CORE Development – Dibër

Overview

The Dibër region in north-eastern Albania is one of the country's most geographically remote and economically challenged areas. CORE Development (Community-Oriented Regional Empowerment) was designed to address this by supporting bottom-up development initiatives — strengthening both local government and civil society to drive sustainable change from within.

FLAG led the governance and local authority component of the project, working alongside community organisations and local governments to improve participatory planning, service delivery, and economic opportunity.

Objectives

• Strengthen the capacity of Dibër municipalities to deliver services and engage citizens
• Support community-based organisations to design and implement local development initiatives
• Improve participatory local planning processes at municipal and community level
• Promote local economic opportunities and rural livelihoods
• Build connections between local government, civil society, and the private sector

Key activities

• Participatory community needs assessments in target villages and neighbourhoods
• Training and mentoring of community organisations and local leaders
• Small grants to community groups for local development micro-projects
• Facilitation of local economic development forums
• Support to municipal planning processes incorporating community priorities
• Youth engagement and civic education activities

Results

CORE Development produced tangible improvements in community engagement and local governance quality in Dibër. Dozens of community-led initiatives were funded and implemented, municipal planning processes became more participatory, and a network of active community organisations was established across the region.