Minority Support

USAID, through its Conflict Mitigation activities, is addressing and supporting stability by increasing the confidence of minorities in a viable future in Kosovo through programs focused on improved quality of life and security. This is achieved through community development programs, leadership dialogue, Roma resettlement, analysis of conflict potential, and a public safety activity.

Current Programs

Community Action Initiative Program
Interethnic Dialogue and Reconciliation in Kosovo
RESTART
Early Warning System Reports


Community Action Initiative Program

USAID’s Community Action Initiative Program (CAIP) is a multi-sectoral program that supports community development and infrastructure in at least forty communities, builds strong civil society organizations and enhances the economic, business and employment environment. This three year program that started in September 2011 aims to improve lives of the citizens in northern Kosovo and in all non-majority communities in Kosovo.

Community Action Initiative Program will work towards its goal in three ways:

• Help communities to identify and resolve their problems – through over 100 social and infrastructure projects, address-ing community priorities as identified by a transparent and participatory process; with 40 elected community representa-tive groups empowered to act in the community best interest.
• Improve economic development and employment opportuni-ties in target areas – through 75 market-driven grants for small and medium enterprises, over 1,000 short to medium-term jobs created (including jobs in business, short term em-ployment opportunities, support to community and youth initiatives), and training for improved business capacities.
• Support civil society organizations and strengthen their coop-eration and responsiveness to community needs – through the creation of a Regional Community Resource Center, the award of 30 sub-grants to local non-government organizations (NGOs). Likewise, support to a sustainable and prominent Kosovo Policy Action Network of Serb and other non-majority NGOs.

Community Action Initiative Program is implemented by Mercy Corps.


Interethnic Dialogue and Reconciliation in Kosovo

The Interethnic Dialogue and Reconciliation in Kosovo (IDRK), is working to;

• improve cooperation between leaders of Kosovo’s two largest ethnic communities
• encourage greater engagement of Kosovo Serbs in the Kosovo political process
• form locally-run platforms for dialogue and reconciliation

This project is being implemented by the Project on Ethnic Relations with support from USAID, and involves two tracks of dialogue activities.

1. Dialogue between leaders

The project is facilitating sustained and intensive dialogue between Kosovo Albanian and Serb leaders capable of making an impact on interethnic relations. The discussions aim to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the political process, provide opportunities for Kosovo Albanian-Serb cooperation on practical issues and strengthen moderate leaders.

2. Dialogue to address perceptions

The second set of dialogue activities is working to address the fears and misconceptions the Kosovo communities have about each other through a Forum for Dialogue and Reconciliation. This forum is comprised of representatives of Kosovo’s communities, as well as interethnic relations experts and civil society activists.

The two-track dialogue activities lead to the resolution of simple issues that at first seem insurmountable given today’s context in Kosovo. For example, a recent discussion in one municipality was held with municipal authorities and representatives of the Kosovo Serb community. Participants discussed electricity shortages, property issues, issuance of personal documents, and the role of Belgrade and Pristina in affecting interethnic relations at the local level. Participants agreed to work together in resolving some property cases that were brought up by the Serbs, and continue discussions on finding a compromise for electricity bills.


RESTART

The Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Economic, Social, Transition, Advocacy and Resettlement/Reintegration (RESTART) Program aims to resettle and reintegrate up to 50 families currently living in the lead contaminated camps in Osterode and Cesmin Lug to other parts of Kosovo.

Intensive dialogue is underway with families to determine needs of all residents, while work continues on matching locations where families would like to live in partnership with receiving municipalities. This dialogue is being led by the Roma and Ashkali Documentation Center (RADC), a local Roma NGO.

Housing, education and vocational training

The RESTART program aims to achieve the sustainable resettlement and reintegration of 50 Roma-Ashkali-Egyptian families (approximately 200 people) from Cesmin Lug and Osterode camps to new locations selected and accepted by the families. During the process, RADC, the local partner, is being assisted in their work and liaison efforts with relevant institutions to help increase Roma-Ashkali-Egyptian participation in the process. RADC staff will gain additional skills in advocacy and organizational capacity during the program.

The RESTART Program is not just about new homes, but about creating better lives for the camp residents once they move to new locations. The program emphasizes increasing economic opportunities, health and lead poisoning treatment, and access to education, recognizing that these are the greatest barriers to sustainable resettlement.


Early Warning System Reports

The Early Warning System (EWS), produced by the United Nations Development Programme with support from USAID, is a unique resource, documenting changes in public attitudes and perceptions in Kosovo, while also building local capacity for security trend analysis and policy recommendations.

This initiative provides a continuous monitoring and conflict prevention tool to foresee potential crisis and facilitate expert advice on crisis prevention policies. The EWS reports provide regular information to decision-makers on key socio-economic and political indicators. The EWS conducts quarterly opinion polls to capture the attitudes of all residents of Kosovo, disaggregated by ethnicity, age and geographic location. The project also organizes “expert groups,” including representatives of think tanks, media, government, and other organizations to analyze survey results and provide policy recommendations.