PROJECT TITLE:

GrassRoot Action Support-GRAS

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

To support the consolidation of a tolerant, democratic culture in Kosovo by strengthening the internal management, accountability and transparency of Civil Society at local level and grass roots level.

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Democracy

DURATION:

Start Date: 01/01/2018 End Date: 31/12/2020

VALUE:

Total cost of the project € 555,313.50; EU contribution € 499,782.15

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

Kosovar Stability Initiative

BENEFICIARIES:

1. Grassroots CSOs and other community-based organizations. 2. Officials and civil servants at local level, particularly those with responsibilities for implementing policy reforms. Final beneficiaries: Citizens of Kosovo

PARTNERS:

Lens Friedrich Ebert Stiftung EV-FES

PROJECT PURPOSES:

The action has two main purposes: 1) to improve CSOs' understanding of policy processes, institutions and actors to enable them to effectively engage and cooperate with government institutions especially at local level. 2) To enhance technical capacities of grassroots CSOs in Kosovo to efficiently increase their participation in policy making process.

ACTIVITIES:

A1: Mapping of grassroots CSOs and other community based organizations, including research on definition applied in Kosovo and presentation in an open and editable, web-based platform. A2: Establish a small grants scheme for grassroots organisations with the view of increasing their representation and engagement in policy and decision-making. A3: An e-tool is developed to assist applicant organisations in preparing the proposals on one end, and to simplify the selection process and increase the transparency on the other end. It will also enhance their digital skills for improved participation (e-participation). A4: Develop resources to build capacity of CSOs for lobbying, advocacy, research, policy dialogue and usage of available tools for this purpose. A5: Institutional development/Organisational strengthening. The coaching and mentoring schemes will be organised to transfer individual and organizational knowledge, acquired by relevant education and work experience in the given fields. The coaching will intend to assist CSOs in implementing their activities related to the action, while the mentoring will target the leaders of organisations and provide senior support in steering the organisations in the right direction. A6: Assist cooperation between the local government institutions and grassroots CSOs through facilitation of joint events. A7: Design a visual campaign using a successful example of grassroots organizations in a policy process to raise awareness about the added value of CSOs in engaging in policymaking.

RESULTS:

R1: Grassroots CSOs in Kosovo are properly defined, identified, mapped and listed in an open platform; R2: Capacities of grassroots CSOs are strengthened through an innovative Small Grants Programme complemented by a coaching and mentoring scheme (enabling them to fully engage in policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and impact analysis with a special focus on environmental, gender and human rights issues). R3: Capacity building resources for CSOs are created to strengthen their lobbying, advocacy, networking and policy dialogue skills; R4: At least 50 grants averaging 7,000 euros are distributed through three calls for proposals. R5: Awareness of public in general, and local officials/civil servants in particular is increased on the importance of CSO participation in the decision making process.