IYRP Western Balkans Regional Gathering | Progress & Invitation

[President | The Grassroots Institute]

Dear Friends,

Wishes for your well-being. Hope you recall our previous communication when we invited people to the planning consultation in late September 2025. 

Ever since, we have made some progress with the participation of various dedicated experts, activists, and field workers. You may browse the information on the link https://minoritymap.org/rg/. Please note the following points:

1. Apex-level Regional Facilitation Team of 6-7 persons is fully dedicated to the diverse range of works. 
   
   
2. The Western Balkans Regional Gathering of Pastoralists has been splitted into various Zonal Gatherings. We have proposed/ progressed with organizing a total of 15 Zonal Gatherings across all 6 countries of the Western Balkans Region to take place from 19 April to 31 May 2026. On 30-31 May 2026, there will be a Concluding Assembly of Pastoralists in Skhoder (Albania) in which about 9-10 representative shepherds from each Zonal Gathering will summarize the voices raised in their respective Zonal Gatherings. By now, the Zonal Gatherings finalized include:
   
   ALBANIA >>>  
   i) Skhodera (covering 5 municipalities);
   ii) Lezha (covering 3 municipalities);
   iii) Elbasan (covering 3 municipalities);
   iv) Diber (covering 4 municipalities);
   v) Kukes (covering 3 municipalities);
   vi) Gjiokaster (covering 2-3 municipalities)
   KOSOVO >>>
   i) Peja (covering 5 municipalities)
   NORTH MACEDONIA >>>
   i) Tetovo (covering 2 municipalities);
   ii) Gostivar (covering 2 municipalities). 
   
   *6 more Zonal Gatherings are yet to be announced: 1 in Serbia, 1 in Bosnia, 2-3 in Montenegro, 1 in Kosovo, and 2-3 in South Albania. 
     
3. We are constituting Zonal-Level Organizing Committees. By mid-February, we expect our Zonal/Municipal level Teams to be in place. You may follow the composition of our local teams at https://minoritymap.org/rg/organizing-committee/  
   
   
4. INVITATION: We invite organizations and individuals to participate in the process. The participation can be in the form of the following ways:
   
   A) Become a Partner and propose one new Zonal Gathering in South Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, or Bosnia. Minimum 2-3 municipalities need to be included in one Zone. If anyone is interested to become Partner and proposing a Zonal Gathering, please contact our Regional Facilitation Team members or send an email to me.
   
   B) Join one of the announced Zonal Gatherings in Albania, Kosovo, or North Macedonia. At the local level, almost all the Zones mentioned above in section 2 need team members in one role or the other. Interested friends should contact:
   > Mr. Hafuz Domi (for Diber and Kukes zones of Albania domi...@yahoo.com);
   > Mr. Alfred Haxhari (for Shkoder and Lezha zones of Albania fred_h...@yahoo.com);
   > Dr. Kritaq Skenderi (for Elbasan zone of Albania kristaqs.veterinary@yahoo.com);
   > Mr. Jaco Meci (for Gjiokaster zone of Albania jaco....@gmail.com);
   > Dr. Merije Elezi (for Tetovo and Gistovar zones of North Macedonia merije.elezi@unite.edu.mk). 
   
   C) Nominate/Sponsor a local organization that can be a Partner and propose one new Zonal Gathering in South Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, or Bosnia. This option is for the global/international organizations having local partners in the Western Balkans region.  
   
   
5. Kindly note that the Western Balkans Regional Gathering of Pastoralists is not a funded project. It is a movement to advocate the rights of shepherd people and everyone is devoting time/energy on valuntary basis. To organize the Zonal Gatherings, our existing team members have been volunteering their time. We are also trying to mobilize local resources (no money) from municipalities and other institutions, and individuals. Local shepherd leaders have a key role in this process. For some additional costs of travel, mobility, IEC, team trainings, survey, documentation, media coverage, filming, etc., we will request sponsorships from external organizations or individuals. Therefore, those expecting a Funding or money are humbly informed not be disappointed. 
   
   
6. Should you have any queries or expressions of interest, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please do not forget to watch the website https://minoritymap.org/rg/ 

 

Sincerely,

THE GRASSROOTS INSTITUTE 

548 Jean-Talon Ouest, Montreal

Quebec, Canada . H3N 1R5 

E-mail: pres...@grassrootsinstitute.net,
c...@grassrootsinstitute.ca,

dire...@grassrootsinstitute.net

Websites: www.grassrootsinstitute.net,
www.grassrootsinstitute.ca,

www.grassrootsglobal.net

________________________________________
DR. HASRAT ARJJUMEND
Postdoc (Montréal), PhD, MPhil, MSc, PGDEL, MBA
Founder President & CEO