Fostering Inclusive Development And Good Governance In Northern Kosovo

The project represents a unique collaboration between UN-Habitat, one of the best-established UN agencies in Kosovo, and PAX, an international NGO with a long-standing presence in Northern Kosovo. It responds to the urgent needs in Northern Kosovo with a strategic, comprehensive package of support to build municipal planning and management capacities, strengthen the social contract and social cohesion, and enhance coordination within a framework of inter-municipal cooperation and multi-level governance.

The long-term headline goal of the project is to foster inclusive development and good governance in Northern Kosovo through planned and conflict-sensitive development of municipalities, with communities integrated at all stages of planning and implementation, and within a framework of effective inter-municipal cooperation and multi-level governance.While the Intermediary goal for inception phase is to conduct baseline assessment and establish institutional, operational, and political framework for successful implementation of a three-year programme.

The objectives of the inception phase are as follows:

- Assess municipal and civil society capacities with a view to calibrate the scope of work/ support to be provided in the core implementation phase of the programme and devise/ refine related baseline, targets and indicators

- Kick-start building capacities of municipal administrations and relevant stakeholders in North Kosovo with a view to pave the way for the development of strategic planning processes and products

- Invest in strategic support to civil society mobilization and public dialogue contributing to increased local government transparency, responsiveness and accountability

- Initiate processes leading to constructive inter-municipal and local-central dialogue and cooperation

Main direct beneficiaries of the project will include:

Local governments. The project will provide valuable guidance to local governments in North Kosovo, serving as a basis for policymakers to develop and refine policies and projects that advance inclusive development and robust governance. Local governments in North Kosovo will be equipped and empowered to deliver basic services, and strengthen the democratic engagement of citizens in decision-making, within an effective multi-level governance framework. Support will also be provided to local governments to engage in IMC and local-central cooperation activities, enabling them to develop practical joint projects and advocacy initiatives, to mutual advantage.

Civil society. Local civil society organizations will benefit from opportunities to engage directly with municipal decision-makers, and contribute to community planning processes and the formulation of strategic public responses to key issues. Given the limited political space enjoyed by civil society organizations in North Kosovo, this will represent an important step toward raising the collective voice of civil society in the four municipalities.

Government of Kosovo. Central line ministries, and especially MESP and MLGA, will benefit from a neutral institutional bridge to local governments in North Kosovo, enabling them to pursue deeper engagement and alignment. More generally, the Government of Kosovo will benefit from support in implementation of key aspects of the 2013 Brussels Agreement and subsequent follow-up deals; and be supported to develop future-oriented local government policies that leverage the advantages of subsidiarity and decentralization.

Main indirect beneficiaries of the project will include:

Population of North Kosovo. By contributing to the improved effectiveness of local government planning, management, and governance in the four northern municipalities, the project will be directly associated with improved prospects for inclusive development and long-term stability. The impact is likely to be especially significant for the most vulnerable constituencies, including women, young people, and displaced persons. The project will equip local populations with new tools and resources to assert voice and agency, to articulate needs and aspirations to duty-bearers, to demand responsiveness and accountability from local institutions, and to plan and implement actions in conjunction with state actors that improve living conditions and reduce drivers of conflict. 

(1) 1) Assess municipal and civil society capacities with a view to calibrate the scope of work/ support to be provided in the core implementation phase of the programme and devise/ refine related baseline, targets and indicators

2) Kick-start building capacities of municipal administrations and relevant stakeholders in North Kosovo with a view to pave the way for the development of strategic planning processes and products

3) Invest in strategic support to civil society mobilization and public dialogue contributing to increased local government transparency, responsiveness and accountability

4) Initiate processes leading to constructive inter-municipal and local-central dialogue and cooperation

Main direct beneficiaries of the project will include:

Local governments. The project will provide valuable guidance to local governments in North Kosovo, serving as a basis for policymakers to develop and refine policies and projects that advance inclusive development and robust governance. Local governments in North Kosovo will be equipped and empowered to deliver basic services, and strengthen the democratic engagement of citizens in decision-making, within an effective multi-level governance framework. Support will also be provided to local governments to engage in IMC and local-central cooperation activities, enabling them to develop practical joint projects and advocacy initiatives, to mutual advantage.

Civil society. Local civil society organizations will benefit from opportunities to engage directly with municipal decision-makers, and contribute to community planning processes and the formulation of strategic public responses to key issues. Given the limited political space enjoyed by civil society organizations in North Kosovo, this will represent an important step toward raising the collective voice of civil society in the four municipalities.

Government of Kosovo. Central line ministries, and especially MESP and MLGA, will benefit from a neutral institutional bridge to local governments in North Kosovo, enabling them to pursue deeper engagement and alignment. More generally, the Government of Kosovo will benefit from support in implementation of key aspects of the 2013 Brussels Agreement and subsequent follow-up deals; and be supported to develop future-oriented local government policies that leverage the advantages of subsidiarity and decentralization.

Main indirect beneficiaries of the project will include:

Population of North Kosovo. By contributing to the improved effectiveness of local government planning, management, and governance in the four northern municipalities, the project will be directly associated with improved prospects for inclusive development and long-term stability. The impact is likely to be especially significant for the most vulnerable constituencies, including women, young people, and displaced persons. The project will equip local populations with new tools and resources to assert voice and agency, to articulate needs and aspirations to duty-bearers, to demand responsiveness and accountability from local institutions, and to plan and implement actions in conjunction with state actors that improve living conditions and reduce drivers of conflict.