Donor:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme
Implementers:
Lead applicant: Together for Life Association
https://www.togetherforlife.org.al/en/
Co-applicant(s): N/A
Type of Project:
National Project
Project Duration: 02.12.2024 – 02.12.2025
Total Budget: 32 949 CHF
Scope:
This project is being implemented in the Municipality of Gramsh, Albania. This municipality is located in the center of our country. It consists of 10 administrative units and it takes the second place place in the country for forest area.
Main Beneficiaries:
Direct beneficiaries are at least 100 community members, 15 youth and 15 local stakeholders on Gramsh Municipality. The indirect beneficiaries will be all community members of the Gramsh Municipality, Tourists and all biodiversity of these areas
Overall Goal:
Enhancing community engagement and increasing the capacities of local government for LFM practices to reduce the risks of fires in landscapes in the Municipality of Gramsh.
Expected Results:
– The community of the Municipality of Gramsh is more aware of the dangers that can cause inappropriate practices in setting fire to landscapes.
– The community of the Municipality of Gramsh has increased the resilience and knowledge regarding LFM practices (regarding the techniques of preparation, response and restoration from landscapes fires)
– Gramsh municipality local stakeholders have been trained for the risk assessment process and the design of the plan/strategy for reducing the risk from disasters, focusing on the fire landscape.
– Local government actors were assisted/mentored to draft these local strategic documents.
– Local government actors are supported with technical expertise to carry out the assessment of vulnerability and capacities, which is part of the disaster risk assessment process, with a focus on landscape fires.
Current Activities:
The project began with a powerful awareness campaign designed to educate and mobilize the people of Gramsh. Five targeted information sessions were held in fire-prone areas, where residents learned about Landscape Fire Management (LFM) practices and the risks associated with uncontrolled fires.
A group of 15 passionate high school students, aged 15–18, emerged as youth ambassadors for change. Trained by a specialist from the Fire Protection and Rescue Service, these young leaders embraced the Peer-to-Peer method, organizing awareness activities to share their knowledge and inspire their peers to become stewards of their environment.
The campaign also utilized engaging visual materials—videos, leaflets, and information boards—ensuring that fire safety knowledge reached every corner of the municipality.
Beyond awareness, the project focused on empowering Gramsh’s local government and stakeholders to take ownership of fire risk reduction. Under the guidance of civil emergency management experts, a series of strategic activities were launched, as meetings, roundtable, specialized training equipped to develop comprehensive disaster risk assessments, fire management strategies, and civil emergency plans.
Ongoing mentoring and technical assistance supported the drafting of these critical documents, emphasizing prevention, preparedness, and recovery.
The project also introduced the Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (EVCA) methodology, helping stakeholders evaluate risks and capacities with precision.
