UNDP Kosovo

Since 1999 the United Nations Development Programme has earned a strong reputation as an independent and experienced partner in the effort to rebuild Kosovo. After the initial period of post war reconstruction it has helped establish and develop local institutions.

Kosovo is now entering a new phase of development. The international community is scaling down its presence, and local authorities are taking on more responsibilities than ever before. The task is a daunting one as the province tries to cope with some of the toughest economic and social conditions in the Western Balkans. UNDP is ideally placed to help Kosovo’s people and government face those challenges.

The organisation’s support comes in numerous forms and uses experience gained from developing economies around the world.

UNDP helps to develop and research policies. It provides statistics and advocates solutions for organizations that need them. Programme managers with extensive experience of implementing projects in the field work with all the leading agencies in the region.

UNDP’s primary goal is to reduce poverty by helping to promote economic growth. It also strives to improve the strength of Kosovo’s institutions, enhance people’s everyday security and improve environmental sustainability. These plans are aligned with UNDP’s global mandate for poverty reduction as well the Millennium Development Goals.

All programmes emphasize the role of partnership, and the use of indigenous expertise where possible to provide solutions that suit Kosovo.

In 1999 immediately after the conflict in Kosovo the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was among the first development organizations to help tackle emergency problems in Kosovo. Working under the legal umbrella of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since mid-1999, UNDP has supported a portfolio of programmes that worked on several fronts simultaneously- from emergency rehabilitation that directly supports individuals and families, to capacity-building projects with wider scope and longer perspective.

The emergency assistance in Kosovo ended in 2001, from when UNDP Kosovo started transforming its activities from emergency to long term development. Since then UNDP is working in partnership with the Kosovo Government and the donor community in building a more prosperous Kosovo.

Kosovo has the Human Development Index of 0.6 which gives the status of ‘developing country’. The index is low mostly due to the low income and high unemployment. Kosovo due to transition has large capacity gaps in the government and stabile but fragile security situation. The challenges of security sector are big especially in the Rule of Law sector.

UNDP Kosovo in order to tackle these is engaged in:

Democratic Governance
Poverty Reduction
Crisis Prevention and Recovery  
Energy and Environment  
HIV/AIDS

Who are the decision makers?

UNDP Kosovo is lead by the Resident Representative, (currently at this post Mr. Frode Mauring) who is also the Development Coordinator of UN Agencies in Kosovo. The Office has a Director (currently Mr. Maurice Dewulf) and a Deputy Director (currently Mr. Tetsuo Kondo).

The senior management is comprised of three high officials, an Assistant Resident representative and the Operations Manager. The Programme Analysts in charge of supervising and designing the programmes and Projects are under the supervision of the Resident Representative and the UNDP Director. (click here for the organizational structure). (Click here for staff list).

How do we get funding?

The office receives a small amount of funds from the UNDP global budget which is then used as seed money to develop projects which are later funded by different donors, both globally and those present in Kosovo. The seed funds make less than 3.5 per cent of total delivery. Click here to see Donors for UNDP Kosovo.

In 2005 UNDP Kosovo has delivered USD 11.5 million, in 2006 USD 14.5 million and in 2007 USD 17 million.

How do we do business?

All of the supplies for the office and project implementation are done through open tendering bids. UNDP publishes all tender notices on the local and/or international newspapers and in the web site (click here for tenders). The tendering procedure depending from its value is done through particular procedures (click here for procedure information)