Communities Take Over Development Projects in Albania and Zimbabwe

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After several years of support, two community development projects in Albania and Zimbabwe are now fully managed by local populations. The transition marks a new stage for an approach built around self-reliance rather than long-term assistance.

In Albania and Zimbabwe, thousands of people are now benefiting from healthcare, training, and economic development programs managed by their own communities. After several years of support, local teams have officially taken over the management of these initiatives, marking a key milestone toward greater autonomy.

The transition is part of the Green Light Project (GLP), an international program launched in 2012 by South Korean automaker Kia. Its goal is to help vulnerable communities develop sustainable infrastructure in healthcare, education, and employment, before gradually transferring responsibility for the projects to local stakeholders.

With this new phase, the Albanian and Zimbabwean sites become the 13th and 14th projects under the program to operate independently.

“The goal of the Green Light Project is to enable communities to continue their activities sustainably, long after our direct support has ended,” said Duk Hyun Lee, Vice President and Head of the Sustainability Development Department at Kia Corporation.

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Improving access to healthcare

Since 2023, the program has been operating in the mountainous Librazhd region of Albania, in partnership with the NGO World Vision. The area faces limited access to healthcare, while some former mining activities have contributed to a high prevalence of disabilities.

Several initiatives have been introduced, including the construction of a multidisciplinary health center dedicated to children with disabilities, a mobile rehabilitation service reaching remote villages with specially equipped vehicles, training programs for family caregivers, and support for agricultural production aimed at strengthening household incomes.

According to the program's organizers, nearly 4,300 people have benefited from improved access to healthcare and new economic opportunities.

Agriculture and mining in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, the project is being implemented with humanitarian organization Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) in the rural Wedza district, where the effects of climate change, limited irrigation infrastructure, and difficulties affecting the agricultural and mining sectors have constrained local development.

The initiatives have included the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems, the development of fish farming activities, the provision of safety equipment for miners, and mobile technical training delivered through specially equipped vehicles.

Overall, nearly 34,000 residents are estimated to have benefited from improved access to resources, training, and new economic opportunities.

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A model built around knowledge transfer

Unlike many philanthropy or development assistance programs, the Green Light Project was designed from the outset around a simple principle: preparing communities to become fully self-sufficient.

Once infrastructure has been established, local teams trained, and activities sufficiently consolidated, management is gradually transferred to local stakeholders. The aim is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the projects without creating permanent dependence on external support.

Since its launch in 2012, the program has been implemented at 19 sites across 15 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. Fourteen of these projects are now fully managed by local communities, while five others will continue their development until 2027 before following the same path.

Through this approach, Kia aims to promote a model of sustainable development in which communities themselves become the main drivers of their future.

Caroline Haïat