The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) has worked intensively towards coordinating with various relevant actors to promote gender equality and women’s rights in Kosovo. During February and March, KWN met with local and international partners to present the key pillars of KWN’s four-year new strategy, as well as to discuss partners’ progress and future plans in promoting gender-responsive budgeting in Kosovo.

KWN had the honor to talk with representatives of the Agency for Gender Equality in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environment in Kosovo, the European Union in Kosovo, the Embassy of the United States in Kosovo, the GAP Institute, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women in Kosovo, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Kosovo.

The discussions were focused on responsible budgeting in Kosovo, important legal reforms, consultation with civil society, and opportunities for further institutionalization of responsible budgeting in the country.

More specifically, KWN discussed the importance of gender-responsive budgeting in relation to climate change, environmental protection, and the need for research in the country. KWN is taking steps to start research in Kosovo, in cooperation with relevant actors, using a methodology that is being developed this year with KWN’s partners in the Gender Budget Watchdog Network (GBRW). This initiative is part of a joint action supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the Swedish International Cooperation and Development Agency (Sida).

KWN expresses its commitment to continuous dialogue and cooperation with relevant actors and partners to create a more inclusive and fairer society for all. Stakeholders and partners highly appreciated the efforts and dedication of the KWN for gender equality in Kosovo, expressing their readiness for coordination and continuous cooperation on the promotion of responsible gender budgeting, the field of the environment, as well as the promotion of gender equality in Kosovo.

KWN is happy to have the support of these relevant actors and will continue the coordination meetings working for further cooperation to ensure that women’s rights are protected and gender equality is achieved in Kosovo.