Category: Networking and Partnership Date: October 2018 – January 2019 Geographical Scope: Albania and Western Balkans Programmes: Europe for Citizens, Interreg ADRION, Horizon 2020 (preparatory), IPA CBC
Project Overview
The initiative Networking and Coordination for EU Projects aimed to strengthen institutional capacity and foster international partnerships by creating structured networking opportunities for actors in sustainable development, environment, and tourism. Through targeted coordination and partner matchmaking, InSET supported the participation of Albanian and Western Balkan institutions in EU-funded programmes.
The project addressed the increasing demand for cross-border cooperation, enabling public institutions, universities, NGOs, and associations to access European funding and contribute to regional development.
Objectives
Overall Objective To enhance participation of Albanian and Western Balkan actors in EU programmes by facilitating networking, coordination, and partnership development.
Specific Objectives
Identify and connect organizations with shared strategic interests
Support partnership building aligned with specific EU calls and programmes
Strengthen the capacity of local actors to engage in international project consortia
Promote sustainable development, environmental protection, and tourism innovation through EU cooperation
Project Description
InSET served as a coordination hub for organizations seeking international partnerships in EU and Western Balkan programmes. The project focused on gathering and systematizing information on potential partners, facilitating communication, and assisting with the preparation of partnership documentation for EU project applications.
A continuously updated database of stakeholders was developed, including NGOs, universities, research institutes, municipalities, and professional associations. This enabled efficient matchmaking between Albanian partners and international lead organizations.
InSET’s Role and Contribution
InSET acted as the representative coordinator at national and Western Balkan levels, with key responsibilities including:
Identifying suitable Albanian partners based on EU call priorities
Serving as a national contact point for international lead partners
Supporting organizations with limited resources in partnership development and documentation
Contributing to project concept development and proposal drafting
Key Activities
Creation and ongoing update of a partner and stakeholder database
Establishment of communication channels between national and international partners
Preparation and coordination of partner forms, work packages, and supporting documents
Follow-up on partnership negotiations and bilateral/multilateral agreements
Supported EU Projects and Programmes
The networking efforts facilitated partnerships in the following initiatives:
Europe for Citizens – Network of Towns Project: Countryside Ecological Footprint Network Albanian Partner: Municipality of Himara
Interreg V-B Adriatic–Ionian (ADRION) Programme 2014–2020 Lead Partner: Rijeka Development Agency PORIN Ltd Albanian Partner: Directorate of Art, Tourism and Culture, Municipality of Vlora
Europe for Citizens – Town Twinning Project: Heritage for EU Growth Twinning Municipalities: Vlora (Albania) – Vinica (Croatia)
PLATONE Project Partners: Croatian institutions and University of Gjirokastra “Eqerem Çabej”
ADRION Programme Project: SURPRISE Albanian Partners: Municipality of Tepelena and University of Tirana
Results and Impact
The project led to:
Increased internationalization of Albanian institutions
Strengthened cross-border partnerships in the Western Balkans
Improved access to EU funding opportunities for local actors
Enhanced institutional capacity for project development and cooperation
Project Future and Sustainability
Networking and partnership development remain a core ongoing activity for InSET, supported by its technical expertise and over 20 years of experience in sustainable development, environment, and tourism.
Future efforts will focus on:
Horizon Europe and successor programmes
Interreg and ADRION programmes
IPA Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) initiatives
Other EU and regional funding opportunities aligned with sustainable development goals
Through sustained networking, InSET continues to support strategic partnerships, institutional strengthening, and regional integration across Albania and the Western Balkans.