UNMIK/PR/1156
Pristina – Today the Deputy SRSG for Civil Administration, Francesco Bastagli, signed an agreement with Mr. Christoffer Sjöhlm, Director of the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (Sida), to support forestry education and training in Kosovo.
This project, prepared in close collaboration between Sida and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) involves an external financial contribution of approximately 2.2 million euros over the next three years.
“This agreement helps the sustainable development of one of the most important resources of Kosovo. It reflects the focused, effective commitment of the Government of Sweden to address key needs of Kosovo and all its people,” said Mr. Bastagli.
The basic objective of the project is to improve the capacity to manage and utilise forest resources in a cost-efficient, sustainable manner so as to increase income and employment opportunities in Kosovo. It is expected to produce an educational strategy and structure capable of driving forest education in Kosovo and to upgrade the skills of existing personnel working in the forest sector. It will also support the educational programme for forestry personnel on vocational and technical levels and educational arrangements for higher forestry education at the Master’s and Doctorate degree levels at a forestry faculty abroad.