“Socio-project” in Kosovo

2019-03-22

Socio – economic stabilization of ethnic minority and majority communities in Kosovo” also known as the “Socio – Project“is implemented by Arbeiter Samariter Bund, Offices in Kosovo, together with PREDA Plus organisation.

Project is launched in 2017 and funded by Engagement Global, on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – BMZ, with total amount of more than 1, 3 million Euro.

The project aims to create sustainable livelihoods and better socio-economic conditions for ethnic minority and majority families in Kosovo through provision of income generating, employment and community development opportunities.

The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of start-ups, micro and small enterprises, business associations, farmers, agricultural associations, together with supporting creation of working places in existing companies and small community development initiatives, in cooperation with host municipalities.

Project implementation is planned on three years period, due to the fact that it covers three interlinked, complementary segments of the intervention – creation of jobs and income generation opportunities (technical assistance and provision of grant-based economic packages), strengthening capacities of agricultural and business associations (technical assistance and provision of small-size grants for development purposes) and creation of community development opportunities (sub-granting of small community projects and assistance to larger-scale community projects) – all aiming at the stabilization of the socio-economic situation of communities in Kosovo.

Project implementation phases:

1. Provision of technical assistance through one or more educational measures that are training for start-up businesses, vocational trainings in VTCs and host companies and business advisory services. The technical assistance option(s) will be defined based on selected-beneficiary analysis (case-by-case approach). The second phase is the provision of grant-based economic packages for incapacitated beneficiaries and the third one is the monitoring of the use of grants upon the delivery.
2. Strengthening capacities of agricultural and business associations In order to create more viable environment for agro-processing and small business development, the project aims at improving capacities of selected agricultural and business associations through two segments. The first one is provision of technical assistance through the delivery of tailor made trainings for the selected associations’ members while the second one is the provision of small-scale grant-based packages for additional development purposes planned by the associations.
3. Creation of community development opportunities for grass-root organizations and citizen groups whom will be given the opportunity to directly apply for funds aiming at community development. It is expected that host municipalities will also support and co-finance these ideas.

Beside socio-economic stabilization, project goal is also to create additional bonds between local governments, civil structures and residents and facilitate communication and dialogue between ethnic groups for common future benefits.

The socio-project enters in third phase and some of achieved results through past two years, you can see on links below.