CNVP is a Dutch based organization operating in the Balkans. Founded in July 2012 by a team of committed forestry engineers from SNV, this small group of enthusiasts has grown to 25 professionals from diversified technical backgrounds.
Currently, CNVP implements cross-border development frameworks in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In July 2019, leadership was handed over directly to existing regional directors. This pivotal management decentralization advanced the organization toward a highly responsive local model, matching contextual understanding with original organizational core values: commitment, innovation, and teamwork.
Forests remain our central focus as critical ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and local economic resilience. We provide localized support to communities and national governments to align regional development in harmony with nature.
Sustaining community forestry interventions and empowering local cross-border connectivity networks to amplify rural capacity.
Creating green economic structures where South East European societies thrive in systemic harmony with natural resources.
CNVP operates under a structured regional governance model that optimizes local ownership while maintaining rigorous international compliance standards.
Our TeamIvica has worked in the private sector in agriculture production, fish farming and mushrooms, as well as fruit and grape nursery, working for international organisations in Bosnia Herzegovina. He is the Head of the Centre for Rural Development and Agriculture (CRRP) within the Regional Economic Development Agency Hercegovina (REDAH), Mostar.
Aleksandar has experience of managing environmental programmes at international level, working on environmental and nature protection programmes/projects in the IPA region. He is experienced in EU development aid instruments, as well as EU procurement and visibility procedures (PRAG, Visibility and Communication Guidelines, PPCM etc.).
Samir is an associate professor at the University of Zenica, Bosnia Herzegovina. He leads an activist environmental NGO, Eco forum Zenica. This aims to overcome major local air/soil/water pollution, improve access to justice in environmental issues by implementing the Aarhus Convention, and encourage public participation in decision-making.
Levent works for main donors building capacity for central government institutions related to employment generation, private sector development and labour markets. He has been involved in: drafting project, programme and policy documents; preparing and implementing M&E frameworks; and conducting the final evaluations of projects/programmes.
Franc has worked extensively on: forest policy; legislation and strategic planning; harmonisation of EU forestry and nature legislation; forestry organisation and institutions; public forestry administration and management; forestry extension service delivery; private forest owners’ associations and advocacy.
Julije has been Managing Director of North-West Croatia Regional Energy Agency since 2008, and President of the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and Environment since 2013. He has worked as the national biomass programme coordinator in Croatia, and for FAO, UNIDO and the European Commission.
Sophia is Professor of European Agricultural Policy at the University of Kent, and Honorary Director of the Centre for European Agri-Environmental Studies (CEAS). Her experience covers research, teaching and consultancy, particularly related to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and sustainable rural development.
Aysegul works on urban issues, sustainable NRM, environment, nature and landscape planning, local bio-diversity action plans, sustainable tourism, and integrated coastal zone management in SEE countries and Turkey. She is a member of IUCN-CEC, and currently works as an Associate Researcher at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.
Matthew covers agricultural extension, advisory and consultancy services for farmers, crop production/agronomy, and capacity/institution building. He has worked in transition and post-conflict countries in Eastern/Central Europe, the former Soviet Union, and the Balkans where he has managed complex, inter-disciplinary programmes.
Daniel has experience in environmental management, with particular focus on biodiversity and nature conservation in EU Member States and accession countries. His is a specialist in grassland ecosystems, nature conservation and biodiversity, as well as nature protection policies and plans. He has taught universities in Germany and Austria.
Almira covers gender issues and support for local producer groups in forestry, encouraging improved participation and representation. She has experience of promoting lobbying and advocacy campaigns for CSOs to improve the policy environment for sustainable and decentralized NRM. She has experience of supporting local producer groups, especially those run by women.
Elona works on gender and women’s economic empowerment in forestry and rural development, as well as anti-corruption. She has worked with local action groups (LAGs) and communities that are oriented towards rural development and communal forestry on internal policy, development of strategy and organizational systems, including effective knowledge/skill transfer.
Stavri covers forestry and NRM, as well as provides capacity building for industry, local government, the public and CSOs/NGOs. His management experience covers, national parks, protected areas, nature conservation and biodiversity. He has experience of developing globally secure tenure rights, small scale farming systems, locally managed eco-systems, and the management of NGOs. He is qualified in forest fire protection/prevention.
Melike works on participatory planning processes related to NRM, rural development and the delicate balance between agriculture and biodiversity conservation. She has extensive experience of EU legislation e.g. CAP, Water Framework Directive and Natura 2000. She is involved in participatory action research to solve problems through reflective processes.
Zef has been a member of ministry working groups to prepare strategic documents for agriculture development, including strengthening farmers’ capacities to become more market-oriented. A marketing and extension specialist at MADA, he supported SME development in mountain areas of Albania. He has supported the establishment of wholesale markets, as well as designed marketing surveys for selected agriculture commodities.
Andrian is a specialist in integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), as well as environmental education, conservation, bio-diversity, climate change, integrated solid waste management, and related systems. He has experience in Albania on national environmental policies and legislation, as well as the EU environmental acquis. Andrian is certified as International Lead Auditor for Quality and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001), and holds the Albanian License on Environmental A
Elvin has more than 20 years’ experience of forest mensuration, forest biomass estimation, GHG estimation, dendro-climatology and web program design. He has assessed the socio-economic and bio-physical aspects of land degradation, as well as the key drivers and causes of poor land use and soil erosion in forest lands at watershed level. He has evaluated the environment impact of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline in Albania, as well as analysed value chains for wood products in Balkan countries.
Pranvera is undertaking gap analyses concerning the Green Economy, LEADER/Local Action Groups, and the retention of rural youth. She is also responsible for identifying project opportunities with which to expand CVNP’s activities in Kosovo. She has worked on rural development issues with various donors for more than 5 years, particularly the EU’s IPA cross-border cooperation programme.
Alen is a forest conservation and sustainable forest management expert who works at the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina/Serbia. He focuses on protected areas and national ecological network design and governance with cross-sectorial linkages, particularly forestry and water management. He is familiar with GIS-based platforms for land use analysis and planning, as well as climate change adaptation in land use practice and policy development
Christoph has a Master’s degree in renewable energy and forestry, and is a specialist in the forestry/timber industry. Since 2010, he has lectured on ecology and renewable energy at the University of Applied Science in Carinthia, Austria. He has his own engineering company, and is experienced in the design, implementation and quality management of biomass district heating plants
Sandor started in agricultural administration in 2001 at the Ministry of Agriculture, building the capacity of the EU Paying Agency and achieving its EU accreditation, as well as working as a national expert in common market organisations and EU fund management of agricultural, rural development and LEADER measures. He has participated in several EU Twinning and FAO projects in the Balkan region.
Peter has an extensive experience within forestry and environmental development often in combination with leadership and management, including project management. His specialisation is in sustainable forest management and multi-stakeholder engagement in forestry (a.o. community or family forestry). Expert areas of engagement are; forest associations and development, forest governance, land tenure, environmental services, forest biomass and renewable energy utilisation. Peter has more than 25 years of experience of which more than 15 years in the Western Balkan. He is currently based in The Netherlands.
