Tropoja
Pilot village under the FAO Digital Villages Initiative (DVI)
Description
FAO is piloting the Digital Villages Initiative (DVI) in Tropoja, Albania under the TCP/RER/3905 “Digital Villages in Action” programme. FAO’s DVI readiness assessment of the villages in Tropoja reports a digitalization status of “growing”, with high potential to move to a future “blossoming” status. A strong and accessible mobile internet connection can be found in most locations in the Tropoja villages, although variables such as speed and stability can vary depending on such factors as electricity stability; and the number of connected users, especially in the touristic season. Fixed broadband connectivity is limited due to the mountainous conditions. While most inhabitants own a smartphone, only a few households are equipped with computers or tablets, and these are predominantly families with young children. Smartphones are mostly used to access such social media platforms as WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok, to access information or for human-to-human interactions.
Technology
FAO’s DVI seeks to equip rural businesses and communities with the necessary digital skills and tools to sustain their individual and collective livelihoods. The first DVI intervention was conducted in collaboration with the community, and took the form of a capacity development programme in support of digital marketing with the involvement of diversified farmers and other rural businesses. Under the second intervention, a digital territorial brand was developed and registered to protect intellectual property rights in the villages of Tropoja, aiming to boost the visibility and searchability of the communities in the digital domains. The DVI also seeks to encourage technology transfer related to smart beekeeping and the use of remote sensing for pest and disease management by chestnut producers.
Target
Small-scale farmers, women, and young people are the primary target groups within the rural communities, although public authorities (including municipalities and the central government) are also involved in, and benefit from the pilot DVI activities and outputs through assessments, strategic documents, co-created interventions, networking and cooperation.
Business model
The piloting of DVI is supported by FAO in partnership with Albania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The village inhabitants and authorities can gain get involved in the DVI activities and interventions free of charge.
Impact
The overall goal of this pilot DVI project in Tropoja is to enhance agricultural production, to facilitate access to rural services and, ultimately, to improve livelihoods in the region. To this end, the project seeks to increase the utilization of digital technologies in the Tropoja villages, and to leverage their local strengths to tackle the challenges they face. By the end of 2024, 15 rural businesses have benefited from capacity development programmes addressing such issues as digital marketing, while the municipality of Bajram Curri and other villages in the Tropoja have worked together on the development of a digital territorial brand. The project is being conducted in partnership with another flagship FAO initiative in the country – One Country One Priority Product – targeting improvements in the monitoring and resource management of chestnut forest resources through the creation of a GIS-based map of chestnut forests.
Partners
Albania’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Digital Roots;
Four Betters
Better production
Better nutrition
Better environment
Better life
