TIRANA, ALBANIA--Today USAID and a local NGO, Assist Impact, signed seven grant agreement awards for empowerment projects for Albanian youth. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, Henry Jardine, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Bardhylka Kospiri, and Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water Administration, Edmond Panariti, delivered remarks at the ceremony. The goal of the grants is to increase employment opportunities and empower youth to be active in society.

Assist Impact is currently implementing a three year project for USAID/Albania called “Building Human and Institutional Capacities” which aims to support local NGOs, governmental agencies, and business associations to improve their capabilities and work more effectively. As part of this project, Assist Impact, through a competitive process, has selected seven NGOs from all over Albania to support youth empowerment, focusing on work outside Tirana and with marginalized groups.

Today’s event highlighted the signing of these seven grant agreements. The selected NGOs include:

• Creative Business Solutions will work in 13 different rural localities from Malesi e Madhe to Gjirokaster to train and employ young people as specialists in dairy production, fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, cold storage and greenhouses;
• Regional Development Agency- Korca will work with businesses and youth in the Korca area to build capacities sought by local businesses;
• Albania Rafting Group will train youth hiking guides as well as specialized rescue training for their rafting guides, as well as work with guest house managers and information guides in Berat;
• Association for Communitarian Integration and Development (ACID) will train and facilitate employment of youth in Bulqize in video production skills and youth in Laç in plumbing, electrician and handicrafts;
• Livestock Entrepreneurs Association of Albania will work in the livestock sector in Lushnja, Shkodra, Korca and Kukes where they have identified the need for specialists in mastitis control, hoof care, and artificial insemination;
• Albanian Students Network Alumni (AS@N) will train, find internships, and employ students or young graduates in a variety of work situations in Shkodra, Vlora, and Tirana; and
• New Epoch Fier will encourage youth participation in the democratic process, forming Youth Advisory Groups in Patos and Fier, which will interface with government officials for issues of special interest to youth.