Democratic Governance and Environment

The establishment of an accountable and democratic governance system is a core issue for every young democracy. Democratic governance is central to the achievement of the MDGs, as it provides the “enabling environment” for the realisation of the MDGs and, in particular, the elimination of poverty.Kosovo has made significant strides in building up its own institutions both at the central and local levels. However, much remains to be done to develop the capacities of existing institutions and strengthen the oversight and accountability mechanisms that scrutinise central and local government, e.g. civil society, independent media and other oversight bodies. Key challenges in Kosovo from a governance perspective include the following:

Decentralised Governance:

The successful implementation of the decentralisation agenda as laid out in the Kosovo institutions' strategy comprises one of the biggest challenges in establishing a sustainable governance structure, both in terms of the decentralisation of competencies from central to local level as well as in terms of the creation of new municipalities. Decentralization is likely to be the most significant aggravator of inter-ethnic conflict in Kosovo in the coming years.On the other hand, its effective and inclusive implementation promises the best solution for integrating minority communities and building a meaningful multi-ethnic society, as well as an instrument for producing better public service outcomes and bringing government closer to the people.

Accountability and Oversight:

Corruption is a major hindrance to the development of any society. Kosovo is no exception, with corruption decreasing and diverting government revenue, hence depriving people of essential public services. More needs to be done in terms of mobilizing the public, civil society and media to stand up against corruption, while increasing the exposure of the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency is also extremely important.Civil Society in Kosovo has undergone rapid development in the last decade, with an influx of aid coming in following the end of the war. Although some capacity building has been accomplished, Kosovo civil society still has a long road ahead of them in terms of establishing their role as watchdogs of society. Much of their work is still defined by external forces, and many other challenges remain, not the least of which include internal competition for foreign funding and a lack of public trust.

Media:

The role of the local media in providing reliable and unbiased information and playing to role of an independent watchdog is still insufficient. This is particularly true for the non-majority media, which suffer from low capacities and limited resources.

Capacity Development:

In spite of vast financial and resource investments in Kosovo in the last 10 years, due to the mostly ad-hoc, and individual nature of the interventions, progress has been limited, and often unsustainable. Therefore, institutional capacity development remains one of the key priorities of Kosovo. Along with sustainable institutional capacity development, the establishment of a Kosovo Capacity Development Strategy is also key, for which UNDP will provide support through the project.

The Democratic Governance & Environment Programme document provides you with a more detailed description of the programme's activities.

Ongoing Projects in the area of Governance and Environment

 

No	Project	Focus	Duration
1	Capacity Development Facility	Capacity Development
2	Partnership for Anti-Corruption in Kosovo	Oversight
3	ART GOLD Kosovo	Local Government
4	Support to Minority Broadcast Media	Media
5	Support to Decentralisation in Kosovo	Local Government
6	Hotspots	Environment
7	Dragas Sustainable Development	Environment

 

 

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