Grants to improve the Marketing and supply of Products, increase the quality of the Tourist Offer or encourage the Start-up in the Cultural Sector (Albania)

Deadline: 21-Aug-2025

The “EU for Economic Development – Tourism Local Economic Development with a Focus on Cultural Heritage” project, funded under the Contribution Agreement for the Instrument of Pre-Accession (IPA) 2018, seeks to promote the sustainable development of tourism through the preservation and enhancement of Albania’s rich cultural heritage.

The initiative is aligned with the EU’s broader goals of fostering competitiveness and innovation in the region, contributing to the socio-economic development of Albania, particularly in its rural areas. The project is being implemented by the Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (AICS), through its Tirana office, with support from key Albanian institutions, including the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, and the Institute of Archaeology. The project targets the Byllis and Klos Archaeological sites, along with the Hekal village, which is part of Albania’s “100 villages” program aimed at enhancing rural development and promoting local tourism. The Municipality of Mallakaster also plays an essential role as a local stakeholder.

The initiative addresses the dual challenge of preserving Albania’s cultural heritage while unlocking its economic potential. By focusing on the restoration and protection of the Byllis site, the project ensures that this important archaeological asset will be safeguarded for future generations. At the same time, the project works to improve the accessibility of the site for both local and international visitors, making it a more attractive destination for tourism and contributing to the local economy. Furthermore, the project includes the adoption of the EU’s Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) approach, which emphasizes the importance of empowering local communities and boosting their capacity to actively participate in the management and development of cultural heritage sites.

Objectives and Priority Issues

• The proposed Action promotes the economic development of local communities, with particular attention to young people and women. The initiative firmly supports the participation of women and girls, both in local development activities, and in capacity-building and technical assistance activities. Participation of women and girls is foreseen in the Local Development Fund for small enterprises – earmarked at a minimum threshold of 50 % of women/girls’ beneficiaries out of the total.
• The small-scale grants (intended for entrepreneurial activities of young people and women) will aim at stimulating and facilitating the improvement of the various production chains and support employment.   The Manual of Procedures will define the evaluation grids for the selection of the grants. The evaluation of the requests will be entrusted to the GMC. The proposals must guarantee respect for the objectives of the project (improvement of marketing and the offer of typical products, increase in the quality of the touristic offer or the opening of new activities in the cultural sector) and requests submitted by young men and women will be privileged. Synergies with other projects imply no financial flow between them and this project.
• The global objective of this call for proposals is:
  • “to promote the economic development of local communities, with a focus on empowering young people and women. The initiative aims to enhance local development, stimulate entrepreneurship, and foster job creation through the active participation of women and youth.
• The specific objective(s) of this call for proposals is/are to:
  • Promote active participation and leadership of women and girls in local economic, social, and cultural development initiatives in Mallakastër (Albania) region.
  • Foster entrepreneurship by providing resources, training, and opportunities specifically aimed at young people and women, helping them start or grow their micro and small enterprises
  • Improve the visibility, attractiveness, and competitiveness of local cultural and artisanal products through branding, storytelling, digital marketing, and creative packaging.
  • Promote access to finance for small businesses by encouraging shared financial responsibility and sustainable growth, requiring them to contribute 10–20% of the total action, to ensure financial sustainability.
• The priorities of this call for proposals are the following:
  • Empowerment of women, girls, and the younger generation
    • Focus on increasing the capacity, skills, and economic independence of women and youth, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities
  • Economic development of local communities
    • Support small enterprises that contribute to the local economy by enhancing production processes, creating jobs, and fostering innovation within traditional and new sectors.
  • Tourism-focused activities and preservation of local values
    • Promote tourism initiatives that highlight local heritage, crafts, and culture while engaging communities to preserve and share their unique traditions and values

Funding Information

• The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 210,000.00. The contracting authority reserves the right not to award all available funds.
• Size of grants:
  • Any grant requested under this call for proposals must fall between the following minimum and maximum amount:
    • minimum amount: EUR30,000.00
    • maximum amount: EUR50,000.00

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant:
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the lead applicant must:
    • be a legal person, and be non-profit-making and
    • be a specific type of organisation such as: non-governmental organisation ,, be effectively established in Albania and registered as per the national law before 1st January 2025, and
    • be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the action with the co-applicant(s), not acting as an intermediary and
  • The lead applicant must act with co-applicant(s) as specified hereafter. If awarded the grant contract, the lead applicant will become the beneficiary identified as the coordinator in Annex G(special conditions). The coordinator is the sole interlocutor of the contracting authority. It represents and acts on behalf of any other co-beneficiary (if any) and coordinate the design and implementation of the action.

For more information, visit AICS.