Farm to Fork Academy for Green Western Balkans – Our shared European future (regional project)
Albanian Rural Development Network –lead Partners
Beneficiaries:Direct end beneficiaries are WB-6 countries’ citizens, who benefit
from a healthy and environmentally-friendly food system; farmers and
farmers associations across the region.
Direct beneficiaries of the project are civil society organisations and
CSO networks, in particular constituents of National Rural
Development Networks in the WB-6 and Croatia and Balkan Rural
Development Network as well as grass-root CSOs active in the rural
development agriculture development, consumer protection,
environment and biodiversity protection. Direct end beneficiaries are
WB-6 countries’ citizens, who benefit from a healthy and
environmentally-friendly food system;
Indirect beneficiaries are local and national policy decision makers,
namely local self-government units and Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development and other line ministries (Environment, Tourism,
Energy, Health etc.); Parliamentary Committees across the WB-6
countries
16/01/2023-15/01/2027
Overall Objective
Overall objective of the project is to strengthen the contribution by
CSOs and CSO Networks (and other rural stakeholders) and their
impact in the implementation of the EU integration and approximation
process in the Western Balkans in the agricultural and rural
development sector through advancing the green and just transition in
the region.
Specific objective(s) (i.e. Outcome(s)
SO1: Strengthening of CSOs capacities in sustainable food system and livelihoods through the ‘Farm to Fork Academy’ (F2F) so as to be
active and effective agents of change in assisting farming and rural
communities toward green and just transition;
SO2: Introducing innovative, green and inclusive solutions for
sustainable food systems and livelihoods and their further promotion
to address challenges related to climate changes and biodiversity
losses;
SO3: Further strengthening contribution and impact of National Rural
Networks in the WB-6 countries and BRDN in policy and decision-
making processes at national and regional level through sustained
participatory consultation and dialogue as well as identifying policy
solutions to accelerate the reforming process in approximating with
EU CAP, in particular alignment with the EU Green Deal and F2F
Strategy
Summary of the Project
The proposed action focuses on strengthening the contribution of civil society actors across WB-6 in the implementation of the EU integration and approximation process in the WB in the agricultural and rural development sector through advancing the green and just transition in the region. It will do so by stimulating a better environment for CSOs and CSOs Networks and other rural stakeholders to proactively contribute in addressing challenges related to climate changes and biodiversity losses.
Activities
The envisaged activities are clustered in four work packages which will lead to specific results:
WP0. Project management, MEL and visibility;
WP1. Farm to Fork Academy
1.1 Set up of the regional Farm to Fork Academy and provision of the F2F
Training of Trainers (ToT) for Rural Development Networks representatives
from the six WB countries;
1.2 Training courses for grassroots CSOs at national level;
1.3 Nationally-wide awareness campaign on sustainable, green and resilient
food system
1.4 Regional Farm to Fork Academy promotion package aiming for
education purpose on good practices on innovative, green and inclusive
solutions applied in the WB countries
WP2.Sustainable Solutions through Farm to Fork Academy sub-granting
program 2.1 Information campaign to CSOs, CSO Networks, start-ups, young
entrepreneurs, social enterprises etc. to the F2F Academy sub granting
program
2.2 Implement transparent F2F sub-granting program on actions related to
innovative, green and inclusive solutions for sustainable food systems and
livelihoods;
2.3 Tutor-led on-farm trainings for small groups of farmers and leaders
(including young farmers under 40 years old on actions related to innovative,
green and inclusive solutions for sustainable food systems and livelihoods;
2.4 F2F Academy Awards at regional and national level for CSOs, farms,
local authorities and research institutions who demonstrated commitment
towards environment and biodiversity protection on the farm.
WP3. Bottom-up advocacy and policy agenda
3.1 Participatory CSOs and stakeholder consultation and dialogue towards
strengthening the position of farmers in the value chains;
3.3 Provide policy solutions for a more sustainable food policy that supports
reform processes in agriculture and rural development at national and
regional level.
3.4 Assist policymaking in drafting a coherent long-term vision toward
sustainable food system and livelihoods in rural areas.
Expected Results
EO1.1 Strengthened CSOs and CSOs Networks (constituents of National
Rural Development Networks in the six WB countries and Balkan Rural
Development Network) capacities in sustainable food system and rural
livelihoods towards green and just transition;
EO1.2 Increased awareness among general public (in particular consumers)
on sustainable, green and resilient food system;
EO2.1 Implemented innovative, green and inclusive solutions by grassroots
CSOs and other rural stakeholders that address challenges related to
climate changes and biodiversity losses;
EO2.2 Fostered networking, knowledge transfer, exchange of good practices
in sustainable food systems and livelihoods through environment friendly
agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
EO3.1 Influenced effective policymaking through bottom up advocacy on the
needs and priorities of the CSOs, farmers, and communities vis-à-vis
mainstreaming sustainability, environment and biodiversity in agriculture and
rural development program;
EO3.3 Increased contribution from NRNs and BRDN in agriculture and rural
reforming processes in WB-6 to accelerate the alignment of national policies
with EU CAP, especially with EU Green Deal and Farm 2 Fork Strategy.
