Newsletter, February2014

IOM Mission in Kosovo

In this issue:

- “We hope to be role models for young girls” - AVRR securing the safe return and sustainable reintegration - IOM promoting equality in Kosovo society - Women of Diaspora as example and partners for Women of Kosovo to participate in the economic development of the country - Migration Crisis Operational Framework launched in Kosovo - The implementation of the EU Beautiful Kosovo Programme Phase II successfully started - Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Returns continues to support IOM Kosovo and EU

“Equality for Women is Progress for All”

-International Women’s Day, 8th of March

“We hope to be role models for young girls”

EU CSP II supporting young girls from Egyptian commu-nity to talk about women’s issues

Supporting gender equality and pos-sibilities for women and girls are important for the progress of a whole society. In Kosovo women face certain social barriers and limited employment opportunities, and these issues are more intensely pronounced within the non-majority communities, including the RAE communities. The EU Com-munity Stabilization II Programme (EU CSP II), which is an EU funded pro-gramme implemented by IOM Kosovo, is targeting to support these groups in order to promote a sustainable and tolerant society and provide employ-ment opportunities to disadvantaged groups.

The EU CSP II supported a radio sta-tion called Radio Prosperiteti in Gja-kova/Gjakovica municipality by provid-ing them with professional equipment. Through the programme, the radio station is now equipped with profes-sional equipment for improved func-tioning and reporting. What makes this radio station special is that it is run by youth from local RAE com-munities and thus provides an excel-lent way to raise the voice of the RAE communities.

What makes Radio Prosperiteti even more special is that there is a weekly show called Women’s Hour, which is broadcasted every Saturday. The show highlights the rising role of women, as it is run by five young girls from Egyp-tian community.

An EU funded Programme managed by the European Union office in Kosovo

Photo 1: Girls from Radio Prosperiteti are talking about gender equality and wom-en’s issues in their weekly radio show

The girls came up with the idea of broadcasting a regular radio show as they felt that there were not sufficient channels for women to talk about is-sues affecting their everyday lives. “Vio-lence against women, health especially during the pregnancy, birth control and women’s role in society are topics that are important to all of us and now we have a chance to talk about them in public” the girls say.

Traditionally girls from these com-munities tend to have a lower level of participation in further education than other segments of society. These girls say that things are changing, though; all of them are attending secondary school and they are planning to go to university.

“It seems that things are getting better,

girls care about their future, and their families support them to study, not just to get married”.

At the beginning the girls faced a bit of doubt from men of their commu-nity; “They thought that we would not be able to find information and broad-cast a show every week. However, we proved them wrong”. After that, the radio show has received lots of posi-tive feedback and the show gets a vast number of listeners each week.

The girls hope to encourage girls from their community to step up and be active members of their commu-nity. “The new mayor of Gjakova is a woman and actively involved in our society and town. We believe that every woman can achieve the same” the girls say.

Photo 2: Running own shop in Prizren has improved AVRR returnees’s life

AVRR securing the safe return and sustainable reintegration

Providing assistance for voluntary returnees is one of the core functions of IOM Mission in Kosovo. The aim of the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme is to contribute to the sustainable return of Kosovars and to provide them with means to improve their economic pros-pects by different business grants.

The voluntary return assistance scheme from Switzerland consists of 3 projects, each meeting specific requirements in the context of return. The projects are called RIF (Return Information fund), SIM (Swiss REPAT-IOM Movement) and R.A.S. (Reintegration Assistance Switzerland).

Through R.A.S. 164 persons returned to Kosovo in 2013. The return assistance is granted on case by case basis and tailored to address the individual needs of returnees. Usu-ally it includes financial assistance for housing, training or medical assistance to cover the costs of treatments and therapy and small grants for business start-ups. The project also covers all services relevant to the movement such as flight bookings, transport or airport assistance, secondary transportation and medical escorts for vulnerable persons.

As always, IOM Kosovo staff is concerned about the sus-tainability of the return process and so was the case of Miss A.S. as well upon her return through R.A.S. She is 27 years old and returned back to her home country in September 2013 with her 7 year old daughter. IOM Kosovo assisted her in the process by picking her up from the airport of Prishtina and offering transport to Prizren.

The beneficiary was granted a business start-up support but she was hesitant to take the risk and weighted different options for a while. Eventually, with the assistance of IOM Kosovo AVRR staff, she decided to open a small grocery store in the centre of Prizren. She is very happy with her choice and the people from the neighbourhood have found the shop and its vast range of selection. “I am really happy with all the help I have received from IOM” she says “it is so nice that they still come to visit me, it shows that they really care about me and my future”.

The case of this beneficiary is a prime example of IOM Kosovo’s efforts to support the most vulnerable members of Kosovo society in their reintegration process. Women are often disregarded in the labour markets and thus for women such as Miss A.S. running own business is the best option in order to become independent and to be able to support herself and her family.

Through EU Return and Reintegration III, which is an EU funded programme implemented by IOM Kosovo, seeks to contribute to the sustainable and tolerant Kosovo society by providing support to municipalities and by facilitating the return process of displaced persons so that they have decent grounds to build their lives in Kosovo again.

When the selection process for EU RRK III beneficiaries is made, the priority is given to the most vulnerable appli-cants in terms of their chances of obtaining house or flat on their own. Female led households are also seen as priority, since women’s possibilities to return and re-construct their homes is even more difficult.

EU RRK III has built 37 houses to the municipality of Novoberde/Novo Brdo. The first house being built under EU-RRK III is the house of a young mother with her two children. The beneficiary has had a hard life; first being displaced in Serbia due to Kosovo conflict and then the domestic violence which led her to live in a safe house in Serbia. After her divorce she decided to return to Kosovo with her children and applied assistance from EU RRK III.

Her case was referred by municipal authorities and ap-proved by members of the Municipal Working Group and Project Steering Committee and finally she moved together with her children to the new house constructed in July 2012. As part of the harmonized assistance package she also has received furniture, food and non-food items and firewood in the winter. The beneficiary has also been very determined to start a new life and took actively part in the socio-economic reintegration assistance as well. Firstly, she registered as unemployed at the Regional Employment Centre. Finally the beneficiary was assisted by the project and employed at the municipal library of the municipality of Novoberde/Novo Brdo where she continues to work.

The beneficiary and her family are very happy with the as-sistance received and is firmly planning to stay and live in their place of origin and she has register her children in the local school there. The whole project is showing how IOM Kosovo is committed to the development of the country by providing assistance to those whose position is not equal yet.

IOM Kosovo promoting equality in Kosovo society

An EU funded programme, managed by the European Union office in Kosovo

IOM promoting equality in Kosovo society

Photo 3: The beneficiary receiving keys to her new house from IOM Regional Director, Ms. Renate Held

Photo 4: Beneficiary was assisted by the project to be em-ployed at the library

Photo 5: Houses built by EU RRK III can change lives

Photo 6: Traditional crafts at Women’s Market(Photo by Kosovo Ministry of Diaspora)

Women of Diaspora as ex-ample and partners for Women of Kosovo to partici-pate in the economic devel-opment of the country

DEED, promoting Diaspora’s impact on Kosovo’s economy

The Kosovar Diaspora is a wide network of Kosovars spread all over Europe and North America. Through the history, the diaspora has been actively involved in the po-litical and economic development of the country and can without any doubts have a major impact for the future of Kosovo in many ways.

Besides the regular remittances (approximately 15-20% of country’s GDP) sent by diaspora to their families and communities, the diaspora has skills and knowledge which can be used as a tool to build sustainable and equal so-ciety. The purpose of Diaspora Engagement in Economic Development, also known as DEED Project is to enhance Kosovo diaspora to take more active role in the eco-nomic development of their home country. The project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and it is implemented jointly with UNDP Kosovo.

Currently the main push factor for Kosovars to leave their home country is the lack of employment oppor-tunities which is a cause of bad economy. What Kosovo needs, is investments from abroad to give a boost for industry and business. The idea behind DEED project is to encourage Kosovo diaspora to direct their contributions toward these kinds of investments.

The role of Diaspora’s investments can be vital since Kosovo’s heavy industrial sectors have largely fallen into disrepair and therefore the future of the economic devel-opment lays in the small and medium sized businesses.

This is a good way to engage women in this development as well, since most women entrepreneurs run businesses that employ a few persons at maximum.

This potential has been acknowledged by the Ministry for Di-aspora as well. In 2013 the Ministry supported by DEED proj-ect organized a seminar called “Women of Diaspora in the business”. Minister of Diaspora, Mr. Ibrahim Makolli confirmed in his welcoming speech Kosovo Government’s commitments regarding the inclusion of women in socio-economic life and how this can be improved.

Mr. Makolli highlighted the role of Diaspora and the possi-bilities that collaboration between women of Diaspora and women of Kosovo can have: “It is a known fact that Kosovar businesses, but also businesses of our compatriots in diaspora are experiencing a rapid increase. Particularly we are glad that many of these businesses are run by Kosovar women. They have shown that they are willing and able to lead not only small and medium businesses but also to be successful in managing the various state institutions”.

Photo 7: Women of Diaspora in the business was organized in 2013 (Photo by Kosovo Ministry of Diaspora)

Photo 8: Officer from Kosovo Security Forces with the MCOF cycle

Migration Crisis Operational Framework launched in Kosovo

Photo 9: Representatives from Kosovo Government’s agencies were active in the discussions

Photo 10: Internal roll-out with IOM Kosovo staff

Migration Crisis Operational Framework (MCOF) was launched in Kosovo at the end of February. The external roll-out event, which was attended by official from 5 agen-cies of Kosovo Government and 10 UN agencies, familiar-ized participants to IOM’s approach to crisis situations.

The roll-out was led by Mr. Igor Cvetkovski from IOM Headquarters Departmenf for Land, Property and Repara-tions, Mr. Jorge Baca, the Chief of Mission for IOM Kosovo and Ms. Ivona Zakoska from IOM office in Skopje. The ple-nary discussion and case study analysis were full of lively debate over how IOM’s operational framework can be adapted to Kosovo and on the potential water and food shortage crisis resulting from the this year drought.

After expectionally warm and dry winter, the country’s water reservoir is running out. If the weather doesn’t change, up to 400 000 people will be left out of running water. The MCOF cycle was found to be useful in the ana-lyzing the current drought and how it can be managed as well as how the country can prepare for similar situations in the future. Many agencies have solid expertise of differ-ent topics related to drought crisis, such as gender sensi-tivity, for water delivery, awareness raising and repairing the existing facilities. Therefore strong cooperation with Kosovo Government and UN agencies is most welcomed.

Representatives of Kosovo Government were active on the topic and explained the already existing mechanisms as well as the capacity and resource gaps they might have in short and mid-term future.

The already existing collaborations were widely appreciated and the future initiatives are also welcome. IOM is recognized as a partner in this domain and has excellent relations with the Kosovo Emergency Management Agency. The EMA repre-sentatives thanked IOM and UN agencies for their committed work for the development of Kosovo and expressed hopes that in the future the country would have enough capacity to solve these kinds of crisis on its own. Therefore the common agreement was that the management of the possible project to improve the water mainentance and security has to be in the hands of Kosovo authorities and international agencies’ role is more advisory.

The MCOF was also presented to IOM Kosovo staff mem-bers, and how it can be applied in the everyday work of the Mission. The contextualized exercise yielded MCOF brain-storming sessions, which might further develop into real-life projects in the future. The team understood the value of MCOF as strategic programmatic document as well as IOM positioning framework for engagement with Government, UN agencies and donors.

The implementation of the EU Beautiful Kosovo Programme Phase II successfully started with the launch of a new open com-petition for all Kosovo Municipalities, which very well perceived by all stakeholders

All 38 municipalities of Kosovo expressed their interest in participating in the launched competition by submitting 91 project proposals for review. The project proposals are targeting to improve the living conditions of Kosovo inhab-itants by reconstructing public buildings, such as schools and kindergartens, historical monuments and public squares and by creating and renovating green areas, parks, sport fields, school yards as well as riverbeds and walking paths

The EU-BK II, launched in December 2013, is the continu-ation of the EU-BK I successfully implemented during the period of February 2011 - December 2013

and it aims at reducing poverty and high level unemploy-ment in Kosovo by creating new short and medium term employment opportunities especially for the marginalized groups through the implementation of urban and social infrastructure projects.

The programme, totaling 5 million Euro, is funded by the EU and it is implemented by IOM in close coordination with the Ministry for Labour and Social Welfare in Kosovo.

Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Returns continues to support IOM Kosovo’s and EU’s efforts to improve the lives of non-majority communities through EU-CSP II

The IOM Mission in Kosovo has signed an agreement with the Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Returns (MCR) to provide additional financial support to the EU-Commu-nity Stabilisation Programme (EU-CSP II) in the amount of €400,000. The programme is an ambitious effort to improve the socio-economic circumstances of vulnerable minority groups, including ethnic Serbs, members of Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE), Turk, Gorani, Bosniak and Croat communities.

This programme is financed jointly by the EU office in Koso-vo providing €3,000,000 in support and the MCR which has provided €400,000 to date. The programme will continue to target the non-majority communities in 29 of the 38 munici-palities of Kosovo, as these groups are intensely affected by unemployment and poverty.

To enhance the employment prospects of the targeted communities, the programme provides technical assistance and productive business assets to aspiring entrepreneurs and supports on-going or start-up ventures. Support is also granted to community driven projects which are imple-mented within the framework of the EU-CSPII.

With high unemployment rates fluctuating between 60 to 80 per cent among non-majority communities, their socio-economic needs,

especially among the young, remain considerable. Since June 2012, IOM Kosovo through EU CSP II has assisted hundreds of people from non-majority communities by implementing over 230 projects and supporting over 700 job opportu-nities. Over 46 000 inhabitants of Kosovo have indirectly benefitted from the work of EU CSP II.

The programme works in close coordination with the programme donor the European Union, and the programme partner the Ministry for Community and Returns, municipal officials and local stakeholders. The EU-CSP II builds upon previous efforts of the IOM, the EC and the Government of Kosovo to improve the social and economic conditions of vulnerable non-majority groups in Kosovo.

The implementation of the EU Beautiful Koso-vo Programme Phase II successfully started with the launch of a new open competition for all Kosovo MunicipalitiesAll 38 municipalities of Kosovo expressed their interest in participating in the launched competition by submitting 91 project proposals for review. The project proposals are target-ing to improve the living conditions of Kosovo inhabitants by reconstructing public buildings, such as schools and kindergar-tens, historical monuments and public squares and by creating and renovating green areas, parks, sport fields, school yards as well as riverbeds and walking paths.

Municipalities are invited to design their proposals in a man-ner that can allow generation of new employement, in par-ticular for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, minorities and returnees.

of the EU-BK I successfully implemented during the period of February 2011 - December 2013 and it aims at reducing pov-erty and high level unemployment in Kosovo by creating new short and medium term employment opportunities especially for the marginalized groups through the implementation of ur-ban and social infrastructure projects. The programme, totaling 5 million Euro, is funded by the EU and it is implemented by IOM in close coordination with the Ministry for Labour and Social Welfare in Kosovo.

The EU-BK II, launched in December 2013, is the continuation

Photo 12: The Minister Dalibor Jevtic Photo 13: IOM Chief of Mission Jorge Baca

Photo 11: The launching event of EU BK II with Christof Stock from the EU Office, Minister Nenad Rasic and Jorge Baca, the Chief of IOM Mission