Outcome KOS_O_5

SP OEE Output/Section Result_KOS_O_5: Advancing Business Transformation

During the reporting period, UN Women Kosovo advanced business transformation by supporting and co-organizing cross-regional knowledge exchange initiatives across the Western Balkans that promoted innovation, peer learning, and the scaling up of proven gender equality, women’s empowerment, and peace and security solutions. These initiatives deliberately linked Country Offices, Regional Office engagement, HQ-aligned frameworks, and inter-agency collaboration, strengthening regional coherence, institutional learning, and results-oriented ways of working. Through a South–South exchange between Albania and Kosovo, UN Women facilitated practical, demand-driven learning among local and central government institutions on institutionalizing gender equality at the municipal level. The exchange enabled the transfer of tested models on gender-responsive local action planning and budgeting; integrated public service delivery across key sectors; performance-based grant mechanisms that incentivize measurable governance and gender equality results; and monitoring and evaluation practices that support evidence-based decision-making. As a result, participating institutions strengthened their capacity to adapt and replicate scalable, results-focused approaches to gender-responsive local governance. UN Women further reinforced regional innovation through the Gender Equality Facility (GEF) Community of Practice Retreat in Tirana, which convened UN Women staff from across the region for structured learning on gender-responsive EU accession processes. The retreat delivered concrete business transformation outcomes by harmonizing tools and programming approaches across countries, identifying shared EU accession policy entry points for gender equality, strengthening staff capacity to influence EU-aligned policies and financing instruments (including IPA and growth facilities), and developing a common regional engagement strategy and stakeholder mapping. This initiative enhanced efficiency, coherence, and UN Women’s strategic positioning as a partner on gender-responsive EU integration. At the regional level, UN Women contributed to innovative peacebuilding and prevention approaches through the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Summer School in Sarajevo, implemented with the University of Sarajevo and UN partners with support from the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund. The initiative promoted cross-regional exchange on WPS policy implementation and peacebuilding practices, strengthening shared understanding and application of innovative WPS approaches across contexts. Complementing this, UN Women jointly organized a Regional Training of Trainers on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and WPS in Skopje with UNFPA, UNDP, UNSSC, and NALAS under the Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality & Trust project. By equipping 25 young leaders from across the region with practical localization tools, the initiative introduced a multiplier model that expanded reach, built a regional pool of trainers, strengthened peer networks, and enabled sustained cross-border collaboration for inclusive peacebuilding.

SP OEE Output/Section Result_KOS_O_5: Advancing Business Transformation

In 2024, UN Women Kosovo organized two (2) impactful initiatives to promote gender equality through cross-regional collaboration. A study visit to Istanbul, Türkiye, in partnership with UN Women Türkiye, involved nine Kosovo representatives who engaged with private sector leaders, including Migros and Yildiz Holding, on implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Participants gained insights into gender-focused corporate social responsibility practices, such as unconscious bias training and flexible working policies. A high-level delegation from Kosovo, led by the Acting Head of the Agency for Gender Equality, met with Croatian counterparts under the EU-funded Gender Equality Facility project. These exchanges provided actionable insights to align gender strategies with the EU gender Acquis and advance gender equality commitments.