Albania

Building a better future

The last communist state to fall in Europe, Albania is still one of the region's poorest countries.

• A quarter of Albanians in rural areas currently live in poverty
• Farmers in remote areas are particularly badly affected. Many are forced to emigrate to make a living

Much of Albania's rural, moutainous heartland is difficult to reach, with poor roads and transport, but there is a living to be made from the land and forests. If well supported, these resources could stop younger people from leaving the country in search of work abroad.

In pictures: Working with youth

How Oxfam is helping

We help farmers make a sustainable living from their land so that they can work their way out of poverty. Our work includes providing support and advice to help people improve and diversify their crops both for their own consumption, and to sell at market.

  Our strawberries are organic; we do not use pesticides or chemicals to make them grow, they are entirely natural. [Without Oxfam's support] we would never have been able to set up a project like this. Now we're even helping other farmers set up their own strawberry farms.

Mujo Tokaji, strawberry farmer, Shkoder

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Read more examples of our work in Albania:

• Development
• Campaigning

Livelihoods: the key to success

Albania has an abundance of fresh and good quality produce but farmers often face difficulties in getting their goods to market.

How Oxfam is helping

We work with rural farmers to provide both technical and small business support and help them make links with local and national markets.

Our work has included providing a co-operative of grape growers in Hajmel with support in improving and packaging their wine. Now their new brand, Zadrima, is ready to grace the tables of the most discerning wine-buffs in the captial, Tirana.

In pictures: Supporting small businesses

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Oxfam's work in Albania in depth

Making trade fair

• 50 per cent of Albanians rely on farming, livestock and forestry to make a living

But the market is set against them, and Albanian farmers are struggling to compete with subsidised imports from EU countries. There is no protection for their fledgling industries.

How Oxfam is helping

Oxfam has helped set up agricultural trade fairs where farmers and producers are able to promote their wares. These also provide the opportunity for rural farmers to sell their produce to consumers and traders.

  We have just been to an agricultural fair. There were so many visitors... I felt proud that they all seemed to value our work. People recognise our products because of their quality; they know these are good natural products. At the end of the day our stall was completely empty!

Emrije, participant at an Oxfam agricultural trade fair

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Oxfam's work in Albania in depth