Empowering women’s roles in agriculture, new women-led agribusiness incubator opens in Albania

At inaugural ceremony of the women-led agribusiness incubator in Leskovik, as part of the GREAT project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, and implemented by FAO and UN Women. ©FAO

04/07/2024

Leskovik, Albania – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close collaboration with the Municipality of Kolonja, the Albanian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and UN Women, inaugurated a pioneering women-led agribusiness incubator in Leskovik. The agribusiness called “Duarartat e Leskovikut” will be used for processing fruits and vegetables, the preparation of winter food (zahire), as well as packaging artisanal products from Southeastern Albania to be distributed in the domestic and regional markets. The development of the incubator aims to enhance women’s welfare, promote gender equality, and foster sustainable rural development. It was supported by “Gender Rural Equality and Tourism” (GREAT) initiative with funding from the Government of Italy.

“This agribusiness incubator, launched in Leskovik in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FAO, UN Women, and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, stands as a social entrepreneurship,” stated Erion Isai, Mayor of the Municipality of Kolonja. The mayor added that the women-led agribusiness will bring locally branded “Made in Leskovik” products to both local and regional markets, supporting economic development in the region and ensuring food security.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Enio Civici, affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting new investments aimed at creating collection points that bridge the gap between farmers and markets. Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘Duarartat’ agribusiness laboratory, Civici highlighted its establishment under the ” Gender Rural Equality and Tourism ” project, emphasizing its role in empowering rural women in Albania and enhancing their contribution to rural development within the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda framework.

The representative of the Italian Cooperation in Albania, Franco Turri outlined the integration of new technologies, infrastructure improvements, and capacity building to create a gender-sensitive entrepreneurial environment in agriculture. “This investment aims to elevate women’s economic status through knowledge and innovative technology,” Franco Turri said.

UN Women Representative to Albania, Michele Ribotta highlighted the crucial role of the incubator in advancing economic empowerment for rural women, aiming to dismantle barriers and gender-based inequalities that limit their full participation in economic growth and rural development.

Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative in Albania, emphasized FAO’s commitment to promoting the economic empowerment of rural women in the agribusiness sector. “The women-led agribusiness incubator in Leskovik brings together research, knowledge, technology, local government, and women’s group to seek innovative and gender-sensitive alternatives to unlock the potential of the agricultural sector and transform it towards poverty reduction and food security,” Raimund Jehle said. He noted the importance of investing in income-generating activities that promote economic growth, social development, and provide the right infrastructure for women to be competitive and improve their wellbeing.

The women-led agribusiness incubator was supported by “Gender Rural Equality and Tourism” (GREAT) initiative, a three-year project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and implemented by FAO and UN Women in Kolonja and Elbasan municipalities. The project aims to empower women in rural Albania, strengthening their roles in rural development in alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’s principle of Leaving No One Behind.