The Problem

Kosovo faces environmental challenges such as pollution, climate change, and poor urban planning that affect men and women differently, yet policies often overlook these gendered impacts. A lack of data, intersectional analysis, and inclusive consultation has led to laws and policies that fail to reflect diverse needs, hindering gender-responsive implementation and outcomes.

KWN’s Strategy

Improve the extent to which gender, including the different needs and interests of diverse women and men, are reflected in environmental policy and urban planning, realised through:

• Conducting gender analyses and applying gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) related to the environment and climate change through the Rule of Law Program.
• Undertaking evidence-based advocacy for improved laws and policies that integrate a gender perspective in environmental and climate change sectors.
• Promoting the meaningful participation of diverse women and men, especially women and girls, in public discussions and decision-making on environmental and climate policies.
• Building KWN members’ capacity to reduce environmental impact in their public relations materials and support their advocacy efforts to improve environmental conditions in Kosovo.

Main Activities

• Continue advocating for gender-responsive environmental laws, policies, and budgets, including collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure.
• Continue promoting gender analysis of transportation to inform climate change policies.
• Continue supporting GAP III goal of increasing diverse women and girls’ participation in environmental and climate decision-making.
• Continue Implementing and strengthening eco-friendly organizational practices at KWN such as energy conservation, recycling, eco-printing, carpooling, and use of public transport.
• Continue supporting members and partners in gender-responsive environmental advocacy
• Continue staff training and identify new ways to integrate environmental and climate considerations into daily operations.

Our Achievements

• KWN and its members, MWAHR and EkoKos Women, engaged women in municipal environmental hearings in Prishtina, Fushe Kosovo, Mitrovica, and Obilic.
• In partnership with GBWN, KWN launched a gender analysis on transportation to support evidence-based, gender-responsive environmental policy.
• KWN participated in Prishtina’s budget consultation, advocating for allocations to transport, streetlights, and waste management.
• MWAHR and EkoKos Women conducted GRB and circular economy research, producing policy recommendations with GBWN, ADA, and Sweden.
• KWN published “Strengthening Sustainable Agriculture: Gender Perspectives in the Circular Economy”, offering policy recommendations.
• KWN supported two ongoing initiatives on gender-responsive climate financing (totalling €16,000), implemented by Democracy Plus in Podujevë, Rahovec, and by MWAHR in South Mitrovica.