The AD The...
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The Director of the Institute for Spatial Planning (ISP), Ilir Gjinolli, discussed the draft document “Spatial Plan for Kosovo 2005 - 2015+” with civil society re- presentatives at a roundta- ble organized by ATRC on May 23. Through a visual presen- tation, Gjinolli informed par- ticipants about the spatial development strategy of Kosovo, which is based on: a) development of a strong urban network for econo- mic development, b) deve- lopment and conservation of natural resources, and c) de- velopment of strategic links. “The Spatial Plan is a do- cument that should pro- mote the common interests of Kosovo residents, acce- lerating economic develop- ment, improving the quality of life and simultaneously protecting natural resour- ces and cultural heritage,” Gjinolli said. Throughout his presenta- tion, Gjinolli emphasized that this document will re- main flexible. The Institute for Spatial Planning in the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning compiled this draft document. Presently, the public can participate in suggesting revisions prior to the document being han- ded over to the govern- ment. The Spatial Plan for Ko- sovo 2005 - 2015+, entitled “Kosovo our Home,” is a re- sult of joint efforts between the government, experts in different fields and civil so- ciety representatives, un- der the coordination of ISP. Citizens can send their comments or suggestions to: komentet.planihapesi- [email protected] or komen- tet.planihapesinor@ks- gov.net Volume IV • Issue 5 • June 2006 New funding opportunities, news, events, trainings, etc can be found on ATRC web site: www.advocacy-center.org The AD The AD VOCA VOCA TE TE Advocacy Training & Resource Center Supporting the Supporting the NGO NGO community community Civil Society Participates in Public Discussion on Draft “Spatial Plan for Kosovo 2005 - 2015+” CONTENTS Page 2 NGOs Discuss Decentralization Process Civil Society Continues Contribution towards Accountable Governance in Kosovo “Intelligence Agencies of Kosovo: Dismantling, Osmosis or Integration?” Olof Palme International Center Urges Kosovo NGOs to Submit Better Project Proposals Page 3 Farmers Cross Ethnic Lines, Form Cooperative Kosovo Journalists Protest on World Press Freedom Day NGO Initiated Debates: “Kosovo in Europe” “Interethnic Dialogue” Page 4 NGO Anticorruption Coalition Distributes Posters, Warns that Kosovo Can Become “A Banana Republic” Greater Public Trust Can be Built by Adopting Codes of Conduct On May 9, more than 50 children from Prishtina ended their carnival at the Na- tional Assembly office, holding European flags and cheering “Europe wait for us,” to mark the Day of Europe. The pupils of primary school “Faik Ko- nica” met with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, who vowed that their future will be in Europe. “Everyone calls Europe the old conti- nent, but you children will make this continent younger,” Sejdiu said. NGO “INTEGRA” organized the carnival as part of its project called “Europe Wait for Us!”. The project aims to promote freedom of movement, raise awareness about the European integration process and initiate debates on this issue bet- ween citizens and governing structures of Kosovo. The meeting of Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu with dozens of children on the Day of Europe, May 9 “Kosovo our Home” “Europe Wait for Us!”
Transcript of The AD The...
The Director of the Institutefor Spatial Planning (ISP),Ilir Gjinolli, discussed thedraft document “SpatialPlan for Kosovo 2005 -2015+” with civil society re-presentatives at a roundta-ble organized by ATRC onMay 23.
Through a visual presen-tation, Gjinolli informed par-ticipants about the spatialdevelopment strategy ofKosovo, which is based on:a) development of a strongurban network for econo-mic development, b) deve-lopment and conservation ofnatural resources, and c) de-velopment of strategic links.
“The Spatial Plan is a do-cument that should pro-mote the common interestsof Kosovo residents, acce-lerating economic develop-ment, improving the qualityof life and simultaneouslyprotecting natural resour-ces and cultural heritage,”Gjinolli said.
Throughout his presenta-tion, Gjinolli emphasizedthat this document will re-main flexible.
The Institute for SpatialPlanning in the Ministry ofEnvironment and SpatialPlanning compiled this draftdocument. Presently, thepublic can participate in
suggesting revisions priorto the document being han-ded over to the govern-ment.
The Spatial Plan for Ko-sovo 2005 - 2015+, entitled“Kosovo our Home,” is a re-sult of joint efforts betweenthe government, experts indifferent fields and civil so-ciety representatives, un-der the coordination of ISP.
Citizens can send theircomments or suggestionsto: [email protected] or [email protected]
Volume IV • Issue 5 • June 2006
New fundingopportunities, news,events, trainings, etc
can be found onATRC web site:
www.advocacy-center.org
The ADThe ADVOCAVOCATETEAdvocacy Training & Resource Center
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Civil Society Participates in Public Discussion on Draft“Spatial Plan for Kosovo 2005 - 2015+”
CONTENTS
Page 2
NGOs Discuss DecentralizationProcess
Civil Society ContinuesContribution towards
Accountable Governance inKosovo
“Intelligence Agencies ofKosovo: Dismantling, Osmosis
or Integration?”
Olof Palme InternationalCenter Urges Kosovo NGOs
to Submit Better ProjectProposals
Page 3
Farmers Cross Ethnic Lines,Form Cooperative
Kosovo Journalists Protest onWorld Press Freedom Day
NGO Initiated Debates:“Kosovo in Europe”
“Interethnic Dialogue”
Page 4
NGO Anticorruption CoalitionDistributes Posters, Warnsthat Kosovo Can Become
“A Banana Republic”
Greater Public Trust Can beBuilt by AdoptingCodes of Conduct
On May 9, more than 50 children fromPrishtina ended their carnival at the Na-tional Assembly office, holding Europeanflags and cheering “Europe wait for us,”to mark the Day of Europe.
The pupils of primary school “Faik Ko-nica” met with Kosovo President FatmirSejdiu, who vowed that their future will bein Europe.
“Everyone calls Europe the old conti-nent, but you children will make thiscontinent younger,” Sejdiu said.
NGO “INTEGRA” organized the carnivalas part of its project called “Europe Waitfor Us!”. The project aims to promotefreedom of movement, raise awareness
about the European integration processand initiate debates on this issue bet-ween citizens and governing structures ofKosovo.
The meeting of Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiuwith dozens of children on the Day of Europe, May 9
“Kosovo our Home”
“Europe Wait for Us!”
Coordinator of Olof PalmeInternational Center inPrishtina, Levent Biçaku,informed local NGO repre-
sentatives about the PalmeCenter's programs at ameeting organized byATRC on May 16. Biçaku
outlined funding ob-jectives and priori-ties, application pro-cedures, as well asavailable funds forthe Western Bal-kans.
“Funding prioritiesinclude democracy,human rights andpeace,” Biçaku sta-ted. He said that“Kosovo will be a hi-
gher priority for regionalPalme Center funding.” Heurged NGO representati-ves to submit better projectproposals because “thechances of being fundeddepend on the quality ofproject proposals.” August 15 is the deadlineto apply for Palme Center'sthis year funding.
Donor presentations arepart of an ATRC programthat seeks to link NGOswith funding opportunitiesand donors with NGOs thathave similar interests.
Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 2
Olof Palme International Center Urges Kosovo NGOsto Submit Better Project Proposals
NEWSLETTER
“Intelligence Agenciesof Kosovo:
Dismantling, Osmosisor Integration?”
The Kosovar Institute forPolicy Research and Deve-lopment (KIPRED) publi-shed a new policy briefabout intelligence agenciesin Kosovo on May 10.
The publication includedinformation about politicalparty intelligence agenciesand challenges for one in-telligence service for Ko-sovo, such as politicization,inter-governmental relationsand designing an appro-priate, enforceable legal fra-mework. It also recommen-ded principles for buildingKosovo's future intelligenceservice, such as setting thelegal framework, limitingresponsibilities and des-igning accountability me-chanisms.
“As the structure of Ko-sovo's future institutions isbeing discussed, it is only amatter of time until Kosovo'sintelligence service is ad-dressed. How current orga-nizations are put to an endis essential for the develop-ment of new structures,which need to be built pro-perly, on a legal footing,with a clear mandate andeven clearer lines of ac-countability,” the publicationsaid. This project was sup-ported by Freedom Houseand USAID.
The publication is availableat www.kipred.net
Civil Society Continues Contribution towards AccountableGovernance in Kosovo
On May 12, ATRC organi-zed a roundtable discus-sion between RamushHaradinaj, leader of thepolitical party “Aleancapër Ardhmërinë e Koso-vës - AAK,” and local non-governmental organiza-tions to discuss the latestpolitical developments inKosovo.
Haradinaj praised therole that civil society hasplayed in successful de-velopments in Kosovo, ur-ging it to “continue its
contribution towards bet-ter and more accounta-ble governance.”
Participants suggestedthat political partiesshould better unders-tand the role and impor-tance of civil society.They mentioned theproblems Kosovo so-ciety is facing, such asunemployment, studentprotests at the Univer-sity of Prishtina and cor-ruption in public institu-tions.
Information about Olof Palme InternationalCenter’s funds and application procedures
can be found at www.palmecenter.org
NGO funding opportunities
Ramush Haradinaj discusses the latestpolitical developments in Kosovo with
local NGOs on May 12
New NGO Publication
NGOs Discuss Decentralization Process
Lutfi Haziri, Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister forLocal Government Admi-nistration, briefed localNGO representatives aboutthe latest developments inthe decentralization pro-cess in Kosovo, during aroundtable discussion onApril 26. The meeting, or-ganized by ATRC, aimed todiscuss civil society'scontribution towards the
decentralization process. Haziri emphasized that
the Kosovo governmentand Serbia are discussinglocal government adminis-tration reforms to betterserve the needs of all citi-zens.
“The principals of the Ko-sovo delegation regardingdecentralization are basedon interethnic relations foran integrated environ-
ment,” he said. Decentralization based on
a multiethnic society setsthe pace for functional andfinancially sustainable mu-nicipalities, Haziri noted.He referred to good decen-tralization practices in Ma-cedonia and Slovenia.
Participants commentedthat Kosovo would be uns-table if it were to be separa-ted ethnically.
Serbian and Albanian far-mers have lived side byside as neighbors in Raho-vec municipality for deca-des. They tended their landand sold their products in-dependently. With only abit of land, sometimes sel-ling their products was diffi-cult.
“Collecting and sellingagricultural products is verydifficult for farmers. A co-operative provides farmerswith a place to collect anddistribute products, whichenables them to sell theirproducts more easily,” Sy-lejman Balaj, a farmer andPresident of the coopera-tive Agrokop, said.
The Kosova DevelopmentCenter (KDC), a NGO fromGjakova that seeks to im-prove the social economyof agricultural communities,began a project to supportcooperation between diffe-rent ethnic groups in Raho-vec last fall.
KDC facilitated meetingsbetween farmers of diffe-rent ethnic groups; offeredtrainings on agriculture,which they could attend to-gether; and, tried to provide
support wherever itwas needed. KDCalso assisted the far-mers in preparingtheir statute so thatthey could register.
“They decided towork together,” KDCExecutive Director Is-met Isufi explained.“We didn't pushthem. We just sup-ported them.” He explainedthat communities mustchoose to come togetheron their own. While NGOscan support this, they can-not force this process, hesaid.
After nearly six months ofinformal talks, 20 farmersfrom Rahovec formally re-gistered their agriculturalcooperative, “Agrokop,” inMay. In order for it to work,each farmer had to givetheir land, some moneyand agree to organize to-gether.
The cooperative is thefirst of its kind in Kosovo.The Executive Director isMarjon Šaciq, a Serb, andthe President is SylejmanBalaj, an Albanian. Thereare eight Serb and twelve
Albanian members.“The cooperative will em-
ploy new people in agricul-tural services, bring far-mers together and providethem with trainings andconsultancy,” Balaj said.
Working together hasmany benefits for the far-mers. They can buy inputsand prepare their land to-gether, which will decreaseindividual farmers' costs.By pooling their products,they can sell to largerbuyers and make more in-come. Their agreement canmotivate other communi-ties to work together in thefuture, according to Isufi.
This project was madepossible with support fromthe Foundation for Demo-cratic Initiatives and fundedby USAID.
Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 3
Farmers Cross Ethnic Lines, Form Cooperative
“A cooperative enables farmers to selltheir products more easily”
Kosovo Journalists Protest on World Press Freedom Day
NEWSLETTER
NGO Initiated Debates
“Kosovo in Europe”
ATRC and Youth Initiativefor Human Rights organizedon May 18 a discussion bet-ween Stephen Heintz, Presi-dent of the Rockefeller Bro-thers Fund (RBF) and civilsociety representatives, en-titled “Kosovo in Europe.”The discussion focused ondevelopments regarding ne-gotiations about the futurestatus of Kosovo, EuropeanUnion integration, interethnicrelations and the role andcontribution of civil society insupporting official dialogue.
“RBF will continue to focusprimarily on Kosovo, Serbiaand Montenegro, while re-serving flexibility to supportexceptional regional andcross-frontier efforts,” Heintzsaid. For more information, seewww.rbf.org
Dozens of Kosovo journa-lists protested the new Ad-ministrative Instruction forimplementing the Law onAccess to Official Docu-ments for a half hour infront of the governmentbuilding in Prishtina. The Association of Profes-
sional Journalists of Ko-sovo (APJK) organized theprotest to mark WorldPress Freedom Day onMay 3.
“The Administrative Ins-truction does not fulfill thepurpose it should; it doesnot enable easy access to
official documents,” FatosBytyçi, Chairman of APJKsaid. As a sign of dissatisfaction
with the Administrative Ins-truction, signed in April by
the Ministry of Public Servi-ces, journalists at the pro-test threw copies of thisinstruction into a garbagebin and burnt them.
World Press FreedomDay was first proclaimed bythe United Nations GeneralAssembly in 1993 at a timewhen new democraciesemerging from the ColdWar were beginning theirstruggles to overhaul theirformer system of gover-nance. It aimed to highlightone of the most importantinstitutions to be developed- a free press.
Representatives of RBF andcivil society discuss situa-tion in Kosovo on May 18
“Interethnic Dialogue”
Civil society and governmentrepresentatives discussedon May 11 the issue of inter-ethnic dialogue, which theyconsider to be a preconditionfor stability and prosperity inKosovo. This issue was dis-cussed at a cross sectorroundtable meeting, held inPrishtina and organized bythe Western Balkan Initia-tive. For more information,contact the Western BalkanInitiative: 038 247 689
Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 4
St. Agim Ramadani Nr. 152nd Floor Prishtina, Kosovo
Phone/Fax: +381 (0) 38 244810
The Anticorruption Coalition distributed postersthroughout Kosovo on May 8, informing citizensabout the risks that the incumbent corrupt politi-cal structure presents. The activity is part of acampaign implemented by the “Organization forDemocracy, Anticorruption and Dignity - Çohu”and its local NGO partners.
The posters read “United around Corruption”and “Banana Republic of Kosovo,” which “intendto show the contradiction between patriotic phra-ses used by politicians and the real jeopardy inwhich Kosovo finds itself on its route towards aquasi-mobster manner of governance,” the me-dia announcement issued by Çohu said. The Anticorruption Coalition was established on
May 4 and includes the following local NGOs:Çohu, Urban FM, Llap Civic Initiative, Initiative forPeace, Youth Center of Dragash, Fisnikët, Elita,Kcic, Alarm Movement, KEK IndependentTrade-Union, Syri i Vizionit, Avonet and Commu-nity Building Mitrovica.For more information, contact [email protected]
Executive DirectorRREZE DULI
Financial & AdministrationManager
GANI [email protected]
Training & ConsultancyServices Manager
ILIR HOXHA [email protected]
Trainer & ConsultantMERITA BARILEVA
Trainer & ConsultantDONIKA SALIHU
Communication & OutreachManager
ARJETA [email protected]
Program AssociateNATYRA ZHJEQI
IT and DatabaseManager
ARMEND SUSURI [email protected]
NGO Anticorruption Coalition Distributes Posters, Warnsthat Kosovo Can Become “A Banana Republic”
Greater Public Trust Can be Built by AdoptingCodes of Conduct
Among the general public,there is greater trust ofgroups who do not placeprofit as their number onegoal. NGOs are thereforemore trusted than compa-nies. Trust is a non-displa-ceable and vital part of re-lationships and the imageof NGOs.
Public trust of NGOs co-mes from two main sour-ces: performance and ac-countability. Performancemeans the useful socialvalue placed on projectswhich support positive andenduring change. NGOcodes of conduct are onetool that can support ac-countability.
NGOs should adopt co-des of conduct for two rea-sons. They can defendNGOs against criticisms ofbeing secretive, non-transparent about fundingsources, less than rigo-rous with managementprocedures and practices
and without democraticprocesses. By establishingdefinite standards of ethi-cal behavior, corporategovernance and financialtransparency, codes en-able NGOs to build theirsupport bases and givethem greater credibilityand authority in their acti-vities.
NGOs in several coun-tries now work under co-des of conduct.
Source: Global Develop-ment Research Center
This newsletter is made possible by the generous support of the Ameri-can people through the United States Agency for International Development(USAID). The contents are the responsibility of ATRC and do not necessarilyreflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
Building Trust in NGOs
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