This research report offers an analysis of the barriers and opportunities experienced by rural entrepreneurs through engaging diasporas in Albania and BiH. The report is a direct result from the RRPP research project Linking Rural Entrepreneurs and Diaspora in Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina implemented by the Centre for Economic Development and Research (CEDAR) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Albanian Centre for Social-Economic Research (ACSER) of Albania.

The report first provides econometric analyses of models addressing factors determinant of rural entrepreneurial success, leading to the identification of primary obstacles to entrepreneurial activities in rural BiH and Albania. Evaluating the rural entrepreneurship survey's results reveal these obstacles to be related to financial, institutional and infrastructural constraints. Each of these factors impact rural success in similar ways; therefore all three must be solved simultaneously without prioritizing one over another. The results also demonstrate that rural entrepreneurs expect more support from local rather than state level government.

The second part of the report provides a descriptive statistical analysis of BiH and Albania’s diasporas and their potential engagements in the economic development of their home countries. The results suggest that, in case of both diasporas, most respondents initially planned to stay only temporarily in their host countries, returning to their home countries after some time. Although their initial plans were in favour of temporarily migration, their current plans define their original actions as steps toward emigration. This shift in migration types is more pronounced in the case of Albanian migrants. Bosnian migrants remained uncertain of their migratory plans at the time of the research. Overall, no clear patterns emerge for predicting future migration strategies. A large number of migrants from both countries are unable to determine when to return and exactly where they will be settling down.

The report’s third and final part contains a review of possible solutions for engaging diaspora by reducing the obstacles to rural entrepreneurship identified in this report. Solutions were developed by selecting some of the best practices taken from around the world, coupled with vibrant discussions on alternative resolutions with key stakeholders in the two countries. In summation, the research results suggest that remittances, investments and skill transfers will be the main areas of intervention for linking of rural entrepreneurs and diaspora in Albania and BiH.