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outcome XM-DAC-41146-KOS_D_1.1
Outcome 1.1 All women and men in Kosovo enjoy more accountable, effective, transparent, and gender-responsive institutions at all levels ensuring access to justice, equality and participation for all (KOS UNSDCF Outcome I)
This outcome is on track and progress has been made national and local governments are making progress in strengthening their capacities to adhere to the global norms and standards of gender equality, particularly in implementing the EU gender equality acquis. Gender Equality Officers from central and local levels and IPA programming representatives advanced their knowledge, skills and capacity on gender mainstreaming in EU integration and national IPA programming. These respective forty-three public officials, 33 women and 10 men benefited from the induction session, organised by UN Women and played a crucial role in familiarising them with the requirements for compliance with global norms and standards as well as implementing the EU gender equality acquis. In addition, they are enabled to identify specific gender mainstreaming capacity needs of public officials involved in EU integration processes. The content of the induction and the evaluation of the sessions enclosed provide evidence of the result. The Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) provided legal analysis and is enabled to ensure integration of the gender perspective into a specific legal framework. In addition, AGE reviewed the Kosovo Programme for Gender Equality to allow priority actions for gender equality at the central and local levels and with technical expertise provided by UN Women. The Agency for Gender Equality (AGE) is assigned a leading role by the Governmental Decision endorsed on establishment of a Steering Committee for the 'Gender Equality Facility' Project with the primary purpose of overseeing the implementation of GEF. Furthermore, the governmental decision underscores the commitment to advancing gender equality and indicates a strategic alignment with government priorities in the approximation with the EU gender acquis. Seventeen municipalities, committed to implementing gender mainstreaming in their policies and plans, aligning with the European Charter for Equality and the Kosovo Programme for Gender Equality. Three of these municipalities successfully endorsed local action plans on gender equality. A total of 80 municipal public officials, comprising 48 women and 32 men from eight municipalities, actively participated in introductory workshops to familiarize themselves with the European Charter for Equality and initiate municipal gender action plans. Seventeen selected applicants, including twelve women and four men, enhanced their knowledge and skills to introduce the European Charter tools in municipalities, enabling them to provide support to municipal officials and design gender action . UN Women contributed to this result by initially initiating the process by securing commitments from municipalities to implement gender mainstreaming in their policies and plans, demonstrating a top-down approach with local governments prioritizing gender equality. Subsequently, UN Women provided technical assistance, training, workshops, and support to municipalities and key stakeholders at the central level. This facilitation enabled the adoption of gender mainstreaming practices aligned with international frameworks and commitments. In line with the European Union Gender Action Plan III (EU GAP III), which requires that 85% all EU funded projects have an OECD Gender Marker 1 or 2. An expert on gender mainstreaming, reviewed a total of nine EU Action Documents from the EU Office in Kosovo, and provided 229 inputs with recommendation on integration of gender perspective in their objectives, indicators, and activities. In addition, four Kosovo CSO’s implementing EU-funded projects, aligned their interventions with the EU GAP III and the Country Level Implementation Plan (CLIP) on the GAP III for Kosovo, w support. This ensures that EU-funded support effectively delivers OECD Gender Marker 1 or 2, and not only contributes to the objectives of EU GAP III but also fosters a just and inclusive future for Kosovo. In terms of Gender Responsive Budgeting although the outcome was not fully achieved in 2023, Kosovo made significant progress to improve the legal and institutional frame on gender equality, enhance evidence-based policy making, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and more effective and gender-responsive service provision. In 2023, Kosovo made significant strides to advance gender equality despite not fully achieving the desired outcomes. The government demonstrated its commitment by establishing a working group on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB), signalling an intent to enhance gender-related legislation. The Ministry of Finance initiated the integration of GRB into the national legal framework overseeing public finance management. At the local level, women accessed improved child-care and trainings as a result of sector-specific gender analysis and actions and policies taken to respond to child care support, and subsidies on agriculture and digitalization training. Notably, 13 municipalities adopted gender-inclusive Mid-Term Budget Frameworks based on UN Women's sector-specific gender analysis. Recommendations from these analyses were incorporated into Municipal Gender Action Plans (2024-2026) of six municipalities, focusing on addressing women's needs in employment, education, and agriculture. Overall, progress was achieved in improving the legal and institutional framework for gender equality, evidence-based policymaking, accountability mechanisms, and gender-responsive service provision.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KOS_D_1.2
Outcome 1.2 All women and men in Kosovo, particularly young people, vulnerable groups, and displaced persons, increasingly achieve gender equality and claim their rights and fulfil civic responsibilities (UNSDCF Outcome 5)
Progress against Outcome was noted during 2023. Support to the Ministry of Justice on implementation of the National Strategy on Protection Against Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women 2022-2026 and administration of the DV database, ensuring day-to-day data entry and maintaining data protection continued throughout 2023. A total of 139 service providers, out of which 73 male and 66 female are now skilled to enter data in the system thanks to training provided by the database expert, engaded through UN Women support. In addition, database expansion with three additional modules, which was implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Justice and UNDP, enables the collection of, and analyzing cases of domestic violence also by Kosovo Correctional Service, Kosovo Probation Service and Agency for Free Legal Aid. Detailed statistical reports on cases are now publicly accessible on the website of Ministry of Justice. Finally, with technical support of UN Women the New Law on Prevention and Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence Against Women and Gender-Based Violence was approved and entered into force on 27 October 2023.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KOS_O_1
Advancing partnerships and resourcing; Effectively influencing for impact & scale
In the reporting period UN Women Kosovo continued to maintain strategic partnerships and to build new partnerships which lead to effective implementation of UN Women’s mandate in Kosovo. During 2023, five new WEPs signatories resulted as part of the joint MOUs with entities that represent private sector such as, Kosovo CSR Network, Kosovar-German Chamber of Commerce and Women Economic Chamber – G7 , aiming to foster private sector collaboration and advance GEWE agenda through Women’s empowerment principles (WEPs) . . With their networks bringing together businesses and organizations, including academia, the priv ate sector joined forces with UN Women toward the common goal of enhancing gender equality in the world of business. The overarching goal is to increase and disseminate the visibility of best practices in the private sector to promote gender equality and women empowerment among their members and advocate for the implementation of Women’s Empowerment Principles. These partnerships concluded recently with five (5) additional Women’s empowerment principles (WEPs) signatories and with high interest by others to join the + 7000 signatories around the globe. UBT, PwC, IBAS, City INN, Raiffeisen Bank and Procredit Bank became new Gender equality champions in Kosovo. The newly partnered private sector companies vowed to work under the 7 WEPs principles to enhance inclusive and equal working environments and invest in women empowerment and also report on their achievements in the WEPs official platform. Further, UN Women strengthened its long-standing partnership with the Kosovo President’s Office through support to the organization of the high-level forum on Women, Peace, and Security which was postponed to early 2024, because of political tensions in the North of Kosovo. President Osmani committed to leverage the WPS agenda for building gender sensitive climate resilience during COP28 UN Women has also facilitated the cross-border exchange with Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of Kosovo delivering keynote remarks in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) side event “What’s your peace?”, the UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland co-hosted an event entitled ‘What’s your peace? Women leading the fight against climate change and complex crises in Asia: Leveraging the Women, Peace and Security agenda for building resilience’ . As part of the longstanding partnership with the President's Office, UN Women Kosovo is part of the Kosovo Committe for Democracy and Human Rights which is led by the President of Kosovo with participation of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Line Ministries, Agency for Gender Equality, and Women's Organizations. In the last meeting of the year, it was discussed to continue the coordinated work on elimination of violence against women (including through the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence), as well as other approaches to advancing the GEWE agenda. Through UN Women’s strategic partnerships with the Minister of Education (central level), Deputy Mayor of Prishtina (local level) and the private sector, the delegates committed to accelerate their work to economically empower women and girls through technology. During the UN Women Generation Equality Midpoint Regional Event in Almaty, Kazakhstan, themed "Accelerating Digitalization in Europe and Central Asia: Partnerships on Innovation and Technology for Women’s Economic Empowerment" held in Almaty, the Kosovo Delegation presented its commitments to advancing women's economic empowerment through technology and innovation. The Delegation from Kosovo, consisting of Arbërie Nagavci, Minister of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation; Donjeta Sahatçiu, Deputy Mayor of the Prishtina Municipality; and Uranik Begu, Board Member at Innovation Centre Kosovo and Plug & Play Director CEE, strategically positions itself as key players in fostering partnerships for innovation and technology. During the Western Balkans Summit, UN Women Head of Office, Vlora Nushi raised the importance of inclusive and participatory EU Western Balkans enlargement package to ensure that women & girls participate in all levels of the process. UN Women Kosovo Head of Office was invited to participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit “Breaking the stalemate: women, youth, justice and enlargement” organized in Brussels by Friends of Europe on December 7 th , 2023. During the reporting period, UN Women continued advancing its strategic partnerships with the donor community. By implementing a strategic approach to resource mobilization, UN Women Kosovo PP has reached agreements with four new donors which will be finalized in 2024. As such, as one of the biggest donors, UN Women collaborated with the EU on several levels. Through, the Donor Recognition Campaign, the EU highlighted the years-long partnership with UN Women as the main partner for advancing GEWE. During the 16 Days of Activism, UN Women jointly with the European Union we unveiled significant achievements and insights gained during the implementation of the EU funded UN Women regional programme on Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), in the presence of the Minister of Justice, and ambassadors. Finally, UN Women launched the GEF project which is financed by the EU. Further, UN Women established its strategic partnership with the National Audit Office, which joined the regional initiative of joint parallel gender auditing together with the national audit institutions of Albania and North Macedonia. Head of National Audit Office vowed maximal dedication to this important initiative that will also serve as best practice exchange among the audit institution in the Western Balkans. The parallel audit will focus on the inclusion of rural women in the labor market, one of the key gender issues globally and regionally.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KOS_O_2
Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture
In 2023 , Kosovo Office continued to lead by example including by nurtyring an empowered workforce and advancing an in clusive environment. Kosovo PP continued its high-quality work as demonstrated by the high delivery rate (around 90%), despite external challenges such as the political tensions in the north of Kosovo, as well as the internal challenges such as the transition to Quantum, which has caused serious challenges on tracking spending of funds. During the reporting period UN Women Kosovo Office engaged new staff – such as the GEF team consisting of six new staff. The Office continued holding its regular staff meetings, as well as weekly increased operations team meetings throughout 2023 to ensure effective monit oring of activities and efficient delievery of results .
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KOS_O_3
Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes
In 2023, UN Women continued to ensure effective multisectoral coordination through the coordination groups it leads, including the Security and Gender Group (SGG), the Results Group 5 (previously Gender Theme Group), UN Kosovo Team Communications Group, as well as ensuring that gender is mainstreamed in all other UNSDCF Results Groups, Rule of Law Group, Human Rights Group, Immigration Group, PSEA Group, ensuring gender-mainstreaming. In a letter sent in 2023, the Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, Ms. Sima Bahous congratulated UNKT for meeting / exceeding gender mainstreaming minimum requirements for all 15 SWAP performance indicators. UN Women leads this process jointly with UNDCO, further strengthening its coordination and gender mainstreaming approach, The multi-stakeholder Security and Gender Group (SGG) chaired by UN Women and composed by the donor community, women’s organizations, civil-society organizations, international organizations, UN Agencies, and Kosovo Institutions, advocated for several policy changes in Kosovo mostly related to gender-based violence, as well as issuing joint statements on relevant issues concerning GEWE. The SGG meets on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to discuss gender-related issues. The SGG allows for a multisectoral approach towards preventing violence against women and involves health and social services actors, legal, human rights, and security sectors, and the community. The UN Women chaired UNKT CF Thematic Group Results Group V (previously Gender Theme Group) allowed for joint and impactful coordination UN Coordination on pressing issues as well as UNKT advocacy. This approach helped advance Cooperation Framework priorities and effective coordination on gender-related issues. Further, joint UNKT advocacy efforts were strengthened through the UN Women chaired UNKT Communications Group. This group served as a venue for coordinating joint efforts during UN International Advocacy Days, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Girl Child Day, Women's Empowerment in the Media, as well as raising awareness on all forms of violence against women through a coordinated approach. Through leveraging its coordination mandate, UN Women ensured that gender-sensitive inputs are provided to different Kosovo strategic documents which were being drafted during the reporting period. UN Women has provided technical support to the Ministry of Justice in drafting the National Strategy against Domestic Violence, the National Protocol for Treatment of Sexual Violence Cases, as well as the support to the Kosovo Parliamentary Commission for drafting the recently adopted Law on Protection from DV/GBV. All of these documents are in line with the Istanbul Convention. Further, UN Women has provided recommendations for the Labour Law, mainly focusing on prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. Finally, as part of the regional Transformative Financing UN Women programme, support has been provided to the Government in relation to the Budget Law, Gender Responsive Law on Procurement , Gender Responsive Budgeting Normative Legal Act. UN Women keeps track of its good practices and lessons learned when it comes to gender mainstreaming and coordination. This is done to monitor results and utilize lessons learned,Showing 1 - 5 of 6