PROJECT TITLE:

Strengthening Women's Participation in Politics

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

Overall objective: Strengthen civic engagement, gender equality and inclusive, participatory democracy through diverse women's enhanced participation in politics and decision-making in Kosovo.

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Gender Equality

DURATION:

Start Date: 01/01/2019 End Date: 31/12/2022

VALUE:

Total cost of the project € 600,492.06; EU contribution € 540,000.00

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

Kosova Women's Network-RrGK in coalition with

BENEFICIARIES:

127 women-led member civil society organisations (WCSOs) of the Kosovo Women's Network (KWN), particularly those serving marginalized women; 800 Kosovo Lobby for Gender Equality (KLGE), including women municipal assembly members, Gender Equality Officers (GEOs) and men advocates; 1000 Coalition for Equality members , involving women politicians, parliamentarians and leaders at all levels, political party leaders; government officials at local and central levels; and women, generally Secondary beneficiaries: Men, children public officials

PROJECT PURPOSES:

Specific objective: Improve the capacities, inclusiveness, solidarity, representativeness and political engagement of women's networks, so they may effectively and reliably engage in Kosovo's EU integration process.

ACTIVITIES:

.1 Develop improved consultation mechanisms for informing constituents and gathering input on political/EU accession issues; 1.2 train/mentor WCSOs and women Politicians in legal analysis, commenting on laws/policies from gender perspective, EU Directives and the EU accession process, by the European Women's Lawyers Association (EWLA); 1.3 support WCSOs serving women with disabilities (WwD) and minorities to engage more women in WCSOs existing networks and politics; 1.4 organize networking meetings among KWN, KLGE and the Coalition for Equality to strengthen these networks, solidarity and joint advocacy, including related to EU accession reforms; 1.5 distribute sub-grants to diverse WCSOs via the existing Kosovo Women's Fund (KWF) for "learning by doing" in engaging citizens and constituents in influencing decision-making and supporting and/or monitoring EU Accession.; 1.6 further develop volunteer program for WCSOs and women politicians; 1.8 develop relations between women's networks in Kosovo and Europe, including EWLA, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), European Women's Lobby (EWL), and European Gender Budgeting Network (EGBN); 2.1 organize networking meetings; 2.2 organize interactive capacity building and mentoring on topics women in politics identified; 2.3 better media coverage of women politicians; 3.1 organize meetings linking women politicians, leaders and citizens/constituents at all levels to discuss sector-specific issues related to EU Accession; 3.2 facilitate meetings between women leaders, officials, and the EC/EUO/EUSR to discuss accession issues.

RESULTS:

1) Improved inclusiveness, representativeness, capacities and cooperation among KWN, KLGE and the Coalition for Equality. 2) Enhanced capacities of women politicians and potential future women politicians to engage in politics. 3) Improved engagement of women citizens, particularly those hitherto marginalized, in political and decision-making processes.