Women’s economic empowerment was a key theme of the Kosova Women’s Network’s (KWN) bimonthly members’ meeting held on April 7.  Several special guests from Kosovo institutions and international agencies joined the meeting, sharing information about their programs, towards women’s economic empowerment in Kosovo. KWN sought to inform members regarding the several opportunities available, so that they could share this information with their communities.

Guests who shared information regarding opportunities for women’s economic empowerment included: Xhemajl Syla from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, that aims empowering women in entrepreneurship, Nystrete Doda Gashi, representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, the program for Rural Development and Agriculture that aims raising competitiveness in agriculture and replacing import; creating more jobs; getting closer to EU rules, regulations, standards and policies; protecting environment (by creating garbage spaces and producing renewable energy). Skender Rama USAIDs Empower Private Sector project, that aims increasing competitiveness in growth-ready sectors and facilitate inclusive job creation, while also developing the capacity of local service providers to support the Kosovo private sector. Alida Muhaxhiri from Promoting Private Sector Employment, Swisscontact that mains objectives include, SMEs of the selected sectors increase their productivity and generate additional income and employment; Better organized and empowered SMEs actively influence sector policies and the respective business environment; Barriers for women to access gainful employment are reduced and their decision making power has increased in the sectors in which PPSE operates and Ada Shima from UNDP Active Labor Market programthat main objectives includes self-employment and other programs targeting women.

     Afterwards, Igballe Rogova, KWN Executive Director, shared information about the new KWN office, now located at Hajrullah Abdullahu St., no. 25 in Sunny Hill.

    Then Nicole Farnsworth, KWN Program Manager, informed participants that KWN is assisting and mentoring different budget organizations on how to implement Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB). She mentioned KWN’s prior work in the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW) and the Municipality of Kamenica. This year, KWN has begun cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and the Municipality of Gjakova.

     Ms. Farnsworth, also informed participants regarding progress on research on Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment, supported by the Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) and financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).This important research will seek to inform the new Strategy and National Action Plan (NAP) against Domestic Violence, which is planned to be drafted in 2015. 

Members also shared information regarding their organizations and activities. In total, 51 people participated, including KWN members, CSO representatives, representatives from donor organizations/institutions, other representatives from Kosovo institutions and KWN supporters.

This meeting was supported byEuropean Union Office in Kosovo.