An initiative launched by UNDP in Albania seeks to mobilise people to promote their development through their own resources and to participate in the decision-making process actively. The project is based on the fact that a participatory approach to community development requires responsible, well-informed and pro-active people. The results show that mobilisation works best if it is institutionalised within local government, and if the latter has developed a role of catalyst, providing guidance to the community, creating an enabling environment, facilitating fund raising and institutional support. Local government officials can usually play this role effectively provided that their capacities are enhanced to the required level. Training should be targeted towards the staff involved in planning and decision making on local development initiatives, and should include advice on accounting procedures.