General information
Project title: Moving from Integration towards a New Social Contract for a truly multiethnic Kosovo
Duration: 12 months
Implementation period: May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025
Implementation partner: NGO SPACES
Supported by: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kosovo
Status: In progress
Project objectives:
The first focus of the project is to establish an informal platform for Kosovo Serb civil society, that will concentrate on bottom-up strategic advocacy coordination and capacity development for civil society organizations (CSOs) and activists. It aims to foster internal dialogue to strengthen liberal and marginalized voices and pluralism within the Kosovo Serb community, both in the north and south of the Ibar River.
The platform consists of organizations and individuals representing the genuine interests of the Serb community, independent of political influences, and primarily engaged in Kosovo. It ensures gender balance and includes organizations from both the north and south of the Ibar River, focusing on strengthening previously neglected and marginalized groups in the south. The platform maintains a mix of established and emerging organizations in the community.
The second focus is on the preparation and initiation of a Serb-Albanian civil society dialogue in Kosovo for a New Social Contract aimed at addressing the fundamental needs and interests of all citizens.
Aiming for a strong collective protection mechanism for ethnic communities, grounded in robust rule of law and strong local self-governance as a form of vigorous local democracy, our approaches are as follows:
• Grassroots Approach: Transforming the narrative to reflect citizens’ basic needs and interests.
• Strategic Proactive Approach: Shifting from a reactive stance based on daily politics to a strategic, proactive approach focused on community needs.
• Transforming Conflict Discourse: Moving the Serb-Albanian conflict discourse from an “us vs. them” mentality to one about “all of us,” addressing common problems, needs, and interests.
The project is first and foremost focused on ordinary people, addressing their needs and interests, and ensuring a dignified life in a truly multi-ethnic society.
The project is implemented in partnership between the Center for Affirmative Social Actions – CASA and Spaces for Societal Change – Spaces.
Expected results:
- An informal coalition of Kosovo Serb CSO, civic initiatives, and grassroots activists is established and serves for strategic advocacy coordination inside Kosovo and vis-à-vis the international community;
- Participating organizations have increased their policy analysis, writing, and advocacy capacities and strengthened their grassroots orientation;
- Kosovo Serb CSOs and civic initiatives strengthened, leveling the capacities and experience between well-established organizations and those that still lack the full attention of the decision-making actors;
- Kosovo Serb citizens’ perspective is documented and strongly communicated, both within Kosovo and to the international community;
- Within the Kosovo Serb community, liberal voices are empowered, socio-political pluralism is strengthened; and
- A Serb-Albanian CSOs dialogue on a new social contract for a truly multiethnic Kosovo is initiated.
Related reading:
• Newspaper articles
• Publications
