Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organizations (TACSO) - Kosovo
Local Advisory Group -Meeting
Meeting Minutes
The third meeting of Local Advisory group took place on the 26th of February 2015, after having TACSO
project going through substantial changes as foreseen with the terms of references of the project. The
substantial changes mainly refer to selection process of the TACSO supported Resource Centers throughout
the region including Kosovo. As of October 2014, TACSO Kosovo has entered into a partnership with Kosovar
Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) in Kosovo, in order to ensure sustainability of TACSO functions upon the
project’s completion in 2017. This new partnership between TACSO and KCSF brings technical assistance for
civil society to new dimension with the aim to achieve a strengthened civil society and to stimulate a “CSOfriendly” environment and culture, and to provide support to entire civil society of Kosovo.
This LAG meeting took place on the 26th of February 2015, and was focused on TACSO work plan, P2P activity
calendar as well as consultations related to structure of the EU support to civil society sector.
Main conclusions from this meeting:

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





LAG expressed their satisfaction with the selection process of the RC in Kosovo and highly evaluated
the implemented activities up to this phase of the project;
LAG endorsed the TACSO Kosovo workplan1;
LAG agreed on the P2P calendar , Semi Multi Beneficiary Events and Single Beneficiary Events;
LAG agreed that P2P planned events: Practices of Cooperation and Structured Dialogue between
Assembly and Civil Society and Social Dialogue should be removed from the TACSO Kosovo P2P
Calendar because of the engagement of NDI and OSCE addressing CSO-Assembly relations and
because of having IKS implementing the project on Social Dialogue.
LAG agreed to continue have KCSF membership in LAG as in the past and include coordinator of RC
in future LAG meetings for issues related to TACSO project implementation;
LAG agreed that better coordination among donor community related to civil society support is
needed;
LAG representative of the Embassy of Sweden agreed to organise a non formal meeting with main
actors of donor community supporting civil society in the near future with the aim to share
information and coordinate re civil society support.
LAG representative of the Embassy of Sweden will use one of the regular donor coordination
meeting to share information and coordinate on civil society support; .
Participants of this meeting:
Civil Society Organisations
1. Ms. Valdete Idrizi, Executive Director, CIVIKOS
2. Ms. Venera Hajrullahu, Executive Director, Kosovar Foundation for Civil Society
3. Mr. Veton Mujaj, Executive Director, Syri i Visionit
1 TACSO Kosovo Workplan was sent to LAG members in advance of the meeting.
1
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Ms. Florina Duli, IKS- Institute for Kosovo Stability
Mr. Fidan Kalaja, Programme Director, Levizja Fol
Mr. Driton Tafallari, KAPN (7 member CSOs) Kosovo Anti Poverty Network
Ms. Ardita Zejnullahu, Executive Director, AMPEK Kosova Association of Broadcast Media
Ms. Mjellma Alijaj, Project Manager, STIKK- Kosovo Association for Information Technology and
Communication
Government Representatives
1. Mr. Habit Hajredini, Director, Office for Good Governance/OPM
2. Ms. Trendeline Dreshaj, Senior officer, Office for Good Governance/OPM
3. Zoja Çeta, Political Advisor, Ministry of European Integration
Donor Community
1. Ms. Gaby Hagmuller, Team Leader, Social Development, EUD
2. Ms. Dragana Stolic, Social Development Team / Operations Section, EUD
3. Ms. Visare Gorani - Gashi, Embassy of Sweden
TACSO 2 Kosovo project staff
1. Ms. Ardita Metaj Dika, resident advisor TACSO Kosovo Office
2. Ms. Elheme Selmani Rexhepi, Administration and Finance officer, TACSO Kosovo office
Not present:
1.
Mr. Agron Maxhuni, Head of Legal Department, Local Governance
2.
Ms. Ilire Zajmi , Research Director, Riinvest Institute
3.
Ms. Nevenka Medic, Executive Director, CRZ
4.
Mr. Behxhet Binaku, Project Manager, Handikos
5.
Ms. Aferdita Sylaj, Community Building Mitrovica
6.
Ms. Saranda Cana, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
7.
Ms. Luljeta Gjonbalaj, USAID
LAG Meeting Agenda
Session I


Opening of the meeting and welcome remarks by LAG Chairperson Valdete Idrizi, CiviKos Platform
Presentation of the Implemented Activities, Workplan and P2P calendar- TACSO and RC
Open Discussion
Session II

EU Office update and consultation on upcoming EU support to civil society in Kosovo
Open discussion
Summary of the meeting:
2
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
First session
LAG chairwoman, Valdete Idrizi opened the meeting by welcoming the participants and emphasizing the
importance of LAG as structure as well as this meeting to discuss together implemented activities and future
workplan. She also emphasised the importance of consultations related to future EU support for civil society
sector in Kosovo.
Ms. Metaj – Dika, TACSO RA Kosovo informed LAG members about the process of selection of Resource
Center and the fact that TACSO has entered into a partnership with KCSF being the successful applicant in
the RC selection process. She reported to LAG about all the stages of the process as well as steps undertaken
toward preparing the workplan and principles of cooperation between RC and TACSO project. Further RA
reported to LAG about key implemented activities to date and future plans.
Summary of RA presentation:
Summary of TACSO Implemented and Planned Activities June 2014- Feb 2015
TACSO
Supported
Resource
Center
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April- June 2014, – Open Call and Selection process ;
As of October 2014, TACSO Kosovo has entered into a partnership with Kosovar Civil
Society Foundation (KCSF) in Kosovo, in order to ensure sustainability of TACSO functions
upon the project’s completion in 2017;
Principles of collaboration and preparation of Workplan;
January 2015 first regional RC Joint meeting.
Visibility and 
Image
of
CSOs
With the aim to increase the visibility and contribute to the image of civil society, on 30th of
December 2014, TACSO Kosovo office in collaboration with RC published the first Annual
Civil Society Magazine containing articles about the work and impact of CSO work in
making changes in society during the year 2014. The articles were prepared by CSOs and
submitted to TACSO through an open invitation process. The magazine is distributed in
25000 copies together with special edition of daily newspaper Koha Ditore.

In addition, as integral part of TACSO activities to reach the objective of better recognition
of civil society role in the society, national print media are monitored to get information
about the CSO presence in these media outlets. The results for the period June-August
2014, show that all these newspapers published a total of 204 articles


National annual online consultations on P2P programme;
On the 5th of June 2014, TACSO Kosovo in close collaboration with EUD organised an
information session for the open call under the EIDHR CBSS Kosovo 2013. The event was
attended by 40 CSOs expressing their interest for this CfP. The objective of the Information
session was to provide to the participants all the necessary elements and information
needed in order to be able to understand the preparation process, project application
process. The information session was organised in three sessions using a combination of
presentation and questions & answers.
Help desk re calls, financial management, VAT and partnership.
Help Desk

3
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Capacity

development
of CSOs
In May 2014 TACSO Kosovo office organised training on “Public Relations with Media and
Citizens-1” for a group of 17 participants for 12 different CSOs. The training was
accompanied with mentoring services including direct consultations, review of drafts and
online consultations to support preparation of individual communication plans for 10 CSOs.
The training was organised in June and mentoring phase finished in mid August 2014. By
the end of the process a total 8 CSOs have drafted their communication strategies and
plans with the support of the experts provided by TACSO. TACSO Media Relations Manual
for Civil Society organisations is printed in 300 copies and during the reporting period a
total of 165 are distributed to CSOs in Kosovo.

In July and October TACSO Kosovo Office provided two training sessions on financial
management, VAT Reimbursement procedures for CSO beneficiaries of grants under the
CSF –Kosovo grant scheme and EIDHR Kosovo grant scheme. The training was focused on
step by step procedure accompanied by examples and practical work. The training was
followed by a total 26 organisations. This will impact on better financial management and
implementation of their projects.

In September and October TACSO Kosovo office organised two training sessions on
‘’Principles of Monitoring, Reporting and Advocacy and Lobbying” for grass root
organisations working in Mitrovica region. Training was also delivered in Serbian language
for Serbian speaking NGOs. A total of 27 organisations participated in these trainings. This
will help NGOs to be engaged in monitoring local governments and improve civic
participation.
In April 2014, TACSO enabled a mission of Croatian Public Sector Expert to make an
assessment with objective to:
 Assess the (inter) institutional infrastructure, mandate and capacities and the
resulting needs for capacity strengthening and development of the OGG-OPM, the
Council and all other stakeholders responsible for the implementation of the
strategy; and
 Prepare a set of detailed recommendations for the government and potential
donors on the measures and steps to be undertaken to ensure preconditions for
successful implementation of the strategy.
CSO–
Government
Dialogue


TACSO Kosovo supported OGG and CiviKos Platform to organise National Conference on
Promotion of Government Strategy for cooperation with civil society- as a follow up from
the launch of the first Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society, April 2014

Creation of the Council: On the 18th of September, ended the process of selection of CSOs
members of the Council for Implementation of the Government Strategy for Cooperation
with Civil Society. Having the process completed now we have full composition of the
Council. The constitution of the Council for Implementation of the Government Strategy for
cooperation with the civil society is made of 29 members, 14 representatives from the
Government of Kosovo and 15 from the civil society. The members from the Government
of Kosovo were nominated from the line ministries and offices directly engaged in the
Strategy implementation. The selection process for CSO representatives in the Council
went extremely well with lot of interest from CSOs but also accompanied with CiviKos
awareness raising campaigns. CiviKos accepted a total of 42 nominations from CSOs,
CiviKos members and non members including minority CSOs (5 Serbian CSOs). TACSO
4
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office

Cross
sectoral
thematic
Events
This project is funded
by the European Union.
supported CiviKos in organizing consultations with civil society in 6 regions of Kosovo to
discuss directly the role of CSO members in the council, to explain the TORs which were
open in a public consultation process and to stimulate their nominations/applications.
These consultations were organised during June and were attended by a total of 116
participants from 104 CSOs.
In December 2015, TACSO Kosovo Office supported the secretariat of the National Council
for the Implementation of the Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society to
implement the first planning workshop of the Council with the objective to draft the
Council’s work plan for 2015. The work plan, outlining the priorities and timelines for 2015
was adopted during the Council’s meeting held in December 2014. The priority areas of
intervention for 2015 are identified to be the minimum standards for the consultation
process with civil society as well as the issue of public funding for CSOs in Kosovo. This
work plan will serve as a practical tool to better coordinate tasks and responsibilities
among the line ministries and CSOs as well as to coordinate future donor support designed
to help the CSO-Government dialogue.

In June 2014, TACSO Kosovo office launched the publication on CSO contribution on Peace
Education and Peace Building promoting multiculturalism and values of different cultures
and ethnical backgrounds. The report shows that although the contribution of civil society
to other sectors such as academia is provided rather in a non formal and ad-hoc manner
there is a significant recognition by the universities for the work and engagement of CSOs
in different subject areas. The findings of the report were discussed with CSOs, academics
and students in a workshop. The event was also present in the national broadcast and print
media.

In June 2014, TACSO Kosovo office hosted the regional conference Improving the
Institutional and Legal Framework for Public Funding”. The purpose of the conference
was to contribute to the improvements of the mechanisms as well as the legal and
procedural aspects of public funding concerning support to civil society organisations
(CSOs) in the Western Balkans and Turkey (WBT). Besides providing a space for general
discussions on the most common issues related to planning and establishing state funding
mechanisms to support CSOs; sharing examples from countries in the Western Balkans and
the European Union (EU) to help illustrate the theoretical issues; as well as highlighting the
best practices in distributing state funding to CSOs; the conference contributed aimed to:
 Set and harmonized directions for actions needed for addressing gaps and
weaknesses in the cycle of public funding distribution to CSOs in the WBT;
 Increased understanding and initiated development of a roadmap for the
improvement of the effectiveness of the public funding support to the CSOs;
 Mapping of possible options for the set-up of the required institutional system for
the distribution of state funding to CSOs in accordance with the EU requirements.
The conference was attended by relevant key representatives from public institutions and CSOs
from the Western Balkans and Turkey. The conference was also reflected in the national
broadcast and print media, in Koha Ditore. The Kosovo Minister of Finance addressed to the
participants with a welcome speech highlighting the importance of the topic for strengthening
the democracies in the countries of the Western Balkan and presenting the agenda of the
Kosovo government in this regard.
Planned

National Workshops on setting the benchmarks and targets in Monitoring Matrix of the EU
5
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
Activities




This project is funded
by the European Union.
funded guidelines for civil society;
Training sessions on Project management, financial management and EU Visibility for CSOs,
beneficiaries of CSF grant scheme;
Support to National Council on implementation of strategy ( Public funding area);
Advanced Training session on “Advocacy and Lobbying techniques” for FPAs;
P2P activities/topics to be confirmed with LAG in Feb. 2015 ( 1 SMB Event).
The meeting continued with information and discussion on P2P Events and calendar
Annual P2P consultations -Summary
During November and December 2014 TACSO conducted the first step of its mandatory P2P annual
consultation process, comprising distribution of a SurveyMonkey questionnaire in local languages to almost
15,000 e-mail addresses of TACSO beneficiaries in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey, requesting their feedback and input on
the most relevant issues, topics and themes affecting the civil society in their countries and regionally. In
order to achieve even wider reach, the questionnaire was also available in English language via TACSO web
site. The aim was to gather grass-roots input directly from civil society organisations in the Western Balkans
and Turkey and use the results as the basis for the subsequent consultations and discussions with focus
groups, Local Advisory Groups and EUDs. The final selection of topics for P2P events during 2015 and partly
2016 will be the outcome of this online consultation, consultations with LAGs and EUDs and subject to
approval of the European Commission's DG NEAR team.
In Kosovo, the P2P Annual Consultation questionnaire was distributed to 924 e-mail addresses in Albanian
language and 76 responses were received. No responses were received through web collector. 24 responses
had to be disqualified, as respondents failed to enter at least one response in the second part of the survey
(Priority themes). This consolidated report, therefore, provides details of responses received via
SurveyMonkey e-mail collector from the total of 52 persons.
The first part of the report – General Information – provides statistical profile of the participants. The second
part of the report - Priority Themes for Civil Society in Kosovo – provides graphic and tabular depiction of
responses selected by the participants to questions 18-31 of the survey questionnaire. The third part of the
report stipulates Comments and inputs from participants received to questions 18 – 35. Annex I provides the
full list of participants, whereas questionnaire form is available in Annex III.
2015- TP2P- Identified topics
After consolidation of results the following five topics emerged as those, which participating civil society
organisations consider the highest priority in Kosovo:
-
Anti-corruption (39 votes, 75,00%)
Access to education (39 votes, 75,00%)
Independence, impartiality, accountability of Judiciary (38 votes, 73,08%)
Cross -border initiatives
(34 votes, 65,38%)
Fight against organised crime – trafficking of human beings (33 votes, 63,46%)
6
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Older- 2014- TP2P- Agreed topics:
Semi Multi Beneficiary events:
1. Practices of cooperation and structured dialogue between Assembly and Civil Society –Semi Multi
Beneficiary event, June or Sept 2014. To further develop the concept and coordinate with Assembly, OSCE,
KDI and other stakeholders.
2. Public Funding for CSOs – regional TACSO event and national SMB event – TBD
3. Social Dialogue – Semi Multi Beneficiary Event - further to coordinate with IKS, March 2015 - TBD
Single beneficiary events:
1. Social Inclusion and Minorities, October/November 2015
2. Volunteering and youth Employment, March/April 2016
3. Children’s Rights, November 2016 - TBD


Members of LAG expressed the importance of coordination between TACSO project and other
organisations or donors in order to avoid duplication the activities but also address priority needs of the
sector.
LAG agreed that especially P2P planned events: Practices of cooperation and structured dialogue
between Assembly and Civil Society and Social Dialogue should be removed from the TACSO P2P
Calendar because of the engagement of NDI and OSCE addressing CSO-Assembly relations and because
of having IKS implementing the project on Social Dialogue.
The rest of the topics for P2P calendar were discussed in detail with Sub LAG WG in a separate additional
meeting and below are the agreed conclusions on the P2P Calendar:
Kosovo Semi Multi Beneficiary Events:
1. Role of Civil Society in Public Administration Reform ( central level) , September 2015
2. Building national and regional CSO networks and partnerships, March 2016
Single Beneficiary Events:
1. Sport as a tool for inclusion and reconciliation, June 2015
2. Volunteering and Youth empowerment, June 2016
3. Access to education of the Roma Ashkali and Egyptian communities, November 2016
Below are short concepts for each activity:
Conference: Sports as a tool for Inclusion and Reconciliation
- Thematic heading: Social Inclusion, Peace building and Reconciliation
- Origin of Event: based on progress report and LAG consultation, follow up to P2P MB on youth and
sport held in 2013.
- Partners: Sports Sans Frontiers
- Objectives: to share how sports can be an effective tool for building dialogue, social cohesion and
reconciliation in post-conflict communities, sharing different examples for the use of sport in
reconciliation and social inclusion, providing opportunities for experiential learning through practical
demonstrations
Participants: sports clubs, CSOs working on social inclusion and peace building, related government
institutions
7
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Conference: Role of Civil Society in Public Administration Reform – EU standards and Practice
- Thematic headings: EU Accession, CSO participation in decision-making, CSO-Government Dialogue
- Origin of Event: KO progress report, LAG consultation
- Participants: CSOs and government representatives from KO (and ?)
Objectives: examine standards and good practices of CSO participation in public administration reform in the
EU, share experiences from the region, share results of research on current state of play in region, develop
proposals for improvement.
Networking Conference: Building national and regional CSO networks for advocacy and action
- Thematic headings: EU Guidelines for Support to CS, CSO participation in decision-making, CSO
capacity
- Origin of Event: EU Guidelines for Support to Civil Society, LAG consultation
- Participants: CSOs working on specific thematic areas from EU, WB and TR
Objectives: sharing information and experience on the work of regional/EU/International networks effective
in the thematic areas, providing opportunity for developing communication and collaboration within and
between networks, strengthening CSO capacities to engage in and manage networks.
Conference: Volunteering and Youth Empowerment
- Thematic Heading: Guidelines for Support to Civil society, Social Inclusion
- Origin of Event: LAG consultations, needs assessment
- Partners: Resource Center
Objectives: examining the role of volunteering in youth empowerment and social inclusion, sharing models
of support to volunteering, developing input for government support to youth volunteering.
Conference: Access to Education for Roma Ashkali and Egyptian communities
-
Thematic Heading: EU Accession, Fundamental Rights, Non-Discrimination, Social inclusion
Origin of Event: Follow up to “Roma Integration Study Tour” and P2P Online consultation priority
topic
Partners: tbd
Objectives: to share good practices with regard to RAE Access to Education, especially learning
centers, to highlight role of CSOs in assisting RAE access to education, to engage government in
process of dialogue with CSOs on developing strategy for access to education for Roma, Ashkali and
Egyptians
8
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Second session
In the second session, Ms. Gaby Hagmuller presented an overview of the future EU support to civil society.
Objective & results
Civil Society Facility and Media Kosovo action document 2014-15
The objective of the Civil Society Facility is to enable and stimulate a participatory
democracy in Kosovo by creating an environment which promotes partnership and
dialogue between civil society and public institutions, and by building the capacity of
CSOs to be effective and accountable independent actors.
Main expected results:
cooperation, based on willingness, trust and mutual acknowledgment around common
interests.
ble and
Activities/
Components
Budget
with Civil Society improves governance through CSOs' inclusion in decision making
processes.
Component 1: CSO/Government Dialogue and Cooperation
The objective is to enhance CSO inclusion in decision-making processes related to
priority areas of the Country Strategy Paper for Kosovo. In order to achieve this, the
Action will provide predictable, medium-term support to strategic partnerships amongst
CSOs, focusing on priority areas of the Country Strategy Paper for Kosovo. 3 Grants will
be awarded to strategic coalitions of at least 4 Co applicants, with an envisaged duration
of 4 years.
Component 2: Strengthen Capacities of Grass-root and community-based CSOs The
objective is to enhance the capacities, transparency, accountability and effectiveness
notably of grass-root CSOs in Kosovo, by supporting their advocacy efforts and activities.
To this end, one grant contract will be concluded to establish a sub-granting scheme to
support grass-root organisations in their efforts to feed into decision-making
processes. This scheme will have to be well coordinated with TACSO, in order to
contribute to the Result 2 and improve internal governance structures, strategic
planning, communication, financial management, results monitoring and impact
evaluation, networking and coalition-building, and advocacy. In addition, and in order to
provide predictable core funding to less-established CSOs and enhance advocacy
activities, profilisation, networking and coalition-building, up to 5 operating grants will
be awarded to community-based and/or self-advocacy CSOs. They will be accompanied
by a supporting Service Contract, which will assist beneficiaries in their institutional
development and strategic planning processes.
Component 3: Strengthen Government Capacities for Strategy Implementation The
objective is to enhance the capacities of the government of Kosovo to ensure full
implementation of the Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society. The
above mentioned Service Contract will also provide Technical Assistance to the
government with very specific, concrete and well defined measures aimed at increasing
the analytical, planning, monitoring and reporting skills of the responsible staff, as well
as with drafting policy documents necessary for the further operationalisation and
implementation of the Strategy.
Total EUR 4.800.000 (EU contribution)
9
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
Contracting
modalities
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Call for Proposals to award 3 grants to Strategic CSO Coalitions: March/April 2015,
contracting Q4 2015
-granting to CSOs, expected
launch of procedure: March/April 2015, contracting Q3 2015
posals to award up to 5 operating grants to CSOs, expected launch of
procedure: Q2 2015, contracting Q4 2015
in their institutional development and strategic planning processes, and to provide
Technical Assistance to the government structure in charge of civil society cooperation,
expected launch of procedure: Q2 2015, contracting Q4 2015
European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
Objective & results
The thematic instrument has a broad scope of action. Its aim is to provide support for
the promotion of democracy and human rights in non-EU countries. Specific outcomes
could cover a very wide range of topics, such as (non-exhaustive list):
agreements and government decisions, following concerted CSO
campaigns, to legislate on gender equality, on rights for indigenous peoples, on
prevention of torture, on the enforcement of provisions on violence against children, or
on the independent composition of the electoral commission; integration in the law and
enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights, on combating discrimination on any
grounds;
commitments on human rights, e.g. regular reports by a consortia of civil society bodies
on the Universal Periodical Review of countries at UN level, an independent detailed
diagnosis of challenges to human rights and democracy, endorsed by leading civil society
stakeholders, reporting on the implementation of International human rights
instruments, including on economic, social and cultural rights;
Activities
common activities launched; regular dialogues between CSOs, the general public,
government agencies, and other parties to conflict and certain common activities
launched; new CSOs formed, membership development and activities driven on by the
target group itself. For example: special women’s officer and women’s section created
within main trade union, liaising with women NGOs and the media; strengthened
participation of people with disabilities in CSOs; campaigns for promoting antidiscrimination legislation, founding and strengthening of CSOs engaging for the rights of
LGBTI persons.
Actions/activities could cover a very wide range of topics, such as (non-exhaustive list):
cooperation among civil society organisations working in mutual support, building
coalitions across different regions, communities and identity groups and a range of
socio-economic actors, including independent political platforms or foundations. Such
common agendas should ensure broad-based participation, with explicit mainstreaming
and monitoring of women’s and children’s rights, rights of LGBTI persons, rights of
persons with disabilities, and the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
society dialogues which seek to bridge societal divides and which bring together a wide
range of stakeholders to share experience and analyse common problems;
g political representation and participation, including the empowerment of
women and other underrepresented groups, and responsiveness and accountability, by
means of initiatives by civil society in dialogue with “political society”
10
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Kosovo Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
iveness and pluralism in civil society by supporting activities and
capacity-building of new or fragile civil society organisations formed by groups whose
interests are underrepresented, or otherwise contributing to the empowerment of such
groups (e.g. children, minority groups – such as, for instance, ethnic, linguistics and
religious minorities, indigenous peoples, LGBTI persons, people with disabilities, women
workers, rural groups, internally displaced persons, migrants).
Budget
Contracting
modalities




Total EUR 570.000 (EU contribution)
Call for Proposals to award 2-4 grants, expected launch of procedure: March/April
2015, contracting Q4 2015
LAG members welcomed the presentation and emphasised the importance to keep supporting the
sector. They also expressed their satisfaction related to the new changes about the future grants and
addressing real needs of the sector, especially the needs of grass root organisations.
Ms. Visare Gorani, Embassy of Sweden shared with LAG members the activities and plans of the embassy
related to civil society support. She said that currently the embassy is conducting a feasibility study re
assessment of the modalities of support for civil society in Kosovo. She also informed LAG that the
Embassy is exploring modalities of cooperation and partnership with KCSF to become their sub-granting
partner but also provide capacity development activities for civil society in Kosovo.
LAG considered that it is very important to ensure better coordination among donor community related
to their area of interventions and support to civil society and proposed/asked Swedish Embassy to
undertake an initiative to address this in the near future. Embassy of Sweden agreed to organise a non
formal meeting with main actors of donor community supporting civil society in the near future.
LAG meeting was concluded with commitment to remain engaged in the consultation process related
to TACSO project activities and coordination among donor community. LAG Chairwoman, Ms. Valdete
Idrizi, praised LAG members for their time contribution.
Minutes of the Second LAG- TACSO II meeting are prepared and finalised by TACSO Kosovo office,
March, 15th 2015.
11