Albania.
On the other hand, agritourism is a sustainable growing trend in Albania as well.
From 2-3 agritourism that we had some years ago, pioneers in the sector, we are counting now more than 200 structures, big and small, all-around Albania. The tourists, domestic and foreign, are shifting from one overnight stay to 2-3 overnight stays on average.
We are supporting the government and have delivered to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment an in-depth study of the sector that includes recommendations related to the legal framework, fiscal policy, linkage of agritourism with local producers, diversified activities in the farm, promotion, etc. We are working together step by step to fulfill these recommendations. Furthermore, we have worked directly with the private sector offering different training packages related to online marketing, and language skills, introducing educational farm concepts as a way of diversifying their offers, responding to the covid crises, etc.
GIZ has supported the promotion of Agritourism developing the AgroTimeAl mobile application, the first digital guide of rural tourism, portraying more than 200 agritourism, touristic farms, culinary tours, winery cantinas, rural camping sites, etc. Only during the first year, this application had more than 5000 downloads.
One of the main projects of GIZ related to agritourism was the support for the establishment of the Albanian Agritourism Association, an initiative of the private sector that now has 71 members. We believe that the association will be an important actor and will play a key role when it comes to the future of the agritourism sector development.
We are focusing on the linkage between agritourism and small local producers. According to our data, on average 1 wellestablished agritourism is linked to 20 families in the area, from which they buy different products and services. Agritourism plays a crucial role in the empowerment of women in rural areas. 75 % of the workload in agritourism is managed by women, who play a key role in the decision-making, too. Agritourism is attractive to young people, as well. The average age of people involved in agritourism is 40 years old and these young people are embracing the importance of education relevant to the field of work, such as enology, rural tourism, agriculture, etc.
To what extent, is the GIZ contributing to the improvement and diversity of farming associated with the training of the farmers to accept new working methods and acquire new farming skills?
Considering the new increasing requirements for high product quality standards of the EU and world markets, and in line with Albania’s Government priorities for increasing exports and food safety, GIZ has during the past years introduced numerous innovations that contribute towards these goals, and which at the same time take into account environmental aspects. For instance, in greenhouse vegetables, biological pest control has been introduced so that no pesticides are used in tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables, thereby contributing to higher product quality and protecting the environment. Six demonstration trials have been set up in different greenhouses owned by private farmers, as well as in the public research centre in Lushnja.
In addition to beneficial insects in greenhouse vegetables, another innovation that has been introduced in the frame of biological control that contributes to high product quality and high yields is the grafted tomato seedlings. The grafted seedlings are resistant to damaging parasites thereby reducing the application of agrochemicals in vegetables. These innovations contribute to increasing the product quality and making Albanian vegetables competitive in European markets.
In the frame of supporting the Fruit sector in Albania, GIZ has continued to support partners such as the Research Centre (Agricultural Technology Transfer Center) in Korca and fruit producers across Albania with digital solutions for pest and disease management. The pest and disease management is provided through an interactive Decision Support System, which collects weather data from 8 weather stations in Albania operated by the Agricultural Technology Transfer Center in Korca and through a software installed on computer performs climate data calculation (temperature, humidity, etc.).
Graphs are displayed automatically, showing moments of exposure to different diseases and pests in apples, enabling farmers to start treatments with the right preparations at the right time. This system helps farmers to reduce by 4-6 the number of chemical treatments, thereby lowering the cost of production, as well as protecting the environment from excessive pesticide contamination.
Other innovations have been introduced also in the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants sector, such as identification of toxic plants and experiments with different species and varieties. For products to keep the quality high and to be accepted by importing companies, no toxic plants should be mixed with the medicinal plants. As of 2022, the EU requirements and the limits for toxic plants have become very stringent, therefore demanding very high product quality. On the other hand, public research centres are being capacitated to conduct experiments to identify suitable varieties and species of wild medicinal plants that could be cultivated by farmers, reducing in this way the pressure on biodiversity. Additionally, experiments are being conducted also on determining the most appropriate harvesting time that gives highest market value for the products.
Finally, innovations have been introduced also in the livestock sector, such as in small ruminants. For instance, shepherds and dairy factories have been exposed to new innovations such as cooling tanks operated by solar panels. These cooling tanks operated by solar panels can be used by shepherds up in the pastures, reducing their travelling frequency to collection points and keeping the goat and sheep milk fresh and in high quality. The solar panels can additionally be used as a source of energy up in the pasture to charge mobile phones or operate other small electric appliances.
Would you brief our readers what are the GIZ Albania plans in regard to the climate and environment, as well as the preservation of natural resources?
Albania is the most affected and vulnerable country in Europe from Climate-induced events. As such, the sector has been of high importance for us. Germany is one of the biggest contributors to supporting the Albanian government in setting the policy scene and implementing the Climate Agenda for the country.
Following the support in preparing the National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Adaptation Plan along with enabling the scene for sound and meaningful Flood Risk Management in Drin Basin, we are working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the Ministry of Finance to reach the targets and ambitious of the Albanian Government towards the international climate agenda. Looking at the aspects of the private sector engagement and enabling the financial institutions to access climate finances is another innovative aspect of our work in Albania.
Last but not least, we are working on a project that would bring together the need to address climate effects and country vulnerabilities, by improving the climate information and services, modernizing and transforming the hydrometer sector as well as using technology and innovation for a more resilient Albania. For the first time in Albania, we are aiming to bring together efforts and support from the German Government, Swiss Government, and Albanian Government backed up with financing from the Green Climate Fund.
On the other hand, though Albania represents less than 0,3 % of the European continent, it is home to more than 30 % of its flora and fauna. Besides the rich biodiversity, Albania is a country rich in water resources considered the second country in Europe for the amount of fresh water per capita. The rivers, lakes, and the extensive coastline, secure quality water for the citizens, water for tourism, and industry.
Thanks to their rare and unique fauna and flora, the western Balkans lakes of Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar are biodiversity hotspots in Europe.
Located and shared between Albania and its neighboring countries, they are respectively the largest, the richest, and the deepest in Balkan, providing great opportunities for tourism and income generation for the local population and fisherman society. Protecting these values is key to Albania to ensure this richness is there for the next generations, to keep the water clean, the air pure, and life sustained. It will ensure visitors continue coming and enjoying these values, creating opportunities, jobs, and income for the Albanian citizens.
Sustainable management of biodiversity and proper management of lakes and fish in Prespa, Ohrid, and Shkodra/ Skadar was at the core of GIZ’s work on behalf of the German Government. These values have no boundaries and can only be managed in collaboration with riparian countries bringing them together and jointly progressing towards the European Union.
How much of a priority is for GIZ the vocational training of the Albanian youngsters?
Vocational Education and Training (VET) has been an essential component of GIZ’s work in Albania over the years. Quality and market-oriented VET providers are important when preparing a skilled workforce that has to be able to meet the industries’ demands.
Therefore, we have contributed to developing a new model for VET provision that meets labor market demands, nationally and regionally. This means e.g., we will invest in more training on digital skills as in skills needed for setting up and maintaining the sector of renewable energies.
The Multifunctional Center of Kamza (MFC Kamza) is the biggest vocational school in the country and with our support is transformed into a successful model that serves as a basis for the optimization of the VET Public System to be implemented in the years to come. Besides, we support the National Agency for Employment and Skills to improve curricula and with infrastructure development (17 new laboratories and 33 new training programmes); teacher training (close to 80 % of the teachers working in the VET public system are trained), workbased learning in the businesses, and international exchange among students such as student exchange among MFC Kamza and the Technical University of Berlin. As a result, around 12.000 job seekers have been trained in long and short-term courses offered in MFC Kamza, in 10 public vocational training centers, and 20 private providers. More than 50 % of them found and still have employment half a year after the qualification measures.
Investment in both technical and soft skills is very important nowadays to ensure the employability of young and adults. Therefore, over 12,000 unemployed jobseekers have been part of the job search and soft skills training measure called Start SMART, implemented in 10 Public VET Centers. All of this has set a new standard for customizing support to every individual.
