About GreenAL
During the first phase, GreenAL financially supported about 50 CSOs and managed to create a network of 80 CSOs who had the opportunity to actively advocate for better environmental policies in the territories where they implemented their projects but also in the 5 Environmental Forums organized by GreenAL Partners in cooperation with grant recipient organizations.
GreenAL aims to further nurture and empower Albanian environmental CSOs to actively participate and contribute to the process of aligning legislation with the EU Acquis and negotiations, with the main focus on Chapter 27. Organizations are expected to contribute proactively in addressing environmental issues through fact-based monitoring, advocacy, engagement in policy-making processes, influencing decision-making from the local to the national level.
Specific Objectives:
• To further nurture and empower environmental CSOs in Albania by strengthening their capacities to proactively address environmental issues and consolidate their legitimacy to better represent their cause and/or affected communities;
• To stimulate and encourage the active involvement of environmental CSOs in the ongoing and future processes related to the Acquis and the green transition at the local, regional, national level;
• Contribute to increasing the awareness of communities and the accountability of decision-makers on the challenges of climate change, pollution and nature protection through advocacy, influencing policy-making and monitoring.
The project focuses on environmental issues throughout the country and for this purpose GreenAL Partners welcome the engagement of environmental CSOs, activists, environmental experts, educational and academic institutions to play an active role in conveying the voice of citizens and communities.
By building and creating cooperation bridges with state institutions/agencies at the local, regional and national level, CSOs are expected to advocate to promote participatory decision-making, their active involvement in the negotiation process with the final goal of drafting better environmental policies and improving the environment in the country
GreenAL will offer financial support in the form of grants to support environmental CSOs in the country, which will be organized in 4 packages:
• Thematic Grants focus on consolidated environmental CSOs focused and equipped with expertise in topics such as: climate, pollution, nature; and collaborate strategically with institutions/agencies at the national level;
• Regional Grants focus on CSOs who want to create regional networks to take concrete actions in addressing environmental issues in cooperation with local and regional institutions;
• Initiative Grants focus on CSOs who want to identify environmental issues that affect local communities;
• Dedicated Grants/On the Spot Grants, consist of financial support for CSOs that address a developing cause or urgent environmental issue.
In order to promote activities, good practices and the voice of the communities, the designed website will serve as a communication window with the interest groups, keeping them updated with the latest environmental developments in the country as well as the results of the monitoring that will be carried out during the implementation phase.
GreenAL Partners
The GreenAL partners are Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development (lead partner), Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS Albania) and Coordinamento delle Organizzazioni per il Servizio Volontario (COSV Albania) as supporting partners. These three consortium members contain experience, expertise and presence on a local, regional, and global level, which enables the provision of a comprehensive, contextualized, and cohesive understanding of environmental concerns and management practices, as well as an excellent track record of inspiring grassroots organizations to take action.
Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development, is one of Albania’s most significant and well-established civil society organizations, having a wealth of environmental experience and a lengthy history of managing grants. Since 1995, Co-PLAN has dedicated itself to factorizing and including environmental perspectives in local and national agendas through systematic dialogue with central institutions, community engagement, innovative applied research, and coordination of nationwide environmental campaigns. Co-PLAN has over 200 implemented projects (and a portfolio of projects worth more than 6 million euros).
VIS Albania, Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (International Volunteer Service for Development), is an Albanian affiliate of International VIS, which was founded in 1995 and has its main office in Rome, Italy. From the start, the goal of VIS Albania’s participation was to assist Albanian youngsters and children. In order to address the growing number of beneficiaries in a qualified manner, the activities have undergone constant adjustment in recent years. VIS’s goal is to inspire Albanians to make deliberate decisions that will enable them to take action and improve their quality of life.
COSV, Coordinamento delle Organizzazioni per il Servizio Volontario, a non-profit organization that works in the areas of development and humanitarian relief in the Middle East, Southern Africa, the Balkans, and Europe. Through inclusive development paths based on networking and partnership techniques, it works to safeguard the environment, promote peace, uphold human rights, and improve local realities while having a demonstrable long-term impact. The “culture of cooperation,” which is understood as solidarity between communities, serves as the inspiration for COSV’s work, which is focused on rebuilding shared capital and establishing strong relationships within and between communities in order to sustain significant political and economic changes that underpin progress.
For the implementation of the second phase of GreenAL, Co-PLAN is in charge of the consortium and the central region of Albania (Qark of Tirana, Durrës, Fier, Elbasan), COSV operates in the southern region of Albania (Qark of Vlora, Berat, Korçë and Gjrokastër), whereas VIS Albania operates in the northern region (Qarku of Kukës, Dibër, Shkodër and Lezhë).