Completed Projects

ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURNS-AVR

Employment Assistance Services (EAS) for Kosovar returnees from Switzerland, including ethnic minorities and their receiving communities

Promoting sustainable voluntary return and reintegration of Kosovars, including ethnic minorities, returning from Switzerland through measures to improve economic prospects for both the returnees and members of the receiving communities, thereby enhancing the capacity of return communities to continue to attract, absorb and retain returning migrants and other displaced people and to prevent further out-migration.

The project was funded by Switzerland

Fostering the sustainable return and reintegration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) communities to Kline/Klina municipality

The main aim of the of the Fostering the Sustainable Return and Reintegration of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) communities to Kline/Klina municipality (RRRAE) project is to assist 27 ethnic Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian ethnic minorities (RAE) Internally Displaced families in their return and socio-economic reintegration to their former Klinë/Klina municipality and contribute to sustainability of their return through inter-ethnic reconciliation activities and measures to balance assistance among ethnic communities. The project also seeks to build inter-ethnic dialogue among the RAE communities and the majority community and thus contribute to creation of conditions conducive to ethnic minority returns This project intend to augment “pull-factors” that provide incentives to ethnic minority residents and recent returnees to remain in Kosovo by small-scale income generating activities and by rehabilitating community infrastructure. By involving all above mentioned factors the project also pla to generate intensified involvement of municipal authorities in the return and reintegration process of RAE communities during and beyond the RRRAE project’s implementation.

The project was funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction

Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals Programme (TRQN)

This programme aims at creating possibilities for qualified Kosovars residing in the Netherlands to contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Kosovo by temporary return in Kosovo. The purpose is the transfer of knowledge in areas where expertise is lacking locally.

The project was funded by the Netherlands

Return of Kosovars from Belgium

The RKB, project that started in November 2000 and ended in December 2001 assisted 2,712 returnees. It was a two-phased assistance model, whereby the refugees were provided with both information and training activities prior to departure. They were also required to provide basic plans for the use of grants, which were disbursed in two installments, one in Brussels upon departure (60%) and the rest (40%) in Kosovo after two months of arrival.

IOM monitoring reports showed that out of the 120 beneficiaries monitored, 35% used the money in purchasing the most immediate household needs, 42% for rebuilding their houses, 9% for starting small businesses and 14% used the money for family subsistence and education purposes.

The project was funded by Belgium

Finland Comprehensive Support

This Programme (DRITA II and DRITA III) was another milestone effort by the International Community to enhance professional opportunities and social reintegration. The programme aimed at supplementing the rehabilitation of social and economic services in Kosovo through sustainable reinsertion of returnees into the productive and social life.

The pre-departure activities such as counselling, information gathering and dissemination, organised visits of interest groups to specific service providers in Kosovo, as well as training or education opportunities prepare the returnees for the eventual reintegration process. The direct financial assistance thus provided upon departure, helps the returnee to start up new life, to buy household goods and/or to start small business enterprises. This project was funded by Finland and has assisted 280 persons. (From 31 February 2000 until December 2001)

The project was funded by Finland

Employment Assistance to Kosovar Returnees from Berlin (BORK)

The Berlin Occupational Reintegration of Kosovars/BORK Programme aimed to enhance the willingness of Kosovars to return through an active promotion of their occupational reintegration in Kosovo. The project during its implementation from July 2000 until March 2003 also enhanced the absorption capacity of the Kosovo labour market through incorporating the unemployed local population into the project. It provided mixed reintegration assistance composed of salary supplements and grants for either self-employment promotion or for skills upgrading of up to EUR 2,600 per person for returnees from Berlin and locals who find employment possibilities with employers in Kosovo, wish to establish themselves as micro-entrepreneurs, or need qualifications upgrading. This project assisted 415 returnees from Berlin.

The project was funded by city of Berlin

Italian Coordinated Programme

The Coordinated Programme for return and reintegration of Kosovars from Italy contributed to the stabilisation process as well as sustaining the voluntary return and reintegration of the returnees. The beneficiaries were required to provide plans for the use of grants in advance of payments. The grants were similarly disbursed in two phases, 50% within the first month of arrival in Kosovo and the remaining 50% after two months and upon positive report on the use of the first installment. 120 families were assisted between October 2000 until December 2001

The project was funded by Italy

TECHNICAL COOPERATION ON MIGRATION

IOM Trust Fund Project

Engaging Kosovo Protection Corps members in civic and humanitarian work projects (i.e. constructing water supply networks, repairing roads, reconstructing bridges, etc.) to assist in rebuilding the infrastructure and communities of Kosovo targeting ethnically mixed and minority communities in identified return areas, thereby promoting the acceptance by the majority community of the minorities’ return and reintegration process.

The project was funded by Netherlands

The Support for the Stabilization of Communities in Kosovo (SSC) programme

The Support for the Stabilization of Communities in Kosovo (SSC) programme is funded by the European Union through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). SSC’s objective is to improve the social and economic conditions of minority communities through out Kosovo. The programme is enhancing the necessary conditions for the retention and stabilization of minorities into the socio-economic life in Kosovo by alleviating unemployment and increasing income generating opportunities. SSC’s makes available financial and technical assistance to experienced and promising entrepreneurs for building up sustainable livelihoods. The programme offers an opportunity to motivated communities to improve their living conditions and quality of life by supporting innovative initiatives. It provides technical assistance and training to selected entrepreneurs to enhance their chance of managing sustainable businesses funds. SSC supports promising new entrepreneurs and experienced businessmen and woman to develop and submit ideas for income generating projects and encourages market linkages between new and already existing business.

The project was funded by the European Union (EU) through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

Fund for Agro-Processing and Industrial Revitalization (FAIR)

The “Fund for Agro-Processing and Industrial Revitalization (FAIR)" aims to foster economic development in the northern part of Kosovo, specifically in the Municipalities of Mitrovicë/a, Zvecan,Leposavic/q, Zubin Potok and Vushtrri/Vucitrn.

FAIR offers financial and technical support to promising entrepreneurs through the provision of grants ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 EURO following a competitive application process. Local businesses, as well as joint ventures with foreign companies, are eligible to apply for a FAIR grant that can be used in the establishment or expansion of an enterprise in the manufacturing, agro-processing and service sectors. Grant recipients are offered various types of technical assistance throughout the duration of the project to foster their success. Applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation process, whereby they are assessed against such criteria as their business’ relevance for economic development in Kosovo, its financial sustainability, profitability, and growth potential, as well as its utilization of local resources. Grant recipients are required to contribute at least 25% of the total investment sought through FAIR.

Through FAIR, EAR/IOM aims to foster the growth of competitive business environment and promote greater adherence to European standards for financial accountability and environmental protection. In addition, by allowing joint ventures, FAIR seeks to attract foreign investment in Kosovo. Strong emphasis is placed on the grant recipients’ compliance with applicable regulations involved in establishing or expanding enterprises, including subsequent tax payments due, among others.

The project was funded by the European Union (EU) through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) and co-funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Poverty Alleviation in Marginalized Municipalities(PAMM)

The Poverty Alleviation in Marginalized Municipalities( PAMM) project is fundED from European Union (EU), managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR). The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is implementing the €3.1 million project that aims to help reduce poverty and stimulate durable economic development, thereby stabilizing the socio-economic conditions of the targeted areas in the longer-term.

PAMM is implemented primarily in the following ten municipalities of Kosovo: Dragash/Dragaš, Gllogoc/Glogovac, Malishevë/Mališevo, Mamushë/Mamuša, Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, Podujevë/Podujevo, Rahovec/Orahovac, Shtime/Štimlje, Skenderaj/Srbica, and Vushtrri/Vucitrn.

The PAMM project provides technical assistance and financial support - through grants ranging from 5,000 € to 8,000 € - for the start-up of new or the expansion of existing small-scale income generation projects and micro-enterprises. Larger-scale community-level development initiatives, with sound economic potential, will be eligible for PAMM grants between 10,000 € and 40,000 €. Through the RBCs, training and marketing services will be available to support local existing and aspiring businesspeople in developing jobs and creating revenue.

The project was funded by the European Union (EU) through the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

“Reintegration Assistance for Separated Kosovo Protection Corps Members”

(RASKPC) Project

The “Reintegration Assistance for Separated Kosovo Protection Corps Members” (RASKPC) project, initiated in January 2007, seeks to promote and assist in the sustainable reintegration of individuals who are separating from the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) by providing them with a dignified exit process from the Corps. The nine-month pilot phase of the project concentrates on an initial group of 80 KPC members, who already have been identified by the Office of the KPC Coordinator (OKPCC) of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This project aims to foster beneficiaries’ opportunities for employment and self-employment by improving their income-generating prospects through a variety of measures including: basic business skills training; referral to further training options; on-the-job training schemes through the provision of salary subsidies; and financial assistance for business development. By using an individually tailored approach, the RASKPC project aims to maximize each beneficiary’s skills, interests, and educational and/or professional background with an assistance package that corresponds to his/her needs and increases the likelihood of his/her sustainable re-entry into Kosovo’s labour force.The RASKPC project’s reintegration scheme consist of three main assistance components:training for Employment or Self-Employment which includes trainings provided directly by IOM and referrals to trainings conducted by Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) and other professional instructors/agencies; employment Referrals to existing job opportunities in the private and public sectors, which can include the provision of salary subsidies for on-the-job training (OJT); and technical and Financial Assistance (micro-grants) for Small Business Development.

The project was funded by United Kingdom

The Community Enhancement and Development Program (CEDP)

The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Mission in Kosovo and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) strengthened their cooperation by launching a new, one million US dollar initiative in early September 2006. The Community Enhancement and Development Program (CEDP) concentrates on improving the living conditions of the targeted residents of the northern part of Kosovo through the implementation of projects that are designed to respond rapidly, visibly and at the community level to critical public needs. CEDP projects, which are designed to be rapidly executable and make a high impact, will focus on enhancing the existing infrastructure, providing necessary materials and equipment to various public institutions and addressing the requirements of the targeted communities in the northern part of Mitrovicë/a town and Zubin Potok Municipality.

The project was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Information Counseling and Referral Service - (ICRS)

The IOM-implemented Information Counselling and Referral Service (ICRS) was designed to assist demilitarized KLA combatants to reintegrate back into civilian life. This was aimed to be achieved through the provision of timely, accurate and unbiased information, at different levels, as to available reintegration opportunities. These included access to counseling, referrals, training, capacity building, employment and other income-generating opportunities, also supporting the on-going overall reconstruction and economic development efforts within the heavily war-damaged Kosovo province. The ICRS also supported the establishment of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) in its initial stage, through referral of eligible applicants and other preparatory activities as well as with the facilitation of other reintegration opportunities with the KPC reservists. A Reintegration Fund, working in tandem with the ICRS, was established to identify and develop additional opportunities for those demilitarized KLA combatants facing specific reintegration difficulties within areas unassisted by other organisations. Media networking was used to promote positive reintegration stories in order to bolster the overall confidence of the demilitarized KLA combatants, as well as to strengthen linkaging and synergies between all concerned.

This programme operative from July 1999 until spring 2002 had reintegrated 14,510 former combatants (56% of the entire caseload) into civilian life through employment referral/job placement (including entry to the KPC and Kosovo Police Service), on-the–job-training, micro and small business start-up, vocational training, business training, and psychological or psychosocial support.

The project was funded by Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, UK, Canada and USAID

Transition Information Programme (TIP)

The Transition Information Programme (TIP) was built upon efforts made during the emergency phase in Albania, under the Emergency Information Programme. This programme was established to respond in a timely and efficient manner, to the humanitarian information needs of the Kosovar refugees who were forced to flee to Albania.

However, as the majority of the refugees returned to Kosovo in the spontaneous return of refugee population to their home, the programme shifted its centre of operation to Kosovo.

IOM assessed that there was an urgent need to transfer the management of the information programme to Kosovo, where there was a much greater information vacuum following the conflict. While the residual caseload required continued objective information on the situation in Kosovo, IOM adapted its programming content and intended to continue its radio programmes in Albania that provided up-to-date coverage on the rapidly evolving situation in Kosovo.

In Kosovo, IOM identified several urgent needs in the media development/capacity-building sector, which needed to be addressed immediately, if the Kosovar population was to receive objective information. At that moment, there were a very limited number of functioning, independent media, a lack of professionally trained journalists and few resources to support them. The project was implemented from August 1999 until April 2000.

The project was funded by Italy and UK.

Kosovo Protection Corps Training Programme (KPCT)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was asked by the International Community to assist in the reintegration of former combatants and to transition the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) into a civilian, multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic, uniformed indigenous emergency service agency in February 2000. IOM developed a training programme that assisted the KPC in performing its civil protection duties broadly specified by Regulation 1999/8. The Kosovo Protection Corps Training (KPCT) Programme was the vehicle toward this transformation.

The KPCT Programme consisted of 5 phases, which had the following specific objectives:

Phase I (February to September 2000): Constructively engaged KPC members in activities that promoted personal accountability, compliance and basic individual and organisational skills, paving the way for more specialised civil protection and emergency service training. Orientation and basic training was given to familiarise KPC members with the Corp’s mandated responsibilities and structure. Through the employment of various international service providers, KPC members also received instruction in human rights, administration, resource management and basic firefighting.

Phase II (October 2000 to May 2001): In addition to sustaining and expanding on the individual skill base begun in Phase I, training focused on conducting the first collective training exercises. A Command Post Exercise and a Map Exercise developed KPC members’ abilities to work as effective units and to coordinate their responses to simulated disasters. Cooperation between the Council of Europe (CoE), EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement and the KPCT Programme resulted in the creation of the School of Civil Protection, which produced subject-matter experts in emergency service fields.

Phase III (June 2001 to May 2002): In order to increase the KPC’s self-sufficient training capacity, KPCT emphasised a “train the trainer” approach. Through the development and implementation of a Training Management System, KPC members began to refine their ability to assess and plan their training needs on a yearly and quarterly basis. Two more major collective training events took place, further raising the KPC’s level of readiness to respond to real emergencies. Another major accomplishment of Phase III was the publication of the School of Civil Protection Handbook, in both English and Albanian. The more than 1,000 page long book has become the authoritative source document for emergency services in the region.

Phase IV (June 2002 to May 2003): Concentrated on institutionalised individual training, focusing resources on the development and expansion of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and its components parts: the Protection Academy, Simulation Centre, two basic training centres and a collective training centre. The TRADOC, the Simulation Centre and the protection Academy were officially activated in October 2002. The first professional development course in the Protection Academy began in February 2003. In addition, the KPCT Programme sought to maintain unity of command within the KPC, while expanding the capacity of KPC leaders and regional commanders to respond to civil authorities, by engaging units within and outside of Kosovo in emergency response training scenarios of increasing complexity. Conducted in close coordination with UNMIK and KFOR, these mock disasters engaged KPC members in Operations requiring rapid reactions and testing leadership and unit ability to meet internationally recognised standards of performance. Each quarter KPC leaders and Zone level Rapid Response Units (RRUs) participated in IOM-directed training leading to the deployment of RRUs to overseas training institutions in Turkey and South Africa.

Phase V (June 2003 to April 2004): Focused on continuing to deploy the KPC to out-of Kosovo training centres and emergency service competitions and furthering the capacity-building process of preparing the KPC to function efficiently and effectively as a competent disaster relief of organisation within Kosovo, with a view to the eventual departure of the international community. Following four major deployments to the Czech Republic, the KPCT Programme achieved its goal of providing the RRUs from all of the Zones and the GRRC with a training experience abroad. The Protection Academy’s training capacity flourished with the implementation of the Primary Leadership Development Course, Initial Entry Training Course and the Officer Basic Course.

Phase VI (April 2004 to November 2004): In March 2004, IOM entered into an agreement with UNMIK-PISG to provide training and related services to the KPC. IOM concentrated on supporting the institutional training taking place at the TRADOC, the building and staffing of a second basic training centre in Gjakova, and the development of policies at KPC Headquarters and Zone level to further develop personnel and administrative procedures, operations and emergency planning, training management at unit and institutional levels, and logistic and financial processes. These actions were conducted simultaneously with the initiation of a professional development programme centralised around the various Headquarters functional areas.

The KPCT Programme Strategy

The strategy employed by the KPCT Programme was grounded in the belief that training should be:

Ø Focused,

Ø Standardised, and

Ø Lead to the KPC’s Self-Sufficiency.

Focused refers to the clearly specified training goals that stipulate the competencies and skills needed for individuals and groups engaged in civil protection, whereas standardisation ensures that the same training is given to all units, in all regions. Furthermore, the term reflects the concern that the emergency service training given meets international performance standards. Self-sufficiency is created through the manuals and doctrines that have been produced, in the Albanian language, enabling the KPC to replicate, sustain and build upon previous training in the future.

The project was funded by US Department of State (Phases I-V) and the UNMIK-PISG (Phase VI)

Kosovo Information Assistance Initiative (KIAI)

From September 1999 until April 2001 IOM successfully implemented the KIAI, project funded by the U.S. State Department. Communication among the Kosovar refugee communities indicated a serious need to improve the exchange of information, relocate lost family members and plan their eventual return. In an innovate public-private venture, USAID and private companies initiated the Kosovo Technology Assistance Initiative to provide internet links to various groups of Kosovar refugees and aid workers trying to assist them. Once the refugee crisis ended, the project was moved to Kosovo itself and transformed into the Kosovo Information Assistance Initiative (KIAI).

KIAI project consisted of opening 7 internet centres across Kosovo enabling to accomplish its three main goals: to provide internet access points for members of the community, local NGOs and others working in the area; to provide training in the various uses of the internet from basic knowledge of the internet to web-page creation; to facilitate the work of the media and other organisations through technology.

The project achieved its overall and specific objectives as mandated by the project document. At the end of the project, all the Internet centres were handed over to local institutions. Presently, the centres are maintained by the local institutions and NGOs providing free internet services with some other added services for purposes of self-sustainability’s other added services for purposes of self-sustainability.

The project was funded by USA

The Kosovo Information Project

The overall objective of the Kosovo Information Project (KIP) was to provide governments of participating countries and their designated agencies with tailor-made informational support for an integrated, orderly and durable return process, with regard to Kosovo.

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) jointly implemented this project, each acting within their own sphere of expertise and capacities. It was based on joining the experience gained by ICMPD through the Repatriation Information Centre (RIC), as carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the summer of 1997, with the extensive field experience of IOM within Kosovo. The project started in March 2000 and ended in June 2003.

The project was funded by Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Liechtenstein, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Ireland and Denmark.

Assistance for Former Workers of the Kosovo Railway

IOM project Assistance for Former Workers of the Kosovo Railway aimed to assist the Joint Administrative Structure for Kosovo (JIAS/UNMIK) in the productive reinsertion of Kosovo Railway employees into gainful employment; initially targeting a caseload of about 258 retrenched Former Kosovo Railway Workers. Out of the 595 full-time employees in the Kosovo Railways, 163 retired during the year 2001. In addition, 258 were transfer into a “reserve list”.

This list of reservists constituted the first wave of ex-railway employees who needed to be assisted within this IOM project. Therefore, IOM focused on the design and implementation of the reconversion and reintegration of these reservists-railway workers.

In February 2001, the project began registering the caseload of 258 former railway reservists at the IOM Head Office Pristina and the Sub-Offices. Out of the 258, only 152 registered, the rest did not attend to the registration for several reasons.

The registration included the completion of questionnaires and the issuance of a reintegration assistance card to each former railway employee.

The profiles of the 147 registered entered into the IOM Reintegration Database, an important tool in order to understand who and where the beneficiaries were, their reintegration needs, their expectations and in which way IOM could assist them in their reinsertion to income-generating activities.

As the average age of the target group was about 45, their reintegration in the labour market required a combination of efforts. In this sense, apart of proven counselling, referral and training services of Employment Assistance Centres / Information and Counseling Referral Services (on the Basis of the socio-demographic data on the target group) IOM worked out specially tailored training programmes, providing employment direct assistance for six months and on-the-job (re-) training.

The Direct Assistance component provided subsidies to a six-month salary to 49 of the registered who had the possibility to work as employees within a small, medium- or large-size enterprise.

The project was funded by Belgium and UK.

Micro-Grants/Micro-Credit Programme (MGC)

From March 2001 until March 2002 IOM project Micro-grants/Micro-credit (MGC) supported the establishment of new enterprises and the development of existing small and micro-enterprises through the extension of financial services, business planning and management courses to Kosovar entrepreneurs. In addition to prioritising assistance to the economically depressed northern Serbian municipalities, the MGC extended its services to selected categories deemed to be at risk such as the minority populations resident in southern Kosovo (most notably, Serbs, Romas, Ashkalis, Gorans and Egyptians), female heads of households and young women at risk of being trafficked, as well as to the population at large.

The MGC maintained a bias towards female beneficiaries, given their general exclusion from the political and economic spheres of life in Kosovo and the recognised potential of economic empowerment to increase their participation.

The project was funded by The Netherlands

Employment Assistance Centres (EAC)

As an integrated approach for direct assistance to the local unemployed population as well as the returnees, the government of Belgium has entrusted IOM with the implementation of a project aimed at the rehabilitation of the labour market. This programme aimed to improve the Kosovo labour market functioning and at the same time to secure the successful return and sustainable reintegration of the Kosovo returnees in the local labour market.

EAC evaluated the local labour market needs, registered, informed and provided counselling to Kosovar unemployed during their job search in Kosovo; encouraged their “skill development” through vocational training – either in-house or by referring to other local training institutions – in order to increase their “employability”.

In the post-conflict labour market, the encouragement of the self-employment activities becomes one of the major sources of employment creation.

As such, EAC provided training courses on “career development”, “career-change” and “Micro-Business Planning” to unemployed Kosovars wanting to start their own business.

The project was funded by Belgium

Mitrovica Infrastructure Rehabilitation Initiative (MIRI)

The USAID funded project Infrastructure Rehabilitation Initiative (MIRI) has facilitated the process of improvement for the infrastructure through the execution of approximately 50 small to mid-size infrastructure projects in the region of Mitrovica over a one-year period (2000-2001). The initiative brought together torn communities by including citizen input in all phases of the infrastructure improvement process.

The MIRI projects created employment opportunities in the Mitrovica region where unemployment was a major concern of local authorities. Furthermore, the projects served as a means to reinforce the positive efforts being made by UNMIK, KFOR, and local authorities to better general conditions in the area and serve as a catalyst to motivate the population towards planning and creating a peaceful future.

The project was funded by USAID

The Kosovo Transition Initiative

The main objective of the Kosovo Transition Initiative (KTI) was to maximise the number of Kosovars participating in decision-making in political and community affairs, through forming and organising Community Improvement Councils (CICs). The CICs identified community improvement priorities that KTI then supported with its own resources as well as those leveraged from other interested organisations. Projects initiated by KTI CICs included village water system repairs, village electrification projects, school rehabilitation, roof repairs and support for independent media and NGOs. Since July 1999, KTI initiated more than 700 community development projects, committing over $16 million in assistance to Kosovo and leveraging an additional $15 million from other donors, including other USAID programmes and $5 million from the grantees themselves. From October 2001 until September 2004 KTI continued in its second phase, cooperating closely with the Community Infrastructure Services Program (CISP), with the Kosovo NGO Advocacy Programme (KNAP) and working with other USAID implementing partners in Kosovo. The total number of KTI beneficiaries is estimated to exceed 1 million Kosovars.

Community Infrastructure Service Project (CISP)

The main focus during 2002 was to identify infrastructure projects for the Community Infrastructure Service Project (CISP). KTI 2 worked on 60 community infrastructure projects at the design stage. The projects ranged from sewage systems to schools, roads, electricity, bridges and health facilities.

Kosovo NGO Advocacy Program (KNAP)

KTI 2 was assisting KNAP with identifying local NGOs to participate in the KNAP programme and helped monitor grants given to these NGOs for realising the advocacy programme’s objectives. For this purpose, 14 training sessions were held.

Court Cases Monitoring

During 2002, KTI staff monitored 300 court cases Kosovo-wide in order to provide USAID with accurate reports on how these court cases are being conducted and any judicial and administrative problems arising in the daily proceedings.

The project was funded by USA

IOM-UNMIK Labour Reinsertion Programme for Former and Current Employees of the Trepca Mining and Metallurgical Complex (Trepca) - Registration of Trepca Workers

As requested by the UNMIK–TREPCA management, between March and June 2002 IOM carried out the registration of workers who considered themselves as current or former employees of the ‘Trepca Mining and Metallurgical Complex’. Conducted in close cooperation with the Trepca workers Trade Unions, the registration was undertaken to assess the situation of the Trepca work force, based on the data of 9,445 personal records.

The Albanian-dominated ‘Independent Trade Union of Miners of Kosovo/SPMK’ registered 5,537 workers (59% of the total caseload) through their offices in Pristina and Mitrovica, as well as mobile units. SPMK members are predominantly Kosovar Albanians, the majority of them had lost their jobs in Trepca by 1990 following a systematic policy by the Belgrade regime. The Serbian-dominated ‘United Organisation of Trepca Trade Unions Trepca/JOS’ registered a total of 3,908 persons (41% of the total caseload), through their base office in Zvecan, as well as mobile teams inside Serbia proper. JOS members were mostly Serbs who had worked in Trepca until its de-facto closure in 1999.

The project was funded by UNMIK

Measures to Counteract Trafficking in Human Beings, Particularly Women and Minors, from/via Southeastern Europe - Kosovo.

Contributing to the enhancement of a trans-national approach in Southeastern Europe countries to counteract trafficking in human beings, in particular women and minors, while strengthening local capacities. The assistance provided ranges from immediate support, medical care and psychological counselling to legal support and long-term re-integration assistance.

- Increasing the awareness and understanding of local partners on the trafficking experience, specifically on the psychological trauma suffered by the victims and the importance of psychosocial assistance and counselling for trafficked persons.

- Building local capacity by establishing a referral system of local mental and psychological professionals.

- Establishing a referral system of Kosovar professionals responsible for providing legal assistance and counselling to trafficked victims.

- Building the institutional capacity of the governmental authorities responsible for the criminalisation and prosecution of trafficking in human beings through targeted awareness, technical cooperation, and training activities.

- Developing an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the current scope and dimensions of the trafficking phenomenon in the Balkans and Italy.

MIGRATION HEALTH

Psychosocial and Trauma Response in Kosovo (PTR)

Following the successful training of 77 Kosovar students in Psychosocial and Trauma Response who graduated as psychosocial counsellors from Pristina University between October 2000 and October 2001 respectively (PTR Phase I), IOM established ‘Psychosocial Mobile Teams’ (PMT) in seven Kosovo municipalities where the trained counsellors started working (PTR Phase II during 2003). IOM has continued to provide supervision and extra in-service training sessions to the PMTs, which were opened to an additional 83 mental health professionals operating in May-August 2001. A three months assessment on the psychosocial needs of ethnic minorities was carried on. Therefore a new project was established focusing on direct psychological assistance to urban enclaves inhabited by ethnic minorities.

Further activities included training in psychosocial awareness to other target groups, including 32 employees of KFOR, UNMIK, Police, Health Houses, local and international organisations. Training was also provided to social workers and psychosocial counsellors belonging to ethnic minorities or Kosovo Albanians working with ethnic minorities. In addition, a small-scale grant facility was established in order to support socialising, recreational and other suitable psycho-social community-based measures, particularly creative and sport activities. These took place in enclaves and were organised by multiethnic NGOs, networks or local youth groups.

The project was funded by Italy, USA and Switzerland

Training for Nurses in Health Management

With financial support provided by the MEDTRONIC Foundation (with the kind assistance of USAIM Office in Washington) and in cooperation with the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pecs/Hungary, IOM launched a four-month pilot programme (September - December 2002) with 240 hours of on-the-job training on Nursing Management in Prizren. Recognising the need to improve the quality of patient care, and in particular the quality of nursing, this train-the-trainers programme aimed to

· Improve the standard of health care through improvements in the quality of nursing;

· Better utilise existing human resources of the health care system;

· Contribute to the empowerment of female participants in the nursing labour force.

25 nurses representing all health sectors completed the programme successfully by passing the final exam in December 2002. The Chief Nurse of Kosovo and the Principal International Health Adviser of the Prizren region judged the programme as highly professional and well targeted. They expressed their wish that the programme would continue covering additional hospitals in Kosovo.

The project was funded by MEDTRONIC Foundation

Upgrading of the Surgical Clinic in Gracanica

Gracanica is one of the Serb towns close to Pristina and isolated from other Serb settlements, making it difficult to provide adequate medical care to the local population who as a result often has to travel to Serbia in order to receive specialised treatment. The hospital has a potential covers 30,000 to 40,000 members of the Serb community in Kosovo.

The upgrading of the Gracanica hospital project financed by Governments of Italy and Germany has targeted a maternity ward, including neonatal intensive care and gynecological care. This has allowed women to give birth in Gracanica, thus avoiding temporary migration to Serbia for delivery. The construction work ended in June 2001

The project was funded by Italy and Germany

Medical Evacuations

During 2002, IOM Kosovo assisted in the Medical Evacuation of 30 Kosovars in need of treatment for congenital heart anomalies (19 children), reconstructive surgery, and ophthalmological and oncological requirements.

While sustained efforts are ongoing to improve the medical treatment facilities within Kosovo, the need for medical evacuations is continued to be reduced through the activities of international medical teams and ongoing capacity building, structural changes and training of local health professionals in Kosovo. Since August 1999, 1,454 medical cases were registered in the IOM medical evacuation database. While 1,025 cases were approved by the MEDEVAC Committee, only 326 could be evacuated successfully, to 25 different countries. Transport was organised mainly directly from Pristina airport, providing adequate medical escorts for severe cases to their destination and host country. Treatment in the host country was mainly for congenital diseases (41%), complex injuries (24%) and malignancies (16%).

Medical Assistance in Minority Regions

IOM designed a tuberculosis (TB) pilot survey with a joint HIV/AIDS & TB prevention and School Health Education (SHE) programme, covering both Albanian and minority regions within Kosovo. As a result of targeted fundraising efforts, the Government of Norway has agreed to fund the prevention & SHE education component which started in 2003 and ended in 2004 involving both schools attended by ethnic Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb pupils.

The project was funded by Norway

HIV-AIDS National Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Activities in FYROM and Kosovo.

Through this project implemented throughout 2003-2004 IOM aimed at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Eastern Europe, targeting in particular Macedonia and Kosovo by developing jointly with the National HIV/AIDS Committees of both countries, ad hoc HIV/AIDS prevention strategies and activities targeting specific vulnerable groups among migrant and host populations. By implementing training activities in order to increase the capacity of local professionals to respond more efficiently to the epidemic, by facilitating equitable access to prevention and care services for migrant and host populations and by sharing and disseminating information promoting best practice materials in the region.

The project was funded by Italy

Humanitarian Assistance to Vulnerable Returnees in Kosovo

The main aim of this project that was implemented from September 2006 to February 2007 was to support vulnerable returnees once they come back to Kosovo by addressing their fundamental humanitarian needs, as well as offering additional basic reinsertion assistance to the most vulnerable among them through the provision of in-kind donations in order to maintain their subsistence.Returning persons were provided with information about HAVR upon their arrival at the Prishtinë/Priština airport. In order being eligible for HAVR support, beneficiaries must have returned to Kosovo during the period of the project’s implementation and meet the project’s vulnerability criteria. The assistance offered to eligible returnees comprises in-kind donations that can include: working tool-kits, livestock or basic house repairs. Under no circumstances the returnees are provided with money. A total of 176 families have been informed of the project and 44 families have been identified as potential beneficiaries according to HAVR criteria. Out of these, 25 have applied for humanitarian assistance.From the effective commencement of HAVR activities, 15 applications have been approved, enabling these vulnerable returnee families to receive the humanitarian assistance requested.

This project was funded by government of Germany

“Reception Activities for Returnees and Skills Transfer to Local Authorities” and “Fostering Sustainable Reinsertion in Kosovo by Enhancing Administrative and Municipal Capacities”

The “Reception Activities for Returnees and Skills Transfer to Local Authorities” and “Fostering Sustainable Reinsertion in Kosovo by Enhancing Administrative and Municipal Capacities” project aimed at expanding local reception capacity through the provision of a range of humanitarian measures for reception, temporary accommodation and onward transportation assistance to returnees’ final destination within Kosovo, thereby mitigating the potentially destabilizing effects of large numbers of returns. At the same time it contributed to the strengthening of local capacities to ensure a balanced and rapid provision of reinsertion services to returnees within their municipalities of destination in Kosovo, by enhancing the capability of municipal authorities – in particular the Municipal Chief Officers (CEOs) – to develop and put in place streamlined, standardized and rapid procedures for the reinsertion of returnees.

During the project duration (from January 2006 to December 2006) 3,423 returnees have been assisted at the Prishtinë/Priština Airport arriving from the following countries: Germany (1,299), Austria (474), Croatia (275), Slovenia (253), Sweden (222), Switzerland (191), France (152), Hungary (137), Denmark (116), Norway (69), Luxemburg (54), Belgium (49) and various other countries. Out of this total number, 554 returnees benefited from the project’s onward transportation assistance to their final destinations (villages) within Kosovo. In the project’s transit centre for temporary accommodation, which was established in the Vushtrri/Vučitrn Municipality (located 20 km from Prishtinë/Priština on the main road to Mitrovicë/a), returnees have received short-term shelter and later have been transported to their final destinations. Since the beginning of the project, 27 persons have been temporarily accommodated in transit centre. At the end of November, this facility was dismantled and the returnees have been accommodated in the “Adra” shelter in Prishtine/Pristina until the end of December 2006.

The project was funded by UNMIK

Kosovo Source of Information Project (KOSIP)

The Kosovo Source Information Project (KOSIP) was a cooperative venture between the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Mission in Kosovo and the International Agency for Source Country Information (IASCI) implemented from June 2006 until February 2007. It represented one of the initiatives developed by IOM in response to UNMIK’s request for support in enhancing reception and reintegration capacities in Kosovo. The aim of this project was to serve as a sophisticated information management mechanism specifically designed for obtaining highly reliable, field-based information from identified primary sources in order to help decision-makers and any professional end-user engaged in pre-departure planning and return preparation activities specifically targeting potential returnees, migration authorities, refugee and IDP associations;

Working on behalf of host countries and the UNMIK Office of Returns, Communities and Minority Affairs (OCRM) KOSIP had proven itself capable of providing unbiased, objective and reliable field-based information directly to relevant decision-makers and professional end-users engaged in migration management. As an integral part of this strategy, the KOSIP partners created a well-functioning information exchange system between the central and the municipal authorities, namely the Municipal Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), under which MROs and MCOs operate.

The project was funded by UNMIK

Fostering Sustainable Reintegration of Irregular Migrants in Albania, the F.Y. Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo by Reinforcing Local NGO Capacity

The aim of this project was to establish new and developing existing mechanisms to promote the return and reintegration of irregular migrants from Albania, Kosovo province and FYR of Macedonia through fostering service provision and counselling capacities of the local NGO sectors in the areas of origin. During the implementation period of this project (November 2003 October 2005) 120 beneficiaries were assisted in cooperation with various local NGOs in Kosovo. The project offered several reintegration services such as: job brokering (benefiting 19.8% of the caseload)vocational training (8.3%) and financial support to start up small business ( 71.9 %).

The project was funded by EC (High Level Working Group)

Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) Programme to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Province of Kosovo for rejected asylum seekers/irregular migrants currently residing in the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland)

The project implemented from September 2004 until August 2006 was designed to facilitate the voluntary return of rejected asylum seekers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Province of Kosovo (Serbia and Montenegro), who have overstayed their time of departure and who are currently residing in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, as well as at supporting their sustainable reintegration in their countries of origin. The project provided direct assistance to returnees, such as referral to social and other services after arrival, housing support, grants disbursement, consultations on the project, and possibilities of training as well as secondary transportation to Prishtinë/Pristina region.

The project was funded by Canton of Vaud (Switzerland)

Returns of Internally Displaced Persons to the Villages of Sigë/Siga, Brestovik and Ljevosa/Ljevoša, in the Pejë/Peć Municipality, Kosovo( 1 )

In August 2004 housing and infrastructure reconstruction work started in villages Sigë/Siga, Brestovik and Ljevosa/Ljevoša, in the Pejë/Peć Municipality, Kosovo assisting in the sustainable return and reintegration of 90 IDPs families displaced in Serbia and Montenegro.Until the end of 2005, 90 houses were completed 49 in Brestovik 23 in Sigë/a and 18 in Levoshë/a.The project was a combination of several activities including: the assessment of the IDPs; site preparation at the return locations; reconstruction of housing and community infrastructure; balancing projects for reconciling with the neighbouring population; and measures to support the longer-term socio-economic reintegration of the IDPs. The project income generation was one of most crucial aspect for the sustainable return.In total 79 returnee families benefited from this project component with 264 direct and 426 indirect beneficiaries. In addition, in summer of 2005 the construction of the multiethnic school was completed in village of Brestovik. The eight–room schoolhouse will serve 120 primary school-age children including pupils from two ethnic Serbian villages and the surrounding area which is comprised mostly by ethnic Albanian and ethnic Bosniak communities.

The project was funded by Italy and UNMIK

Returns of Internally Displaced Persons to the Villages of Sigë/Siga, Brestovik and Ljevosa/Ljevoša, in the Pejë/Peć Municipality, Kosovo (2)

This IOM programme, funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction and concluded in November successfully managed to facilitate the sustainable return to Kosovo of 40 Serbian IDP families who were displaced in Serbia and Montenegro

The programme aimed at support of the sustainable return and reintegration of 40 IDPs families displaced in Serbia and Montenegro through a combination of activities including: the assessment of the IDPs; site preparation at the return locations; reconstruction of housing and community infrastructure; balancing projects for reconciling with the neighboring population; and measures to support the longer-term socio-economic reintegration of the IDPs.

The project was funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

Promoting the regular migration in the western Balkans through the establishment of Regional Migrant Service Centres providing information and migration related services (HLWG - MSC)

The aim of this project was to contribute to the orderly migration management and raising awareness of migration-related issues through the creation of the first regional network of Migrant Service Centres offering standardised yet flexible services to migrants in the region, thereby supporting the governments of the collaborating countries in managing migration. A total of 2,812 beneficiaries were assisted during the project duration (December 2005-June 2006)

The project was by funded European Commission EC (High Level Working Group)

Support for Enterprise Development in Minority Areas (SEDMIN)

The programme intended to contribute to the alleviation of unemployment and the improvement of income levels among selected minority populations and enhancing the conditions for the retention and reintegration of minorities in Kosovo by:

1. Supporting existing small enterprises and the establishment of new micro-enterprises through the extension of financial and technical assistance for minority populations in the northern Kosovo municipalities and in Gracanica, Strpce/Shterpce, Dragas/h as well as the Gjilan/Gnjilane region;

2. Increasing the viability and sustainability of enterprises, through assistance offered by the Business Service Centres (BSCs), by improving business knowledge and access to networks and resources, by creating business opportunities and by providing guidance to entrepreneurs.

3. Funding economically oriented community projects for the benefit of a larger portion of the minority community members.

During the implementation (from May 2002 to September 2006) SEDMIN successfully contributed to the establishment or expansion of 401 micro-business, creating or securing more than 1 700 jobs, and benefiting more than 23,000 additional community members. The funds collected through the repayment or disbursed loans were used for the development and enhancement of local communities through the financing of 78 projects mainly in the agricultural, educational and medical sectors.Through SEDMIN`s Bussines Service Centres`(BSCs) activities,more than 1,500 participants attended 175 training sessions in various aspects of business management.

The project was funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

Community Investment Projects in Minority Areas (CIP)

The aim of this programme was to foster economic and social development in specific minority areas in Kosovo (northern Kosovo municipalities and in Gracanica, Strpce/Shterpce, Dragash/Dragaš as well as the Gjilan/Gnjilane areas) by providing a better community environment, encouraging members of ethnic minorities to remain in Kosovo.The programme was designed to create jobs through the donation of equipment to existing and successful micro-businesses, develope a better educated workforce by donating equipment and providing technical assistance and training and improve working conditions in the medical and educational field.Throughout its implementation, the programme created 104 and secured a further 271 jobs (of which 36% include female beneficiaries) through a total of 46 projects.The programme was implemented from November 2005 until October 2006.

The project was funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

Stabilization Programme (CSP)

This programme was seeking to improve the socioeconomic conditions of ethnic minority communities living in isolated areas thereby contributing to their stabilisation and enabling them to build more sustainable livelihoods. The Programme provided grant assistance for business start-ups and expansions, for agricultural associations and support to larger-scale community development projects. In addition, it provided short courses in business management and development training.

The cumulative number of grants supported by this EAR- funded project during the last four years was 813, out of which 648 were individual and 165 were community projects. 451 were production-based, 252 were services-based, and 30 were trade-based, while 80 covered other activities at the community level. Over 2,800 people have benefited from these projects either through permanent or temporal/seasonal employment positions. As many of the communities targeted by CSP are located in rural areas, much of the assistance has benefited rural development projects.

The project is funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR)

Programme of Assistance and Re-integration for Kosovar Victims of Trafficking, Particularly Women and Children.

This programme was designed to contribute to the coordination with local partners of services to protect and assist trafficked human beings, in particular Kosovar women and children, by providing immediate assistance, protection and long-term re-integration support. Specifically programme aimed at:

 Ensuring public, political and community awareness of the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings and of its incidence in Kosovar society.

 Facilitating the prevention of trafficking in the area by reducing the risk of local vulnerable groups of women and children becoming entrapped in the trafficking network.

 Building the institutional capacity of Kosovar governmental and non-governmental institutions to combat trafficking by creating a referral system responsible for the assistance, protection, support and reintegration of victims of trafficking (VoT) and by assisting in the development of a Kosovo wide plan of action.

During the implementation period from 2001 to March 2006 this programme assisted 59 Victims of Trafficking (VoT).The assistance consisted of: Short and medium time sheltering in preparation for family reunification, or independent living (no specialized shelters); family mediation (in cooperation with CSW when concerning minors); psychological counselling/psychiatric assistance; re-integration grant/emergency grant; VOT/family/child material support; housing/rental support; access to education/education related expenses: tuition fee, transportation, books;income generation/vocational training/job placement (including for the family; i.e. cows, green houses, agricultural machinery etc); awareness raising (health, risks etc) and self empowerment; facilitation of relocation out of Kosovo for witnesses and their families; monitoring and follow up; SOP for assistance to Kosovar VOT (March 2006).

The project was funded by USAID

Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans through Educational Activities and Capacity Building of Schools.

Increasing the overall involvement of each participating country/region’s Ministry of Education in the mechanisms and strategies of their respective National Counter-Trafficking Plan of Action;

Establishing an information sharing mechanism between education officials of the participating countries through trans-national workshops;

Building the trafficking prevention capacity within educational systems through teacher training including the development of educational materials/tools;

Strengthening the counter-trafficking capacity of NGOs directly assisting school dropouts and other potential high-risk groups.

The project was funded by Netherlands

Programme of Assistance for the Protection, Return and Reintegration of Trafficked Women and Children in the Western Balkans and Main Countries of Origin.

Contributing to the regional counter-trafficking efforts in the Balkans by providing immediate assistance and protection to victims of trafficking (VoT) including: safe shelter, medical care, social assistance, psychological counselling, assistance to return to their home countries, including vocational, educational and employment assistance.

Building the institutional capacity of targeted countries to combat trafficking, through the strengthening of government and other relevant authorities’ ability to implement appropriate counter-trafficking measures at the policy and operational levels.

Contributing to the development of an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the trafficking phenomenon through collecting and analyzing data on the global phenomenon, as well as on the experience suffered by the individual victims entrapped in trafficking.

The project was funded by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)

Counter- Trafficking Prevention and Capacity Building Programme in Kosovo and FY Republic of Macedonia.

Establishing a functional government and NGO infrastructure capable of raising awareness on the issue of trafficking at regional and local level.

Creating a well co-ordinated, efficient and functional referral network at governmental and non-governmental level building upon existing referral structures, both at a country/province levels as well as regionally.

Facilitating and building a regional NGO network and to strengthen the linkage between NGOs and other relevant national and regional institutions;

Effectively training the law enforcement personnel from all participating countries in knowledge, measures and procedures of effective preventive border management, including the prevention of document fraud, use of border management equipment and language training, based on the national governments’ strategies and international/EU standards.

The project was funded by Finland

Development of Reliable and Functioning Policing Systems and Enhancement of Combating Main Criminal Activities and Police Co-operation.

CARPO was a 30-month (March 2004-September 2006) technical cooperation project aiming at strengthening police capacities of the CARDS project area (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo Montenegro, Serbia and the ”Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”) and to develop and implement regional strategies against serious forms of crime based on the acquis of the European Union (EU) and other European standards and practices. The project consisted of two modules, module one coordinated by the CoE, focused on providing necessary tools against economic and organised crime and module two coordinated by IOM, with the specific task to enable countries to deliver efficient and sustainable training to effectively combat illegal migration, and smuggling and trafficking in human beings.

The project was jointly funded by the EC CARDS Regional Programme 2002/2003 and the Council of Europe