Project Title: Women and Persons with Disabilities as Agricultural Entrepreneurs in Kosovo

Duration: 36 months (October 2022 – October 2025)
Location: Pejë, Gjakovë, Istog, and Rahovec
Implementing Organizations: Syri i Vizionit in partnership with Brot für die Welt
Budget: 380,000.00 euros
Donors: Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds from the Austrian Development Cooperation

Project Goal: The project will directly contribute to increasing employability and sustainable employment prospects for disadvantaged groups, specifically women and persons with disabilities in selected areas of Kosovo—in the four municipalities of Pejë, Istog, Gjakovë, and Rahovec. Specifically, the project aims to increase the knowledge and skills of participants by offering training tailored to their specific needs, along with various interconnected actions designed to build skills and capacities, support business plan development, business start-up, provide advisory assistance and training, as well as direct grants.
Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries: At least 50 girls and women farmers, as well as persons with disabilities, will directly benefit from the capacity-building program, where 25 of them will be grant recipients. Four municipalities (the districts of Pejë, Istog, Gjakovë, and Rahovec) will be actively engaged in the program’s activities through their institutions, schools, businesses, and civil society organizations/NGOs.
Project Implementation: Syri i Vizionit will include all women and persons with disabilities in the rural areas of the municipalities of Pejë, Istog, Gjakovë, and Rahovec to increase their capacities in agriculture and business development by putting into practice the knowledge they acquire. The project will also involve the Directorates of Agriculture, economic development offices, organizations working in the field of agriculture with women and persons with disabilities, as well as the public university – the department of food technology, and vocational schools offering agricultural programs.

Results:
•	50 target group members have enhanced knowledge and skills in agriculture and business development
•	20 new enterprise start-ups established and 5 existing family businesses in agriculture have increased the number of women entrepreneurs, their self-initiative and self-employment 
•	Municipal-level women forums which have drafted and proposed to local institutions the criteria for subsidizing farmers and which provide inputs for the design of an awareness campaign 
•	Awareness raising campaign to sensitize local stakeholders, government officials and the wider public on how women and PwD are discriminated, how this impedes their human rights, and what practical steps are needed to address this. 

Activities: 
-	Four information sessions in Pejë, Gjakovë, Istog and Rahovec – one per municipality 
-	Invitation of target groups to apply and selection of beneficiaries
-	Organization of four one-day workshops for beneficiaries in the field of organic production and sustainable use of resources, business administration, organization in cooperatives, farm management and soft skills
-	Organize a study tour to a successful small agro-business
-	Holding of workshops for development of business plans 
-	Workshop ”Inclusive workplace” to be carried out by an NGO of persons with disabilities. 
-	Individual mentoring for the target group in the development and writing of business plans.
-	Organize the business idea application process 
-	Provide mentoring and advisory support during the implementation of business plan
-	Organize specific trainings for the beneficiaries in the areas they need.
-	Convene informal women forums
-	Convene workshop with persons with disabilities
-	Proposals and draft criteria and present results to local authorities and use in awareness raising campaign
-	Develop campaign components, time plan, content and means and carry out two case studies about project beneficiaries for use in campaign

Project Title: Action for Climate Change and Environmental Support in Western Kosovo
Duration: 24 months (October 2022 – October 2024)
Location: Pejë and Junik
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit
Budget: 59,363.00 euros
Donors: Ministry of Regional Development and Caritas Switzerland

Project Goal: The project aims to support and empower Student Councils and Eco Clubs in primary and secondary schools in Pejë (Ali Hadri, Rifat Gjota – former Shaban Spahija, Halit Kasapolli, Odhise Paskali, Bedri Pejani, Medical School) and Junik (Junik Assembly) to be active in environmental and climate change fields in selected secondary schools in Western Kosovo.
Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries are the entire staff of primary and secondary schools in Pejë and Junik, teachers, students, and citizens of these two municipalities as the activities realized by the Eco Clubs have a direct impact on raising citizens' awareness about the importance of preventing climate change and environmental protection.

Project Implementation: The project will be implemented in two municipalities, Pejë and Junik, where for the first time Eco Clubs will be established in Pejë schools such as Ali Hadri, Rifat Gjota – former Shaban Spahija, Halit Kasapolli, Odhise Paskali, Bedri Pejani, Medical School, as well as Junik – at Junik Gymnasium.

Objectives and Results:
•	Increase the skills and capacities of Student Councils/Eco Clubs through informative sessions, trainings, and workshops.
•	Support and involve youth in local policymaking – public debate between DUMM and Eco Clubs on environmental protection and air quality.
•	Workshops for writing project proposals – samples presented and technical assistance provided during project writing.
•	Promotion of activities and advocacy campaigns for environmental protection and climate change on social networks – creating a Facebook fan page for each school.
•	Student Councils/Eco Clubs will be capable of implementing small scale projects and taking local environmental actions.
•	Youth will understand, contribute, and be able to take environmental action and counter climate change.
•	Secondary schools, municipalities, and the local public will be informed and aware of the risks derived from climate change.
•	Support in drafting the Youth Component of LEAP and advocacy, lobbying for youth inclusion in the development and adoption of the Local Climate Change Mitigation Plan (PLVM).
•	Support in developing, implementing, and monitoring small-scale environmental projects in secondary schools (grants).
•	Support each school with grants worth 4,880.00 euros for environmental activities that impact climate change prevention.

Activities:
•	Increase the skills and capacities of Student Councils/Eco Clubs through informative sessions, trainings, and workshops.
•	Support and involve youth in local policymaking – public debate between DUMM and Eco Clubs on environmental protection and air quality.
•	Workshops for writing project proposals – samples presented and technical assistance provided during project writing.
•	Promotion of activities and advocacy campaigns for environmental protection and climate change on social networks – creating a Facebook fan page for each school.

Project Title: Perspective for the Local Elections
Duration: 4 months (August - November 2022)
Location: Pejë, Istog
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit as partner of Democracy Plus
Budget: 4,334.64 euros
Donor: Olof Palme International

Project Goal: This is an initiative of civil society organizations in Kosovo operating under the coalition “Alliance for Active Citizenship” to monitor the fulfillment of the election promises of municipal mayors.
Beneficiaries: The main targeted groups of the project are citizens of these municipalities where the project is implemented and monitoring their demands or concerns addressed to the municipal mayors during the 2021 local elections.

Project Implementation: During the 2021 municipal mayor election campaign period, thirty public gatherings were organized with citizens in ten municipalities of Kosovo to identify their demands to the candidates for mayor of their municipality. Three gatherings were organized for each municipality. The first gathering discussed general issues concerning citizens. The second gathering focused on a specific topic tailored for each municipality according to what local organizations deemed most necessary. The third gathering had the same topic for all ten municipalities, discussing social dialogue.
After the meetings, citizens’ demands were collected in a database and ranked according to votes received during discussions. This way, citizens’ priorities and less urgent demands were identified.
For each municipality, a separate document called the Charter of Commitments was drafted. The Charter lists all citizens' demands ranked by priority and field. The Charter of Commitments was prepared to be presented to mayoral candidates. All mayoral candidates in the ten selected municipalities were given the opportunity to sign this Charter, which will serve as a social contract between them and the citizens they will govern for the next four years. The Charter will also serve as a foundational document for civil society to monitor local governance in these ten municipalities over the next four years.
After the elections, member organizations of the “Alliance for Active Citizenship” coalition met with the elected municipal mayors to remind them of their election promises and advocate for their fulfillment. Progress in fulfilling commitments is regularly monitored by organizations and presented on the platform “zotimet.forumi.online,” where citizens can track the fulfillment of promises.

Achievements:
•	Monitoring of the Charter of Commitments derived from discussions with citizens during the 2021 local elections.
•	Entering monitoring data into the online database forumi.online.
•	Participation in workshops with local partners on methodology.
•	Organizing meetings with mayors regarding the project and the Charter of Commitments.
•	Data collection for creating 4 infographics published by D+.
•	Final report on the fulfillment of commitments.
•	Organizing the closing conference.

Project Title: Development and Implementation of International Standards for Nutrition and Improvement of Food Safety Management Practices
Duration: April 1 – June 31, 2022
Location: Kosovo
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit in partnership with the Regional Hospital of Pejë
Donor: Humedica International Aid
Budget: 71,920.00 euros

Project Goal: To improve patient care services by implementing international standards in the field of nutrition.
Beneficiaries:
Health sector;
•	Workforce of the General Hospital, patients, and the regional population:
•	Up to 30 doctors and 40 nurses will benefit annually;
•	13,027 patients will receive improved care annually;
•	The overall local population in the region and all residents of the Pejë region.
Project Implementation: The project has five interconnected components aligned with the expected results to be achieved: 

Results:
1.	Assessment of nutritional risk;
2.	Providers of nutritional care;
3.	Food service practices;
4.	Hospital nutrition; and
5.	Health economics.

Project Title: AQH – Accessible and quality healthcare
Budget: for this project covering the period April to December 2022 was 16,400 euros.
During 2022, Syri i Vizionit, in cooperation with AQH - Accessible and Quality Healthcare and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by Swiss TPH, conducted several awareness sessions for the community in six municipalities of Kosovo: Pejë, Istog, Klinë, Deçan, Junik, and Gjakovë. This project reached over 1,000 participants, focusing on populations at risk from chronic diseases.
Awareness Sessions: In 2022, 41 awareness sessions were held in these municipalities, with large participation from community members—mainly patients affected by hypertension and diabetes, as well as family members seeking better understanding of these diseases. These sessions were led by doctors engaged from Family Medicine Centers and regional public healthcare institutions, ensuring the information was accurate, clear, and tailored to participants’ health concerns.

Topics addressed in the sessions included:
•	Hypertension: Understanding causes, risks, and prevention
•	Diabetes: Recognizing symptoms, managing treatment, and lifestyle adjustments
•	Asthma: Awareness of prevention and management strategies
The sessions were mainly held in schools, which provided suitable spaces close to where participants lived. Thanks to support and cooperation with local health authorities and institution leaders, these sessions were successfully organized.

Impact and Achievement: In total, 1,014 participants were engaged, with a strong representation of women (663) and men (351). Participants also came from various ethnic groups, including Albanians (802), Roma, Egyptians, and Ashkali (211), underscoring our commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Health Outcomes: As a result of these sessions, new cases of chronic diseases were identified, including 29 individuals with hypertension, 13 with diabetes, and 1 case of asthma. This highlights the importance of early diagnosis and the vital role of our educational sessions in addressing public health challenges.
We remain committed to improving the health outcomes of our community through education and continuous support, in collaboration with local health institutions.

Project Title: Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (third year).
Project Duration: February 1 – December 31, 2022
Project Implementation Locations: Pejë, Istog, Klinë
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit
Budget: 20,000 euros
Donor: Diakonie Austria / Waldensian Church

Project Goal: Improving governance and entrepreneurship of farms by building capacities and empowering women and young women to improve their position in businesses in the municipalities of Pejë, Klinë, and Istog. Increasing women’s entrepreneurship, strengthening self-initiative, and employment through developing family agricultural businesses.
This project aims to offer selected women and young female farmers in the Pejë region support in developing their economic activities.
Beneficiaries: This project continues the capacity-building activities for women farmers started with funding from Otto per Mille in 2020 in three municipalities—Pejë, Klinë, and Istog. In 2022, a total of 26 women and young women will be direct beneficiaries, including 21 women farmers who participated in 2021. At least five additional women farmers will be invited to apply for support in 2022. Direct advice and mentoring will be provided based on the products and services they offer or aim to offer in the future. The Women Beekeepers Association “Bletët e Pejës,” established in 2020 by some project beneficiaries, developed a five-year strategy during 2021 and now has 46 members. In 2022, the project will continue to support women farmers individually and help the Association build capacities in fundraising and product promotion of its members.

Project Implementation: During the first quarter of 2022, a workshop will be held for Association members on project proposal development. In the second quarter, training for the Beekeepers Association members will take place, and a fair will be organized. Also, in 2022, training and practical advice will be offered to the 2020 and 2021 beneficiaries. Syri i Vizionit will continue meetings with municipal representatives to better define criteria for empowering women in agriculture and discuss possibilities for public or other co-financing to complement project support. Informative sessions for women farmers will then be organized.

The project will:
1.	Provide training for beekeepers on various aspects of beekeeping such as bee rearing and maintenance, honey production, bee breeding, bee diseases, and feeding.
2.	Provide practical advice/training for women who dry small plants (herbs for tea and cooking, mountain herbs they gather, medicinal plants).
3.	Support at least five additional (yet unselected) women farmers with training, goods, and/or equipment to develop their products.
4.	Support the “Bletët e Pejës” Association by building the capacities of their staff members.
5.	Empower women through networking and acquiring new knowledge also via study visits to successful agricultural entrepreneurs.

Activities and Results: Twenty-six women farmers will gain practical knowledge on beekeeping techniques such as queen replacement, disease and pest treatment, bee feeding, honey harvesting and storage, as well as preparing the soil, planting, watering, organic cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. They will also be introduced to marketing and networking.
•	Five one-day workshops will be held for women farmers in two fields: beekeeping and medicinal-aromatic plants. These workshops will introduce participants to disease and pest treatment for bees, feeding, reproduction, queen replacement, honey harvesting and storage, preparing bees for winter, and preparing the soil, planting, watering, and organic cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
•	Six days of farm mentoring – practical training on the farm will be offered to beneficiaries of previous years, with mentoring aligned to bee activity phases and the timing of planting aromatic and medicinal plants. Recent beneficiaries will be assisted with an additional two-level beehive and other necessary equipment for preserving small plants.
•	Study visits to large beekeepers and aromatic and medicinal plant growers.
•	The Women Beekeepers Association “Bleta e Pejës” will be empowered through enhanced fundraising skills, capacity building for project proposal development, and promoting members’ products at fairs.
•	A two-day training/workshop on project proposal development will be held for members of the Women Beekeepers Association “Bleta e Pejës.”
•	A one-day fair will be organized in the center of Pejë by the Association, allowing members to showcase their products. The fair will be carried out in cooperation with the Pejë municipality, specifically the Agriculture Directorate.
•	At least five women farmers not previously participating in the project beneficiaries will be provided with tools and equipment to develop their products.

Beneficiaries: In 2022, a total of 26 women and young women will be direct beneficiaries, including 21 women farmers who participated in 2021. At least five additional women farmers will be invited to apply for support during 2022

Project Title: Education and Employment Promotion
Duration: 14 months (September 2022 - November 2023)
Location: Kosovo, South Mitrovicë, Vushtrri, Gjilan, and Ferizaj
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit
Donor: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – BMZ through GIZ
Budget: 49,810 euros

Project Goal: To strengthen the employment and integration of returnees and vulnerable groups by improving the skills and knowledge required in the labor market.
Beneficiaries: Returnees from third countries, women, and non-majority communities who are not part of the labor market will benefit from this project. Employment offices in the municipalities of Mitrovicë, Vushtrri, Gjilan, and Ferizaj also benefit through capacity building and introducing new tools for employment monitoring.

Project Implementation: The project implementation is divided into three phases, each carried out in close cooperation with the Employment Agency and GIZ. During the first phase, returnees were introduced to local circumstances and mentored by those who have already integrated into the labor market. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Employment Agency for cooperation in project implementation and identifying beneficiaries in close cooperation with local employment offices.
In the second phase, trainers were selected in cooperation with the Employment Agency and GIZ, who underwent a Training of Trainers (ToT) on the manual “Development of Life/Career Skills and Employment,” and trainings were organized in four municipalities in eight groups of project beneficiaries. The third phase included employment mediation for beneficiaries. Employment offices presented business needs to beneficiaries during training and offered employment mediation.

Expected Results:
•	30 returnees reintegrated and adapted to local conditions through peer-to-peer approaches.
•	6 employment officers trained and their capacities strengthened; they became familiar with new methodologies in support services for returnees and vulnerable groups.
•	152 participants from vulnerable groups (20% returnees, 40% women, and 20% minorities) attended training in 8 sessions on “Development of Life/Career Skills and Employment.”
•	22 persons employed, 12 self-employed, 3 completed internships, and 50 continued professional education.

Project Title: WHAT IS AROUND ME
Duration: 6 months - May 15 - November 14, 2022
Location: Pejë
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit
Budget: 10,772.83 euros
Donor: NDI - National Democratic Institute

Project Goal: Young people belonging to different faiths and communities in Pejë have increased their knowledge about the culture, religion, and traditions of other communities.
Young people from diverse communities and faiths engage in building peace and increasing religious tolerance within their communities.

Beneficiaries: 20 young people from various communities and faiths will be part of strengthening interfaith and intercultural tolerance in the municipalities of Pejë, Vitomiricë, and Goraždevac.
Project Implementation: Acceptance of 20 young people through an open call to participate in the project. The call will be open via an application for interested youth to join the project and joint activities. After applications through questionnaires, 20 young people will be selected to participate directly in activities. A joint meeting with the young people will be held to introduce them to the project and activities that will be carried out.
Paintings of eggs with Catholics, preparation of iftar with Muslims, understanding of Easter (Catholic way), and understanding of Ramadan/Iftar: Young people of Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim faiths will gather with a mentor, one mentor of Catholic faith, who will help them in egg painting. After finishing the egg painting, a priest or a nun will be invited to give a lecture on the importance of Catholic Easter and the meaning of eggs that symbolize this holiday for Catholic believers.
Young people of Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim faiths will gather at a restaurant or hotel with a local traditional character where they will have a mentor. A mentor will introduce the most important foods for Iftar (the meal Muslims eat after sunset during Ramadan), including the preparation of halva, which symbolizes the Night of Qadr (Al Kadr), one of the most important nights for Muslims. An Imam will speak to them about the importance of Ramadan, including the Night of Qadr.
Young people of Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim faiths will gather with a mentor, one mentor of Orthodox faith, who will help them in egg painting. After egg painting, a priest or nun will be invited to give a lecture on the importance of Orthodox Easter and the meaning of eggs that symbolize this holiday for Orthodox believers. An event will be organized with young people to promote cultures that characterize their national belonging, where they will sing traditional songs and wear their national costumes, thus creating cultural diversity among young people. A karaoke will be held where everyone will sing songs from various nationalities.
Pilgrimage on foot: A study visit to major religious sites in Pejë.
Bus pilgrimage: A four-day study visit by bus to several religious sites in the region, organized with young people in the municipalities of Ulqin, Shkodër, Podgorica, and in the Plav-Guci area.

Expected Results:
•	Acceptance of 20 young people through an open call to participate in the project
•	Young people from diverse communities and faiths will be part of strengthening interfaith and intercultural tolerance in the municipality of Pejë
•	Youth will promote their cultures and religious and national affiliations, directly contributing to peace-building through cultural, interethnic, and interfaith activities.
•	15 young people from Pejë will have the opportunity to learn more about religious tolerance and intercultural coexistence, including interfaith, in other parts of the Balkans.

Project Title: Active Citizenship Alliance & Responsible Municipalities
Duration: 12 months (January 2022 - December 2022)
Location: Pejë, Klinë, Istog, Junik, Deçan, Gjakovë, Rahovec, Prizren, Prishtinë, South Mitrovicë, Vushtrri, Obiliq, Fushë Kosovë, Graçanicë, Kllokot, Ranillug, Partes, Novobërdë, Shtërpcë, Skenderaj, Lipjan, Kamenicë, North Mitrovicë
Implementing Organizations: Syri i Vizionit, “Ec Ma Ndryshe”, CSD, and Democracy Plus
Budget: 139,038.26 euros
Donor: Olof Palme International

Project Goal: This alliance aims to activate citizens and educate them about the mechanisms and tools available to express their concerns to their municipalities. In exchange, municipalities activate their response mechanisms ensuring a democratic cooperation process. It takes just one citizen to identify problems, but it takes an organized group behind them to empower that individual. When groups organize towards actions that benefit their communities, civic participation increases. When two or more of such core organizations exist and cooperate, networking and decision-making can be directed towards them and their interests.

Beneficiaries: The main targeted groups are local councils, municipal governments, women’s groups, civil society organizations, informal groups, as well as citizens who aim to be active for the benefit of their communities. Local government including municipal mayors, public service directors, municipal council members, central government authorities, and the Ministry of Local Government Administration (with which further cooperation for organizing and structuring local councils is planned) are also key stakeholders in the project.

Project Implementation: The work includes direct engagement with citizens to provide guidance and knowledge on participatory decision-making and local governance, and collaboration with public institutions to promote cooperation with their components, using the existing legal framework and proposed innovative initiatives.
Regarding citizen engagement, the alliance proposes participative methods tailored to the characteristics of specific groups requiring greater and effective participation, drawing on experiences gained in 2020 and 2021. To strengthen and develop sustainable mechanisms ensuring citizens’ participation in decision-making, organizations will work directly with local councils, formal and informal citizen groups in neighborhoods, individuals, youth and women’s groups, minorities, and civil society organizations.
Activities are designed to bridge communication gaps between municipal and central institutions through a citizen-oriented approach to priority-setting. Interventions are tailored to the knowledge level of target groups regarding public participation processes and to develop practical and functional mechanisms to further enhance civic activism and good institutional governance. The alliance’s approach towards achieving objectives carefully considers gender dimensions and women’s empowerment in decision-making. To this end, each organization continues working with girls and women from all communities, women’s groups, women-led NGOs, and women municipal council members to improve women’s activism and motivate other women to join initiatives.

Achievements:
•	Multi-stakeholder dialogue for organizing and strengthening local councils
•	Strengthening local councils supported by the Civil Society Forum and the Ministry of Local Government Administration
•	The Alliance’s bi-monthly newsletter and short videos about project results
•	The Alliance Panel for Monitoring Good Governance
•	Monitoring of municipal budget hearings
•	Youth leadership training
•	Alliance workshops
Syri i Vizionit:
•	Supportive and advocacy meetings for establishing the Citizen Help Office in Gjakovë municipality
•	Advocacy meetings with Public Administration directorates in Klinë, Istog, and Deçan
•	Identification and publication of local council priorities
•	Awareness campaign for women’s and youth participation in local councils
•	Support for local councils in fulfilling their responsibilities
CSD - Communication For Social Development:
•	Promotion of project objectives and activities
•	Reorganization, reactivation, and revitalization of local councils
•	Capacity building programs for local councils
•	The Citizen Activation Network becomes active in Graçanicë
•	Network activities aimed at influencing the central government agenda
•	Support for network growth
Democracy Plus:
•	Support for establishing local councils in three targeted municipalities (Vushtrri, Fushë Kosovë, and Obiliq)
•	Capacity building training for local councils
•	Engagement of local councils in budget hearing sessions
•	Maintenance, promotion, and updating of the portal ndreqe.com
EC Ma Ndryshe:
•	Research on citizen inclusion and consultation for decision-making and project formulation
•	Local actions / public displays
•	Creating political dialogue with new municipalities
•	Internship program / Youth activation in neighborhoods and schools
•	Research on national planning legislation
•	Public discussion and closing conference
•	Maintenance of the web platform and publishing information on activism
•	Media campaign for neighborhood activation

Project Title: Our Obligation 4 the Future - Child Protection and Governance with Children’s Rights
Duration: 12 months (January - December 2022)
Location: Pejë, Gjakovë, Klinë, Gjilan, Prizren, Prishtinë, Ferizaj, and Mitrovicë
Implementing Organization(s): Syri i Vizionit in partnership with Save the Children Kosovo
Budget: 59,540.23 euros
Donors: SIDA - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

Project Goal: Syri i Vizionit within this program will work on two main thematic areas in Child Protection and Governance with Children’s Rights. In child protection, it aims to influence the creation of a legal infrastructure that protects children and prohibits violence and corporal punishment against children in any environment. It will also support the professional capacity building of institutions mandated to protect children to deliver fast and professional services. In the governance of children’s rights, the program will work with children from the monitoring group RoR and Children’s Assemblies to empower their role in policymaking and participation in decision-making at both local and national levels.
Beneficiaries: All children in Kosovo without ethnic, religious, racial, gender, or disability discrimination will benefit. Local and national institutions mandated to protect children and govern their rights, Children’s Assemblies, schools, parents, teachers, and civil society organizations working with children are also beneficiaries.

Project Implementation: Syri i Vizionit will work in two fields—Child Protection and Governance of Children’s Rights. In child protection, work will be conducted in five municipalities (in 10 schools in Pejë, Gjakovë, Prizren, Klinë, and Gjilan) to influence the development of legal infrastructure protecting children and prohibiting violence against them. There will be close collaboration with local and national institutions to promote the Child Protection Law and support institutions in drafting Administrative Instructions, especially those banning corporal punishment of children. SiV will also organize simultaneous training on positive discipline in everyday parenting for parents as an alternative to raising children without violence or corporal punishment. Capacity building for mechanisms/institutions mandated to protect children will be offered to strengthen social dialogue among schools, Social Work Centers (QPS), and child and family protection from abuse.
In governance of children’s rights, work will be done with child-led groups such as the national monitoring group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child “Respect Our Rights” (RoR), Children’s Assemblies (AKF), and coordinators for children’s rights in seven municipalities—Pejë, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakovë, Klinë, Prishtinë, and Mitrovicë. The project will contribute to increased institutional transparency by involving children in meetings and direct workshops with institutions. During the period, SiV will also focus on addressing the findings of the Young Voices report through the RoR and AKF groups. Special attention this year and going forward will be given to environmental education and climate change for children, including advocacy campaigns led by children to promote the importance of practical policies for environmental protection and climate change.

Objectives and Results:
•	Increase the expertise and technical resources of CSOs to improve internal efficiency and governance effectiveness
•	SiV has developed a participatory strategic plan for CSOs for 2023-2026.
•	Children gain increased opportunities to organize and express themselves on matters of common interest.
•	Capacity building in advocacy and lobbying efforts led by children aimed at increasing accountability of duty bearers regarding children’s rights, gender equality, environment, and climate change, developed and supported by SiV.
•	Advocacy plans and campaigns led by children on children's rights, gender equality, environment, and climate change, developed and supported by SC.
•	Children are supported to report and advocate in national and regional human rights mechanisms regarding their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
•	New strategic partnerships with child-led initiatives/organizations/networks; joint activities undertaken.
•	Children participate actively in decision-making processes, demanding effective monitoring and accountability of mandated institutions and initiating advocacy on issues arising from them.
•	Change in structural, policy, budgetary, and/or procedural reforms to support initiatives and partnerships among child-led organizations/children.
•	Child-led groups raise awareness on children’s rights through campaign activities.
•	Children are supported to report to national and regional human rights mechanisms about their rights.
•	CSOs have the capacity and expertise to protect children’s rights and be accountable for providing equal access to quality child protection systems and children’s rights mechanisms.
•	Children and communities are aware and sensitized about the importance of timely and adequate prevention and response to violence cases in line with responsibilities of mandated institutions at the local level.
•	SC will support CSO partners and child-led groups to engage actively in policy dialogue and advocacy for accountability and to report on children’s rights and implement recommendations from child-led groups.
•	Approximately 300 community members (parents/caretakers, boys and girls) improve capacities for nonviolent parenting.
•	SC will support CSO partners and children/adults to monitor service provision using child-centered social accountability.
•	Child-friendly tools for reporting school violence are recognized and used as reliable and functional mechanisms to protect children from violence.
•	SC will support CSOs to promote three models of intervention for child protection and support their adaptation by child protection mechanisms/institutions to challenge social, legal, political, or financial barriers, or harmful norms regarding equal access, protection, and exercise of children’s rights.
•	SiV will support the municipality in creating and strengthening legal mechanisms for child protection and implementing local policies.
•	SC will support CSO partners to campaign at all levels of their focus areas across five quality perspectives.
•	CSOs and children, supported by SC, engage in dialogue with institutions on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Activities:
•	Assessment of Organizational Capacity Development—Developing the CSO plan for 2023-2026.
•	Capacity building activities (implementing an activity derived from the CSO plan).
•	Workshop on drafting work plans for environment and non-discrimination.
•	Implementation of an Environment and Non-Discrimination campaign.
•	Advocacy meetings with Ombudsperson (ZQM), Ministry of Education (MASHT), Parliamentary Commission on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims (DNJBPPDHS), and children’s rights coordinators.
•	Training to build children’s capacity for accountability and transparency.
•	Observance of CRC Day and International Children’s Day.
•	Campaign to promote the Law on Child Protection.
•	Monitoring the implementation of the Child Protection law.
•	National conference.
•	Training for positive discipline for parents.
•	Posting informative posters in schools outlining steps schools must take to prevent and report violence, in line with government protocols on school violence prevention and reporting.
•	Meetings with municipal mayors, Ministry of Local Government Administration, and Good Governance Office (ZQM) for establishing the municipal Children’s Rights Team.
•	Supporting the Children’s Rights Team in drafting the work plan.
•	National conference—SiV in cooperation with ZQM and Ministry of Education.