IOM Mission in Kosovo

Transcription

1 IOM Mission in Kosovo Newsletter, May 2014 In this issue: - EU-Return and Reintegration in Kosovo III, improving the living conditions of Zebince village inhabitants - EU-Community Stabilization II provides water supply for village and raspberry plantation in the Shar mountains - DEED Project supporting ties between domestic and Diaspora business owners - In the framework of the EU-Beautiful Kosovo II, 26 infrastucture projects will be implemented - IOM Kosovo to support Kosovo Ministry of Health in establishing of a communication system for emergency medical services - IOM Kosovo raised the Rainbow flag to campaign against Homophobia and Transphobia

2 Photo 1: The road provides better access to the nearby animal farm for the inhabitants of Zebince village EU-Return and Reintegratio Kosovo III improving the living conditions of Zebince village inhabitants EU funded project Return and Reintegration in Kosovo III (EU-RRKIII) is targeting Displaced Persons (DPR), Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees returning to Kosovo by providing them with housing, harmonized assistance packages with food, non-food items, firewood and furniture, as well as income generation packages. The programme is also implementing infrastructure and community projects in order to improve the living conditions of the returnees and receiving communities. The programme is funded by the European Union and the Ministry for Communities and Return with co-funding from British Embassy Pristina and UNMIK, and implemented by IOM Kosovo. On 12th of June, the EU-RRKIII held an inauguration ceremony for constructed road in the village of Zebince in Novobërdë/Novo Brdo municipality. The project was funded by the British Embassy Pristina and EU- Office in Kosovo. After the ceremony, the distinguished guests gathered to a garden of EU-RRKIII beneficiary house to inaugurate one of the five houses built recently and to enjoy sunny weather and traditional food and drinks prepared by beneficiaries and other villagers. Photo 2: Representative from from local the NGO local Majka NGO Devet Majka Jugovica and Kosovo Security Forces Photo 3: The event gathered attention from high level guests and media

3 Photo 5: COM KFOR Major General Salvatore Farina, IOM Chief of Mission, Mr, Jorge Baca and Deputy SRSG Mr. Robert E. Sorensen Photo 6 and 7: The ceremony in the beneficiary s garden in front of the brand new EU-RRK III house started with cutting of the cake The length of the road is 1900 m built by treatment of soil, opening trenches and putting gravel on the road. All these works have been executed by Kosovo Security Forces as part of the joint cooperation between IOM, Municipality of Novobërdë/Novo Brdo and Ministry for Kosovo Security Forces. The road is improving the living conditions of all inhabitants of the village and surrounding area, by providing better access to the animal farm located nearby. Photo 4: British Ambassador Mr. Ian Cliff and the Mayor of Novoberde/Novo Brdo Mr. Svetislav Ivanovic During the implementation of EU-RRKIII, which started in November 2011 and will finish in October 2014, IOM Kosovo has assisted 195 families to return to their homes by providing them with houses that have been built in four municipalities of Kosovo, namely: Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, Partesh/š, Shtërpcë/Štrpce and Prizren. 152 families have also benefitted from harmonized assistance packages, which include food, non-food items, furniture and firewood. The programme has also delivered 105 income generation packages and organized trainings for 50 women and youth on project proposals and management. Besides these IOM Kosovo has also implemented 9 Infrastructure and 8 Community projects within the framework of EU-RRK III in order to improve the living conditions of these communities.

4 An EU-funded Programme, managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo EU-Community Stabilization II provides water supply for village and raspberry plantation in the Shar mountains The village of Susice/Sushique is located in the middle of beautiful Shar mountain scenery in the municipality of Shtërpcë/ Štrpce. The approximately 300 residents of the village, who are from the Serbian community, are generating income through agro-processing and for a vast majority this is the only income. Hence most of the villagers are living very close to the poverty line. In order to improve their economic situation, the municipality of Strpce/Shterpce has delivered raspberry bushes to the residents. In 2013, the bushes produced a good amount of fruit over 3 tons. However, the villagers were facing difficulties in irrigating their raspberry plants as they had to manually carry water in buckets to their plantations. In order to address this problem, the municipality of Strpce/ Shterpce prepared a plan to construct an irrigation system. In order to finalize this project, they applied for assistance from EU-Community Stabilization II, which is an EU-funded programme, implemented by IOM Kosovo, targeting the improvement of living conditions for the non-majority communities of Kosovo. Through the programme, the irrigation system was built. It is expected that this will improve the results of raspberry harvesting a great deal, and this way improve the possibilities for the residents of Susice/Sushiqe Photo 8: IOM Kosovo EU-CSP II staff members with the beneficiaries village to generate income. Photo 9: These pumps deliver the water from tank to the raspberry plantation Photo 10: After signing of contracts, the facilities are the property of inhabitants of Susice/Sushique village

5 DEED Project supporting ties between domestic and Diaspora business owners The Diaspora Engagement for Economic Development (DEED) project is an innovative initiative for enabling the Kosovo Diaspora to take an active and effective role as development agents in their communities of origin. The DEED project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and implemented jointly by IOM and UNDP. The DEED project supports the overall efforts of the Ministry of Diaspora to further enhance its ties with the diaspora in all economic areas of their mutual interest. In May 2014, DEED project assisted the Kosovo Ministry of Diaspora and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to organize the Diaspora Business Conference which was held in Pristina. The conference is a part of DEED Project activities for 2014 to support the Ministry of Diaspora in implementation of the Kosovo Strategy on Diaspora and Migrants The conference brought together over 50 very successful and well established entrepreneurs who are members of the Boards of the 14 Diaspora Business Networks established in the United States, Canada and different European countries. During the four days of the conference, they visited diaspora and domestic businesses across Kosovo. They also meet the mayors of Prishtina, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Photo 11: Minister of Diaspora, Mr. Ibrahim Makolli (Photo by the Embassy of Finland in Prishtina) Rahovec and Junik, who took the opportunity to presented what their municipalities offer to potential investors including the recently approved Free Economic Zones. The highlight of the event was the establishment of the Global Union on Diaspora Business Networks, followed by a Business to Business (B2B) event where many potential and ambitious joint investment ventures in Kosovo were initiated. All entrepreneurs expressed their enthusiasm for this unique initiative as this conference is the first of its kind and marks the start of the effort and dedication with what both DEED project and Kosovo institutions are working in order to engage the diaspora in Kosovo s economic development. Moreover, it was decided that on 18th of May, of every following year, such event will be organised in Prishtina, by the newly established Global Union. Photo 12: Diaspora Business Conference was attended by Kosovar business owners from North America and Europe

6 An EU-funded Programme, managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo Photos 13 and 14: The traditional Hoxha s Tower in the municipality of Junik was renovated during the EU-Beautiful Kosovo I and transformed into a public library In the framework of the EU-Beautiful Kosovo II, 26 infrastucture projects will be implemented The second phase of the EU-Beautiful Kosovo programme has started successfully with the launching event of the open Call for Proposals for municipalities, in the framework of which 91 applications were submitted by all 38 Kosovo Municipalities. As a result of a careful selection process carried out by the representatives of the EU Office in Kosovo, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and IOM, 26 project proposals submitted by 25 municipalities were selected for funding and will be implemented during the period Additional 5 projects submitted by 5 municipalities were included in the reserve list and will be implemented in case of availability of funds. The small and medium infrastructure projects selected are targeting the renovation or creation of schools, health facilities and cultural centers, green areas and river beds as well as rehabilitation of historical and cultural landmarks. Additionally, through the implementation of the selected infrastructure projects new employment opportunities will be created for long term unemployed beneficiaries registered at the local Employment Centres, with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, youth, minority groups and returnees. and creation of new job opportunities. By fostering economic development in Kosovo the action also contributes to lower the risk of irregular migration by Kosovo citizens. The EU-BK II, totaling Euro 5 million, is the continuation of the EU-Beautiful Kosovo programme, funded by the EU and implemented by IOM Kosovo during the period February 2011 December The results of the first phase of the programme have been collected into a catalogue and a video documentary, which can be seen on IOM Kosovo website ( and YouTube Channel ( The EU-Beautiful Kosovo II programme overall goal is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and high level unemployment in Kosovo (reaching 35.1 % for general population, 44.4 % for female population and 60.2 % for youth) through the improvement of living conditions for Kosovo Photo 15: Renovation of the school yard in Ratkoc/Ratkovac village in Rahovec/Orahovac municipality, done within the EU-Beautiful Kosovo I, improved everyday lives of 820 students and 44 teachers

7 Photo 17: The rainbow flag on the balcony of IOM building in Prishtina Minister of Health, Mr. Ferid Agani, The Chief of Mission of IOM Kosovo, Mr. Jorge Baca and Åke Björn, Head of the International Programme for Academic Medical Center in Östergötland County Council in Sweden, have signed a contract establishing the Communication system of emergency services in Kosovo. The purpose of this agreement is to establish the integrated communication system of the Emergency Medical Services in Prishtina, Kosovo. The project will equip the medical facilities in Emergency Medical services in Pristina and train the staff in modern theories, techniques and skills in area of communication in Emergency Medical Services. IOM Kosovo to support Kosovo Ministry of Health in establishing of a communication system for emergency medical services The framework of this agreement, the Swedish Medical Program, has been an on-going effort to assist the medical needs of Kosovo population since Through this initiative, almost patients have been assisted in Kosovo and over 90 patients have been successfully evacuated to Sweden to receive care that cannot be obtained in Kosovo. The project will start in July 2014 and it will last for one year. The planning for the future step in the next phase of the project is integrating the fire rescue and police departments from Pristina region into the same communication system with Emergency Medical Services. Photo 16: Dr. Åke Björn, the Head of the International Programme for Academic Medical Center in Östergötland County Council in Sweden, Mr. Ferid Agani, the Minister of Health and Mr. Jorge Baca, the Chief of Mission for IOM Kosovo, signing the agreements IOM Kosovo raised the Rainbow flag to campaign against Homophobia and Transphobia 17th of May marked the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. Kosovar NGO QEsh (Center for Social Emancipation) invited all international agencies and diplomatic missions to raise the rainbow flag in order to campaign against discrimination and show support to sexual minorities. It is important that IOM shows support and promotes human rights and equality in every possible way said Mr. Jorge Baca, the Chief of Mission for IOM Kosovo.