Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Albania (DART)

Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation in Albania" (DART) is a Joint Programme by FAO, ILO, and ITU that harnesses the potential of digitalization to address sustainability goals with systemic interventions targeted to public workers and small-scale farmers, particularly those who are placed in situations of vulnerability by different factors (e.g. those living in underserved rural areas, young rural women and men, rural women and more so elderly women, elderly farmers, farmers with disabilities). The Joint Programme strengthens agricultural productivity and competitiveness in food systems, promotes digital inclusion, and empowers small agricultural producers, particularly those placed in situations of vulnerability, through attaining the following results: Result 1. The development of Albania’s National Digital Agriculture Strategy and Action Plan resulted in a comprehensive smallholder farmer-centric and gender-responsive roadmap for the sustainable digitalization and modernization of the agricultural sector and rural areas, aligning all stakeholders towards common goals and advancing Albania's alignment with the EU acquis, gender equality, and human rights. Result 2: The enhancement of the Farmers’ Portal increased the availability and accessibility of services, knowledge, and markets for at least 15,000 farmers, equally women and men, particularly those in remote rural areas, thus expanding opportunities and enhancing livelihoods, contributing to the overall socioeconomic transformation of Albania's rural areas. Result 3: The development of digital capacities among at least 40 national stakeholders, 180 TVET students, and 400 smallholder farmers, equally women and men, has equipped them with the skills necessary to adopt digital technologies in the agriculture sector, laying a solid foundation for sustainable agricultural growth in Albania. The action supports SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, and responds to the UN Cooperation Framework for Albania 2022-2026. It also supports the achievement of the objectives of the Joint SDG Fund Strategy - Food System window, advancing the integrated national action for food system transformation and promoting the transition to sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems as a catalytic investment for SDGs acceleration. The JP focuses on two engine rooms, namely, “Shift across policy & regulatory frameworks” and “Capacity building at scale”. The JP is expected to leverage significant additional financial resources - nearly 11 M USD - from the European Union, World Bank, and the Albanian National Government.

Project symbol

ALB/23/50/UND

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Budapest

Start date

05/09/2024

End date

01/09/2027

Total allocation

555573

Total expenditure

Status

Active

254191

Development Partners

Multi Partner Trust Fund Office, UNDP

Country/Countries

Albania

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Full and productive employment for just transitions