TIRANA, July 17 /ATA/ – The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), in cooperation with the Butrint Management Foundation (BMF), has launched the first call for applications under a new grant scheme aimed at supporting communities around Albania’s Butrint National Park.
The scheme is designed to support individuals, local businesses and non-profit organisations with ideas, initiatives or projects focused on economic, cultural, social and tourism development in the Butrint area and surrounding communities.
Applications will remain open until October 15, 2026, with selected beneficiaries eligible for grants of up to 20,000 dollars.
The programme covers the villages of Vrinë, Shëndëlli, Xarrë, Çiflik and Mursi, as well as other rural areas bordering Butrint National Park that have been identified as priority areas for economic, social and tourism development under the Integrated Management Plan.
The initiative aims to place local communities at the centre of future development of Butrint archaeological park, recognising residents, artisans, farmers, tour guides, tourism operators, businesses and local organisations as key partners in preserving the area’s cultural and natural values while building a more sustainable local economy.
Through the grants, organisers aim to support the creation of new products, services and tourism experiences, improve existing activities and generate new opportunities for communities in the region.
AADF, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, established the Butrint Management Foundation as the implementing body for an integrated management model that seeks to combine the preservation of cultural and natural heritage with sustainable local development.
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