Regranting during 2018 and first part of 2019
The Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), with a regranting budget of over 2 million EUR per year, is one of the leading partners for bilateral donors. The support of KCSF and its partners aims to develop civil society in Kosovo, support NGOs and civic initiatives in developing democracy in the country and mobilize the potential to contribute to the European integration process.
KCSF continues to implement grant schemes funded by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway and Canada. Parallel to engagements to achieve its mission, through bilateral agreements with these donors, KCSF aims at achieving specific goals and outcomes set out together with its partners. Apart from the awarded grants that are implemented with partner NGOs from the institutional grant supported by the Swedish Sida, KCSF has also developed large, unique and complementary interventions between them. These forms of support include networking and regional/international representation grants, which are unique form of such support in Kosovo. Through these funds NGOs can join international networks and their representatives present themselves at various regional/international events. Also, through a special call KCSF has supported a number of partner organizations in contributing to the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the short-term priorities of the European Reform Agenda. While, aiming to improve policy-making and civic inclusion in decision-making, KCSF has contracted 14 organizations in order to monitor the implementation of the Regulation on Minimum Standards for Public Consultation during 2018 based on a unique and common methodology.
Through the Democratic Society Promotion (DSP) Scheme, which in the second phase was supported by the governments of Switzerland and Denmark, KCSF, inter alia, provided institutional grants, project grants and awards for civil society organizations and civic initiatives. Nearly 100 projects and initiatives were supported from the DSP, with a total budget of over EUR 4 million. In 2017 the implementation of a regranting scheme funded by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was initiated, with the general aim of supporting civil society initiatives in Kosovo through financial support of NGOs in the field of social integration of youth, fair reporting in journalism and enhancing knowledge on the Stabilization and Association Agreement and European Integration.
Meanwhile, KCSF started the implementation of the three-year program (2018-2021) for civil society for Albania and Kosovo funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway. The amount of this support is 1.5 million EUR for 3 years for two countries. The overall goal of the program is to support a strong and vibrant civil society in Albania and Kosovo, by supporting NGOs that advance the EU accession process through contribution to one of the five thematic areas such as non-discrimination and gender equality, independent media, minorities and marginalized groups, protection of the environment and the fight against corruption.
Also, KCSF manages the scheme for local development initiatives and human rights supported by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives and has previously implemented grant scheme that supported community-based (grassroots) initiatives contributing to positive changes in society at the local level funded by the European Union.
Since the beginning of DSP in 2011, the number of grants awarded by KCSF has reached the number 300, while since the beginning of KCSF work the number of grants awarded exceeds 450.
2018 and the first part of 2019 were dynamic, characterized by the implementation of existing schemes, the design of new schemes, and the development of programs and supporting instruments for the sector, which are complementary with ongoing active schemes.
Inter alia, this was possible also owing to the flexibility based on sector needs, sincere partnership and generous support from KCSF donors.