“This project has helped me better understand my rights as a woman in Kosovo,” shared a woman who participated in Norma’s roundtable on property rights. “Now I feel more confident to claim what belongs to me according to the law.” This small moment, which was revolutionary for this woman, is one of thousands made possible by the Kosovo Women’s Fund of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

Since 2012, the Fund has provided essential support to women’s rights civil society organisations (WCSOs), empowering diverse women, furthering capacities, amplifying voices and transforming communities. The Fund has distributed more than €1 million in funding to 107 CSOs through 197 grants across six WB countries. More than 21,028 women, girls, boys and men benefited directly; 3,909 women engaged in decision-making processes—many for the first time; and 30 public policies were amended to better reflect the needs of women and girls in Kosovo! In a landscape where complex application processes often exclude small CSOs, the Kosovo Women’s Fund offered something rare and unique: accessible, tailored support grounded in feminist principles of solidarity and empowerment.

“It helped so many women,” said Donjeta Berisha, who worked for the Fund for over a decade. “The way it functioned was amazing, mainly at the grassroots level, so we reached women who weren’t necessarily reachable otherwise.”

This month, KWN closed out the last remaining Kosovo Women’s Fund grant. As the Fund pauses its operations for the first time since its inception, due partially to insufficient financing amid global development cuts and shrinking space for WCSOs, we wanted to pause and reflect on the big changes made possible by the Fund’s small grants.

Representing only a fraction of initiatives supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund, here’s a glimpse at its impacts:

• Supported 432 advocacy initiatives, including several that led municipalities to adopt gender-responsive budgeting practices 

• Increased public funding for women at municipal and national levels following WCSOs’ advocacy efforts 

• Drafted or contributed to drafting action plans for gender equality in several municipalities that were subsequently adopted  

• Ensured women from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and survivors of violence could participate in local decision-making processes 

• Secured free transportation for children living more than five km from school in Vushtrri   

• Trained healthcare workers in Gjakova to use trauma-sensitive approaches with survivors of sexual and domestic violence

• Inspired 3,095 women and girls to advocate for their right to healthcare  

• Expanded access to healthcare, enabling women, particularly rural and marginalised women, to access gynaecological services, often for the first time 

• Documented and reported 32 health rights violations, holding health institutions more accountable to providing quality healthcare 

• Advocated successfully for municipalities to open Family Medicine Clinics in Brestovc, Zoqisht and Denjë (Rahovec), providing healthcare to rural areas 

• Launched a health hotline in Drenas Municipality in cooperation with the Patients’ Council, improving healthcare access in rural areas  

• Empowered 10,204 women to become more aware of their inheritance and property rights, and supported 335 women to claim their rights through the Fund and other KWN initiatives, including six survivors of violence  

• Waived taxes for women in Gjakova who wanted to start their own business, which led five women to immediately start businesses   

• Provided young women with digital skills that created income opportunities in marketing, freelancing and entrepreneurship  

• Strengthened the long-term sustainability of WCSOs by funding core operations, capacity development and staff retention

These actions led not only to policy shifts and expanded services, but also to deep personal transformations among beneficiaries. Many explained how this knowledge ripple outward: “Knowing where to turn when your rights are violated is very important,” said a beneficiary of EcoKos Women. “I’ve learned a lot and will use this knowledge to protect myself and others.”

KWN established the Kosovo Women’s Fund in 2012 with support from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. The Fund was rooted in transparency, accountability and community ownership. Calls for proposals were posted on the KWN website and shared with member organisations. A grant review committee, elected by KWN members, evaluated proposals against clear criteria that KWN members established. CSOs that did not receive funding in one cycle received detailed feedback from the committee and were encouraged to revise their proposals and reapply in future rounds, as the Fund sought to support solidarity, growth and inclusion rather than competition. All funded initiatives were transparently published via press releases and the KWN website.

“The Fund wasn’t just about giving out grants,” said Donjeta. “It was a platform to help organisations—it was learning by doing.”

Beyond financial support, the Kosovo Women’s Fund paired grants with tailored capacity-building. KWN offered mentorship and guidance throughout the project cycle, helping organisations develop skills in grant writing, financial management, project management and advocacy. This approach helped many organisations develop long-term skills that contributed to their sustainability, enabling them access future funding from larger donors. For many women activists, this built confidence and provided new tools for independence. It empowered many new activists to undertake advocacy independently.

“It wasn’t just about learning technical skills, but also gave me the chance to connect with other women and build a supportive network,” a woman noted.

The Kosovo Women’s Fund also fostered solidarity across ethnic lines. Grantees included Albanian, Serb, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Bosniak and Turkish women who often collaborated in joint initiatives, building bridges that transcended ethnic divisions. In communities where healthcare systems often failed to meet women’s needs, especially Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian women, small interventions led to big changes regarding healthcare rights and preventing discrimination. “I wish I had known that we could complain to someone about these cruel words that the doctors are telling us,” a woman shared after a workshop hosted by NGO Drugeza on healthcare rights. Another said the project changed how she sees her ability to demand care: “This project has empowered us and provided us with valuable knowledge. We now feel prepared to advocate for better healthcare services for our community.” Thus, these changes were not just numbers; they represent real women and real transformations in their lives.

For survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, the Fund helped create spaces of safety, solidarity and recovery. With the support of organisations like Medica Kosova, women were able to begin healing on their own terms. “Here I learned how to love and respect myself,” a participant from Gjakova municipality shared. “It’s a pity I didn’t come to the association earlier.” Another survivor from Decan emphasised the importance of independence, empowered through these meetings: “I don’t want to think about what others say about me; I want to secure a pension for myself without having to ask anyone for help.”

The Fund’s legacy thus lies in its ripple effect. Many once-informal groups became registered and organised. Struggles that had been invisible gained visibility, and grassroots voices found pathways into local and national policymaking.

“What made the Kosovo Women’s Fund especially remarkable was the team behind it,” Donjeta added. Over the years, several KWN staff worked tirelessly to support KWN members, to empower their advocacy and to support them in navigating donors’ procedures. “Strong collaboration created a powerful force that inspired others and ensured the Fund’s success, in both outcomes and spirit.”

Today, as the Kosovo Women’s Fund pauses its work due to a lack of resources, it leaves a critical gap for grassroots WCSOs. Many of these groups, especially in rural or marginalised communities, have long faced barriers to traditional funding due to shifting donor priorities, complex application procedures and donors’ preference to support large-scale grants. Limited staff capacity and lack of English proficiency further exclude them from most funding opportunities. Without the Fund’s accessible support, mentorship and training, many WCSOs face risks of reduced operations, staff and even closure. Meanwhile, many WCSOs and activists will continue, empowered with the skills gained through the Fund’s support, striving to continue the movement.

“Behind every grant is a woman, or group of women, who dared to raise her voice, challenge injustice and build something better,” said Gentiana Murati, who managed the Kosovo Women’s Fund for several years. “The Fund is more than a source of financing; it’s a lifeline rooted in trust, solidarity and the unwavering belief that local women know best how to transform their communities. I’ve seen it turn ideas into impact and silence into advocacy, proving that when you invest in women, you strengthen democracy, dignity and justice.”

In a changing global funding landscape, the Kosovo Women’s Fund remains a model for how feminist, community-rooted grant-making can reach and empower the most marginalised. We at KWN are grateful for having had the opportunity to serve our members through the Fund and remain committed to supporting them through peer support, solidarity and joint initiatives in the future.

The Kosovo Women’s Fund has received support from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Austrian Development Agency, European Union in Kosovo, European Commission, Sigrid Rausing Trust, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, UN Women and UNFPA.

If you are interested in supporting KWN and our members’ incredible work, there are various ways to contribute, from volunteering to giving. Every cent you donate counts in our endeavours to support, protect and promote the rights of women and girls.