Lack of rural credit in north-eastern Albania is one of the most important challenges facing the peasants in the area. In order to overcome the ineective credit infrastructure prevailing after the break-up of the communist system in 1991, the Government of Albania, with the support of the World Bank, designed a project for the alleviation of this area's rural poverty. The project, which started in 1995, is co-ยฎnanced by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Islamic Bank for Development and the Government of Albania. One of the project components is small scale credit for rural farmers. In the light of the experiences of the above project, this article reยฏects upon the future of rural credit in Albania by developing a theoretical framework which identiยฎes the characteristics and principles to be addressed when attempting to rehabilitate the system. The framework examines the desirable preconditions, the strategic considerations, the optimum credit delivery systems and operational requirements to address the current constraints. The conjectural framework developed around some assumptions which, as the political situation was still uncertain at the time of writing, were not tested in the ยฎeld. The conclusion of the study reยฏects the need to test these assumptions and to discuss the feasibility of using the policy framework with those empowered to implement the strategies.