Kosovo Women's Network

Lobby for Gender Equality in Kosovo discusses gender equality, women’s human rights and Kosovo’s EU accession process

29.04.2016

During April 1-3, Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a meeting of Lobby for Gender Equality in Durres, Albania. The theme of this meeting was “Gender equality, women’s human rights and Kosovo’s accession process in the European Union (EU)”. Diverse 115 women participated, including officers for gender equality, the representative of KtK, KWN staff and assembly members and representatives of KWN members from 26 different municipalities in Kosovo.
Through this three day meeting it was discussed how EU legislation is applied in Kosovo and what is meant to be achieved through EU’s 2016-2020 Gender Action Plan. Also, the meeting aimed to show the importance of lobby members in contributing to this process in advocating for women’s human rights and gender equality. Furthermore, Lobby groups took the opportunity to share their achievements from advocacy initiatives done in their respective municipalities for 2015 pertaining to gender equality, and their newly planned initiatives for 2016.
Among others, Mimoza Shala, assembly member from Gjakova stated “what we have done so far is solely a scratch of the surface and the situation needs to change fundamentally; what we have done is only 10% of our work”.
In order for women to contribute and be involved in Kosovo’s EU accession process, they worked in ten different groups with different subjects, including: women’s involvement in politics, gender pay gap, professional training and education, poverty from a gender perspective, health, childcare, migration and human trafficking, pensions and informal economy. They discussed and then presented their recommendations which will be drafted into a policy brief by KWN. From these recommendations, KWN will have more extensive knowledge on what the needs and priorities of women and girls are, and how KWN and relevant stakeholders can help and work to improve the lives of girls and women in Kosovo. This meeting was supported by Kvinna till Kvinna with financial support from the Swedish Embassy.

18.06.25

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12.06.25

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KWN lobbies in Brussels: Women’s human rights should be a priority in Kosovo’s EU accession process

29.04.2016

During 20-22 of April, women’s rights activists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia lobbied for gender equality and women’s rights in Brussels.
Participants met with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Jozo Rados (Croatia), Tanja Fajon (Slovenia), various representatives from the Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), including Helen Larsson and Isabelle Wertheim from DG NEAR Kosovo, Karolina Vrethem, Gender Adviser, Catherine Wendt, acting Director for Western Balkans, DG NEAR, Björn van Roozendaal from European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and representatives from The European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO).

Issues raised by KWN included, but were not limited:

Prioritization of women’s human rights, visibility of women’s human rights and inclusion of women CSO in Kosovo’s EU accession process
The need to further mainstream a gender perspective throughout the Progress Report including a more intersectional approach
The importance for the Progress Report to highlight that all public institutions need to keep gender disaggregated data, gender-mainstreaming in all laws, documents, and policies put forth by the government and institutions and implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) in accordance with the Law on Gender Equality.
The appointment of a full time, permanent Gender Advisor for EU Missions
Sustainable funding for women CSOs, supporting women’s rights organizations institutionally, and directly
Women’s overall underrepresentation in decision-making processes in Kosovo and inclusion of women in the Kosovo- Serbia Dialogue as per UNSCR 1325
Women’s low participation in the labour market, discrimination in the workforce and the need for parental leave
Lack of funding for health sector improvements and reforms
Gender-based violence, in particular domestic violence and sexual harassment
Budget not allocated for compensating survivors of sexual violence during the war
The lack of gender perspective in the National Plan on the Implementation of SSA (NPISSA)
Obligatory training on gender equality for all civil servants as part of the Public Administration Reform

EU representatives acknowledged the importance of improving gender equality and women’s empowerment and involvement of women’s CSO. They expressed interest in having more in-depth consultation with women’s CSO’s through the process especially in regard to the upcoming Progress Report.

This advocacy initiative was supported by Kvinna till Kvinna and their effort of bringing Balkan’s women’s CSO’s advocacy initiatives closer to the European Union.

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12.06.25

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30.05.25

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Women’s Rights Organizations from Balkans trained on Lobbying for Gender Equality in Brussels

29.04.2016

During April 18-19, women’s rights activists from Balkans, had the opportunity to gather in Brussels and enhance their lobbying skills for gender equality at the European Parliament. Diverse participants included women’s rights activists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The training focused on advocating at the European Parliament and Country Progress Reports. The participants also took part in a joint session with European Women’s Lobby addressing the need for gendering EU Enlargement and exploring joint opportunities for Women’s Rights Organizations in Western Balkan. Among others the speakers and guests included: Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Jasenko Selimovic, MEP, Karolina Vrethem, Gender Adviser DG NEAR and Joana Maycock. The importance of having a gender perspective and women’s voices heard through the EU enlargement process was emphasized many times. On the other hand, activists from countries that have recently joined the EU (Croatia, Cezchia, Poland etc.) expressed their concerns about women’s rights in their respective countries after joining the EU, noting how gender equality is not treated as a priority anymore. Their advice consisted on making the best out of the accession process as this is the crucial time to influence gender equality and women’s rights.
Lobbying is a more specific form of advocacy that includes communication with key targets and influentials through meetings, briefings and conversations to educate and convince them to support and advance your agenda. The approach you can take can be cooperative, confrontational, and persuasive or a mix of them keeping in mind the advantages and disadvantages that come with every approach. Some of the most important advice when lobbying at the European Parliament or even lobbying to the officials in Kosovo is developing clear messages which can be achieved by keeping your messages simple with information that is locally relevant, clear facts and numbers and presenting a solution if possible, always keeping in mind who your audience is. Before any meeting with relevant stakeholders it is very important that you do your research beforehand, and know what their background is, what their interests are, what informal groups they belong to and if their position is relevant to your cause.
This training was supported by Kvinna till Kvinna and their effort of bringing Balkan’s women’s CSO’s advocacy initiatives closer to the European Union.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

21 KWN Organizations Receive Grants Amounting to €64,400 from Kosovo Women’s Fund

28.04.2016

The Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) signed 17 contracts with 21 member organizations, some in partnerships, amounting to €64,400. These projects, distributed through the Kosovo Women’s Fund, will contribute to implementing the KWN Strategy 2015-2018. The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) (€23,451) and the European Union Office in Kosovo (€40,949) is supporting these grants.
   The meeting was opened by KWN Executive Director, Igballe Rogova, she spoke about the establishment of the FKG, “at the beginning the highest amount of a grant was €500 and now the amount of grants (in partnership) achieve €8,000.” She emphasised that the fond has grown because of the transparency, successful implementation of the projects by KWN members and thanks to hard work of KWN staff.      One representative of KWN member organisations present talked about the first grant she received from KWF.
    The meeting was opened by KWN Executive Director, Igballe Rogova, who spoke about the establishment of the KWF, “at the beginning the highest amount of a grant was €500 and now the amount of grants (in partnership) arrive up to €8,000.” She emphasised that KWF has grown because of the transparency, successful implementation of the projects by KWN members and thanks to the hard work of KWN staff.
   One representative of KWN member organisations present talked about the first grant she received from KWF.
    “It was the first round of KWF, and the grant that we received was in amount of €600, but the project was much more valuable than the amount of the grant.”
Afterwards Gentiana Murati, KWF Assistant, explained all contract articles in detail and answered all questions and uncertainties.
   While Donjeta Berisha, Public Relations Coordinator, illustrated the details of the communication and visibility requirements for the project, afterwards Dhurata Mustafa-Azemi, KWF Coordinator, explained the financial part of the projects.
And at the end of the meeting the beneficiaries signed the contracts for their initiatives that they will start implementing from the beginning of May, and they include:

Advocacy Grants for a Single Organization:

NGO Artpolis – Initiative: “FEMART – Festival of Human Rights Artists”; Municipality of Prishtina (€2,900.00)
Kosovo Centre for Multicultural Development and Integration – Initiative: “Youth Economic Empowerment (graduated youth) from minorities: Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, focussing on the women of these communities”; Municipality of Gjakova (€2,980.00)
NGO Venera – Initiative: “Property belongs to you by law, ask for it since it’s not a shame”; Municipality of Peja (€2,944.50)
Mitrovica Women’s Association for Human Rights (MWAHR) – Initiative: “Women Leaders”; Municipality of North Mitrovica (€3,000.00)
NGO Dita – Initiative: “Promoting women’s rights and empowering their role in property inheritance”; Municipality of Gjilan (€2,968.00)
NGO Protect Your Rights – Initiative: “Protecting the Victims of Domestic Violence”; Municipality of Deçan (€2,865.25)
Foundation for Education and Development – Initiative: “Different languages, a common goal”; Municipality of Shtërpce (€2,855.00)
NGO Speranza – Initiative: “Education and Awareness Raising on Domestic Violence”; Municipality of Mitrovica (€2,929.00)
The Association of Deaf Women – Initiative: “Women in healthcare”; Municipality of Prizren (€2,966.00)
NGO Vita-Jeta – Initiative: “Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal aged Women”; Municipality of Prishtina (€2,965.00)
NGO Dora-Dorës – Initiative: “The Development of Gender Policies in the Municipality of Mamusha”; Municipality of Mamusha (€2,944.40)
NGO Gruaja Bashkëkohore – Initiative: “Not just a number’’; Municipality of Prizren(€2,581.00)
NGO Education Code – Initiative: “Women can also Generate Income in Agriculture”; Municipality of Prishtina (€2,999.00)

Networking for Change Grants:

NGO Flaka & NGO Parajsa jonë; Initiative: “Women’s Right in Property Inheritance”; Municipality of Lipjan (€6,911.00)
Active Women of Gjakova (FAGj) & Initiative for Integration of Communities; Initiative: “Empowering Women through Raising Awareness on Property and Inheritance Rights in the Municipalities of Gjakova and Dragash”; Municipalities of Gjakova and Dragash (€6,650.00)
Initiative for Agriculture and Development of Kosovo (IADK) & NGO ATO; Initiative: “Economic Empowerment and Increase of Capacities of Women in Rural Areas in the Municipality of Vushtrri”; Municipality of Vushtrri (€6,990.00)
NGO Rikotta & NGO Gora; Initiative: “More rights in property ownership”; Prevallac village in the Municipality of Prizren (€5,952.00)

The KWN Kosovo Women’s Fund offers small grants for women’s organizations that lack other funding opportunities and that want to work for women’s rights, especially groups in rural areas and those working with marginalized persons. Since 2012, KWF has supported 103 organizations, totalling €295,092.10. In 2016, the Kosovo Women’s Fund is supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the European Union Office in Kosovo.

18.06.25

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12.06.25

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30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

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Kosovo’s GRB Journey continues: Now in Vitia, Gjilan and Kamenica

20.04.2016

On April 19, the Center for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children "Liria" and NGO "Legend" held the closing meeting of the project "Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB)". The meeting was attended by officials of the three municipalities of Vitia, Gjilan and Kamenica, as well as representatives of KWN.
      The Municipality of Kamenica, earlier, with support from KWN, had taken measures regarding GRB and the results were satisfactory, as Kamenica was the first Municipality in Kosovo to integrate GRB in their Medium Term Budget Framework (MTBF) in 2014 and 2015, as well as in their annual budget for the year 2016. Meanwhile, the municipality of Vitia and Gjilan were the most disadvantaged in terms of GRB, since they never before had taken such an initiative and the challenges they faced in these two municipalities have been the fact that previously they had no knowledge of what GRB means; why GRB is important, and many officials had misunderstood noting that "you, women are looking for more" without knowing that GRB does not include only women and girls, but its integration can benefit women, men, girls, and boys from all backgrounds. Now, both these municipalities have started to do analysis and research regarding GRB, which shows the success that these two organizations have achieved with this project.
     "Gender Responsive Budgeting can be easily achieved; this can be done every year during the budget approval and the allocation of the budget should be in an equal way," said an official from the municipality of Vitia. Significant contribution in terms of GRB in the municipality of Kamenica have given the Women’s Group of the municipality, which have made very deep research in schools and health care, to see if women or men are more involved in these institutions, and have advocated on these institutions for changes to be made in terms of gender equality.
     "Gender equality can be achieved gradually," said an official from Vitia. "Perhaps the reason why we have employed more men than women, was their education, as more men were educated than women, and nowadays the opposite is happening."
     The director of the organization Liria said that "the goal of this project was the involvement of GRB in these three municipalities. The project has been very important and very successful, since before that very few officials knew what GRB means and very few institutions have implemented it in their jobs." It is important to note that this initiative will build on the prior work of different actors in these municipalities. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), KWN, and other actors have previously worked in various municipalities, including Kamenica. Liria and Legend helped spread the expertise Kamenica obtained from these actors to two more Municipalities, Vitia and Gjilan.
This initiative was supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund and financed by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Kvinna till Kvinna brings together women’s rights activists from Bosnia and Hercegovina and Kosovo

01.04.2016

A group of women’s rights activists from Bosnia and Hercegovina visited Kosovo, as part of the study visit organized by Kvinna till Kvinna (KtK), one of the main supporters of women’s organizations in the region. The purpose of the visit was to get women activist from Kosovo and Bosnia and Hercegovina together to discuss and share their experiences and to get best practices from one another. Representatives from Bosnia and Hercegovina were from different NGOs including: Buducnost (Modrica), Center of Legal Assistance for Women (Zenica), Cure (Sarajevo), Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly (Banja Luka), Horizonti (Tuzlla), Forum Zena/ Women Forum (Bratunac), Lara (Bijeljina), United Women (Banja Luka).
Therefore ,on 22 March, the group of activists visited Kosovo Women’s Network where they had the chance to hear more about KWN’s history, mission and projects. Afterwards participants raised questions and shared experiences and expertise related to women’s organizations and challenges women in the region face today.
The next day, participants from Bosnia and Hercegovina together with partners of KTK in Kosovo spent a whole day together at Hotel Prishtina. Kosovo was represented by Kosovo Women’s Network, Kosova Center for Gender Studies, Artpolis, Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women Organization, Open Door, Ruka Ruci and Medica Kosova. The purpose was to get all KTK partners from Kosovo and from Bosnia and Hercegovina together. The day started with participants presenting themselves and their organizations, followed with workshops, which focused on discussing about different issues, and to seek ways to address the difficulties and challenges that NGOs from both countries face, by sharing experiences. The evening was followed with a dinner so that all representatives of the NGOs from Kosovo and Bosnia and Hercegovina would socialize in a cosy informal atmosphere.
The following day, representatives from Bosnia and Hercegovina visited the KWN member organization Medica Kosova in the city of Gjakova.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War Presents its Work

01.04.2016

The National Council on Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War, established by the President of the Republic of Kosovo, on 30 March held its concluding meeting where its two year work was presented. Participants included representatives from local institutions, embassies and civil society. During this meeting, speeches where held by the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, Minister of Justice Mr. Hajredin Kuçi, Minister of Health Mr Imet Rrahmani, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mr. Arban Abrashi, Ambassador of the United States to The Republic of Kosovo Mr. Greg Delawie, the Director of UN Women’s office in Kosovo, Ms. Flora Macula, Executive Director of Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) Ms. Feride Rushiti, Executive Director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Ms. Igballe Rogova, Executive Director of Medica Gjakova, Ms Mirlinda Sada and Executive Director of Medica Kosova Ms. Veprore Shehu.
President Jahjaga, in her speech said that during this two year period, the Council broke taboos and our society showed strong support for survivors of sexual violence during the war. “With the help of the Council we managed to do a lot. The long term objectives that were set were proper and dignified treatment of the survivors and offering other countries in the world that face similar war consequences a good example of how a society needs to treat its survivors, namely by addressing it through the leadership of the highest institution of the country, that of the President,” she said. President Jahjaga also awarded recognition for KWN, Medica Kosova, Medica Gjakova KRCT and Centre for the Promotion of Women’s Rights for their contribution to the establishment of an affirmation of the status of victims within the National Council for the Survivors of Sexual Violence during the War.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Three Kosovo Ministries Move to Institutionalize Gender Budgeting

01.04.2016

On 15 March 2016, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP), Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) launched a new initiative to institutionalize Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) within MTI and MESP. This initiative is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Partnerships for Development (PFD).
    Her Excellency Atifete Jahjaga, President of the Republic of Kosovo, participated in the launching event. She congratulated the aforementioned ministries, USAID PFD and KWN for starting this project in close cooperation.
    “Often we have said that Kosovo has a legal infrastructure that guarantees gender equality, but we have identified and seen that its implementation in practice is one of our weak points,” President Jahjaga said. “Gender Responsive Budgeting now is part of our country’s legislative framework, which requires all public institutions, at both the central and local level, to integrate gender equality into the planning of development policies and the spending of public money.”
    Building on this, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Avdullah Hoti, talked about how more spending could, for example, be spent on key state-building factors like education in an equal way.
     The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms. Hykmete Bajrami, focused on women, civil society and the importance of a participatory, democratic budget planning process.
“Women need to become part of every phase of budgetary planning,” Minister Bajrami said. “Working together on this with civil society is of vital importance.”
    The Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Mr. Ferid Agani, praised President Jahjaga for her dedicated promotion of important themes like these throughout her mandate. He stated that he is curious to see what the GRB analysis will bring to his ministry and the effect it can have on environmental and spatial planning.
The, USAID Mission Director James Hope expressed his honor to be among such powerful speakers who have taken on the initiative to further equity in Kosovo.
Lastly, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director remarked, “For ten years KWN has mentioned that change happens when three forces unite: government, donors and civil society. Today we prove that this is possible.”
Therefore during March KWN started working with this two ministries, providing tailored technical support towards institutionalizing GRB.
   On March 25, KWN organized a workshop with representatives of departments, divisions and agencies of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and on 30 March with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), as a first step towards institutionalizing Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) on the central level within these two ministries.
During these workshops, the Ministry’s officials were introduced to a practical methodology for the implementation of GRB in their work, which now with the new Gender Equality Law 05-L/0-20 is a legal requirement.
Donjeta Morina, Capacity Development Coordinator at KWN, explained that the process of drafting budgets and the distribution of public expenses should not focus on people in terms of citizens, but rather on their specific needs. She emphasized that these needs and priorities that vary among women, girls, men and boys should be the focus point in these processes when implementing a gender perspective.
During the workshop, representatives were invited to discuss and give concrete ideas concerning the integration of GRB in their work, in their respective departments and divisions.
This support that KWN offers, whether that is in providing workshops, mentoring or counseling is supported by USAID Partnership for Development.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Women from Drenas Attend an Informational about Breast Cancer

01.04.2016

On March 4, the Center for Promotion of Women’s Rights, in seeking to raise awareness about medical care among women and girls, lead a meeting to inform people on breast cancer.
25 women from various municipalities in Drenas attended the Center’s session. Most of the women were widowed women, who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence during the war. Kosovo Women’s Network representative also attended the session.
The issue of inadequate health care for women after the war has been significant. The main purpose if this initiative is to improve the access of women and girls in health care at Municipality of Drenas, considering the situation of women who suffered sexual violence during the war, women that suffered domestic violence, widowed women, single mothers and women with disabilities don’t have access to proper health care.
The doctor informed attendees about the first signs of breast and uterine cancer. Informing women of the issue of breast and uterine cancer is important since the disease is becoming very common and its resulting in the death of a large number of women and girls.
Unfortunately, many women face social stigma that surrounds having to go to the doctor to try to receive necessary checkup procedures. One attendee recounted having encountered prejudice by various members of society when they questioned the necessity of her seeing a doctor given her martial status as a widow, as if the two are relatedly connected, as if given her widowhood, she need not visit a doctor for a cancer screening. Such an information session is important because there is a lot of work that needs to be done in informing people how to stay health and demystify the myths that surround proper and adequate healthcare.
This initiative is being supported by Kosovo Women’s Fund and is being financed by Austrian Development Agency.

18.06.25

Workshop Held on Social Services, Rights, and Other Mechanisms

12.06.25

Activists Engage in President’s Global Forum on Women, Peace and Security

30.05.25

WCSOs Ask: What’s the Real Cost of Specialised Services for Gender-based Violence? 

30.05.25

Budget Red Lines: Community Session Calls for Action on Menstrual Poverty

30.05.25

The Institutional Crisis Continues to Contribute to Discrimination Against Women

29.05.25

Preventing and Protecting Blind Women and Girls in Kosovo from Violence

Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP), takes first steps towards Gender Responsive Budgeting

25.03.2016

On March 25, the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) organized a workshop with representatives of departments and divisions of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, as a first step toward institutionalizing Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) on the central level. This initiative is being supported by USAID Partnership for Development (USAID PFD).
    During this workshop, representatives of departments and divisions of this ministry were introduced to a practical methodology for the implementation of GRB in their work, which now with the new Gender Equality Law 05-L/0-20 is a legal requirement.
    “Policies should address equality. We should focus on evidence while making these policies. The first step should be developing systems that focus on gender equality while drafting these policies” – said the General Secretary, Mr. Arben Çitaku during his opening remarks.     Donjeta Morina, Capacity Development Coordinator at KWN, explained that the process of drafting budgets and the distribution of public expenses should not focus on people in terms of citizens, but rather on their specific needs. She emphasized that these needs and priorities that vary among women, girls, men and boys should be the focus point in these processes when implementing a gender perspective.
During the workshop, representatives were invited to discuss and give concrete ideas concerning the integration of GRB in their work, in their respective departments and divisions.
   The director of Division of Spatial Planning, Ms. Suzana Goranci, gave some really specific ideas in the field of health and sport. While, the director of Division of Nature Protection, division within the Environmental Protection Department, said that this Department respects gender equality concerning the percentage of the officials employed within their ministry. Mr. Ismail Hetemej further said: “The essence of our achievements as a society, is when we reach gender equality from planning and monitoring, to following law guidance. Especially, in the society that we live in, in every plan that we make, we should focus on the employment of women.”
    At the conclusion, further steps that will be taken towards the implementation of GRB were introduced and KWN expressed their willingness to further assist the ministry by the way of organizing meetings and one on one mentoring sessions with officials of every department and division within this ministry.

18.06.25