Practical support for livelihoods in Albania
24 January 2026
In villages and small towns across Albania, families are weighing impossible choices. Rising living costs have squeezed already thin margins, and decades of outward migration have left many communities depleted. Yet practical help is opening the door for some to stay, work and care for loved ones at home.
Understanding the context in Albania
Albania emerged from decades of brutal communist rule in the early 1990s. Since then, the country has worked hard to rebuild, yet the effects of long‑term economic hardship remain. In 2022, inflation rose sharply across Europe, driven by post‑pandemic pressures and, in part, by the war in Ukraine’s impact on energy and food prices, placing extra strain on households already struggling to cope.
One consequence has been large‑scale emigration. Since 1990, Albania has lost around 40% of its 1990 population through net emigration, a long‑running trend that has reshaped many communities.
Our long‑standing ministry partner, Medical Ambassadors Foundation (MAF), is responding through its Microbusiness Fund Project. The project offers small, flexible loans to people who have skills, experience and the desire to work, but lack access to the modest capital that would enable them to move forward.
By the end of last year, MAF hit their $5,000 target to launch the Microbusiness Fund.
One family’s story
In a rural village where MAF serves, a skilled builder and general contractor was on the brink of leaving Albania. Although he had steady work, the rising cost of renting scaffolding had eroded his income to the point where he struggled to support his family.
If he were to emigrate, he would leave behind his elderly mother who depends on him for daily care. All of his siblings have already moved abroad to find work. He is the last of her children in Albania and wants to remain, but felt there was no other option.
Through the Microbusiness Fund, a loan of around $1,000 (approximately £800) would allow him to purchase his own scaffolding. This simple investment would lower his operating costs, help him continue working locally and provide more stable support for his family. The loan could be repaid gradually, in a way that reflects his circumstances.
Simple. Practical. Powerful.
This is just one story, but it reflects many across Albania. With access to small amounts of capital, hardworking people can choose to stay, care for their families and contribute to their communities rather than being forced to leave.
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