Press Release

FAO supports the 3rd Rural Parliament of Albania in empowering rural women

12 October 2023

Tirana, Albania, October 12, 2023 - The 3rd Rural Parliament of Albania, held from October 11 to 13, 2023, under the theme "Life springs from the village" gathered key stakeholders, including public institutions, women farmers, academics, donors, and UN agencies. Organized by the Albanian Network for Rural Development (ANRD) in collaboration with its 34 Civil Society Organizations and the Agricultural University of

Tirana (UBT), this event served as a vital platform for discussions on sustainable rural development and women's concerns and priorities in rural communities.

Caption: Empowering Rural Women: FAO supports the 3rd Rural Parliament of Albania to discuss sustainable economic development of rural women and their communities.

Lorena Pullumbi, Assistant FAO Representative in Albania, shared FAO's commitment to promote gender equality and support the sustainable economic development of rural women and their communities as a key driver to building sustainable and inclusive food systems and resilient societies. Through the Gender, Rural Equality, and Tourism (GREAT) project, co-implemented by FAO and UN Women and funded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development, she emphasized the determination to continue working with rural women to enable them to conduct collective actions and provide access to entrepreneurial and  management skills. This reality is coming to fruition with the progress made in finalizing two agricultural incubators in Leskovik and Elbasan. The event was conducted on the margins of the observance of International Day for Rural Women.

Caption: Lorena Pullumbi, Assistant FAO Representative in Albania, emphasizes FAO's commitment to gender equality and economic development for rural women.

Women’s contribution to agriculture in Albania is significant, with 54 percent of employed women working on this sector. Life springs from the village, and at the heart of the village, it is the strength, resilience, and aspirations of women that truly nurture and cultivate the future.

UN entities involved in this initiative

FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Goals we are supporting through this initiative