The Albanian Network for Rural Development launches Albania’s first national initiative introducing UNDROP through a national dialogue on farmers’ rights, land governance and the future of family farming.
Albania Launches Its First National Initiative on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP)
The Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD), a member of the BILIM Alliance, is taking an important step towards strengthening farmers’ rights by launching Albania’s first national initiative dedicated to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).
On 30 July, ANRD will organise a national roundtable entitled “The Future of Family Farming in Albania: Agricultural Land Governance, Farmers’ Rights and UNDROP.” The event will bring together representatives of public institutions, farmers’ organisations, civil society, academia and development partners to discuss how the principles of UNDROP can support family farming and rural development in Albania.
The initiative comes at a particularly significant moment, as Albania is currently debating proposed legislation concerning the sale of agricultural land to foreign individuals and companies. While public discussions have mainly focused on land ownership, ANRD seeks to broaden the conversation by highlighting farmers’ rights, secure land tenure and the importance of a human rights-based approach to agricultural policies.
A representative of the UN Working Group on UNDROP will participate online, presenting the Declaration to an Albanian audience for the first time.
The programme will continue during the first week of August with two empowerment workshops for rural women, using UNDROP as a practical framework for discussing women’s rights, participation and leadership in rural communities.
This initiative reflects ANRD’s long-term commitment to raising awareness of UNDROP, encouraging dialogue among stakeholders and contributing to the implementation of the Declaration in Albania. It also demonstrates the growing cooperation within the BILIM Alliance, where members share experiences and support one another in advancing agroecology, farmers’ rights and sustainable rural development across Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
The invitation and concept note are available below: