Social Inclusion Cluster

The Social Inclusion Cluster was established in January 2009 to meet the growing need for reliable and effective programme and project formulation and implementation, and information co-ordination, in relation to vulnerable communities in Kosovo.  The provision of adequate and appropriate social and community services is critical to Kosovo’s social cohesion and the development of a fair and equitable society.The social inclusion cluster works to build a society that is truly inclusive, and in so doing, it addresses the disadvantages faced by many of the people.  

Social inclusion is one of the main programmes addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, in the most volatile municipalities of Kosovo, while striving for the achievement of social cohesion across Kosovo’s diverse ethnic groups.  Kosovo’s aspirations for a just and inclusive society can be tackled by the social inclusion programme articulating a clear vision of a place in which the delivery of social and community services designed to address disadvantage and promote the inclusion of all is of paramount importance.  Central to such a vision is the inclusion of youth, minority communities, women, and Local Action Group’s. 

Projects addressing minorities, returns, internally displaced persons, youth, and vulnerable groups are the main focus of the cluster. Issues of social inclusion are particularly important in an area of recent conflict, therefore UNDP, in partnership with the European Commission, will continue to work with the Government of Kosovo in the area of returns and reintegration, while also providing support for the capacity development of the Ministry of Communities and Returns. Kosovo needs to identify new strategies that will deliver the type of society required in a modern economy, one that has at its core an understanding of the importance of social inclusion and the participation of all. These are not just social aspirations; they are economic aspirations, aspirations that value the contribution of everyone for sustained welfare growth. In broad terms, the Social Inclusion Cluster helps to streamline information management and analysis, with the ultimate aim to suggest and co-ordinate possible approaches for linkages with different programmes.

With a clear focus on programme implementation, the Social Inclusion Cluster is increasingly positioning itself as a provider of quantitative delivery results and best-practices in this field.  The Area-Based Development (ABD) programme is the only pragmatic response to the need for the comprehensive development planning in Mitovicĕ/a south, north and Zveçan/Zvečan, as well as leading the Master Development Plan for this part of Kosovo. This shows that, the operation of social inclusion projects is vital to UNDP’s corporate goals and vision.  

United Nations Development Programme has taken several steps to enliven the debate on the best way forward to respond to social inclusion issues, to identify the needs of the disadvantaged and to propose ways that these findings are transposed into programmes and policies that create a setting which is conducive to achieving these aspirations. The scale of the problem is such that it cannot be tackled by central government alone. There are contributions to be made by local governments, enterprise companies, the private sector and civil society in the effort to combat social exclusion.

Within the current UNDP Programme, a major concern is human security/insecurity and sustainable development. Given the overarching nature of the concept and its cross cutting relevance social inclusion will provide qualitative delivery results and will ensure close coordination between various projects and units with regard to information management and seek efficient use of resources; coordinate with donor agencies and Government counterparts.  

The social inclusion cluster will maintain close working relations with external partners including Governmental agencies, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, private sector as well as interanational organizations and donors. This partnership will enhance exchange of information, identification of implementation gaps, and enable the cluster to provide coherent and  substantive inputs.

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