Assistance by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security to the project "Multi-Sectral Initiative for Community Stabilization and Improved Human Security in Mitrovica North and South and Zvecan" in the Republic of Kosovo

October 31, 2008
Japanese

On 31 October, the Government of Japan and the United Nations (UN) decided to extend assistance totalling 3,046,788.80 US dollars (approximately 344.29 million yen) through the Trust Fund for Human Security to a project entitled “Multi-Sectral Initiative for Community Stabilization and Improved Human Security in Mitrovica North and South and Zvecan” in the Republic of Kosovo, to be implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV). This is the project which realizes the commitment that Japan announced at the Kosovo Donors’ Conference in July.
Although a decade has passed since the end of the Kosovo conflict, the ethnic division and tensions between Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb communities remain a strong concern in the municipalities of Mitrovica South and North and Zvecan. Politicization of the provision of public services caused by ethnic confrontation and the resulting lack of access to high quality public services as well as inadequate protection of human rights of minorities and limited economic opportunities hinder stable development in these regions. This project aims to improve the severe living conditions of the people by focusing on marginalized groups such as women, youth, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minorities through the following activities:

Developing capacities of local authorities in social protection, health and education through trainings and workshops;
Creating short-term employment in order to provide expertise and on-the-job experience opportunities, conducting trainings for entrepreneurs, and providing small grants for starting up and running small businesses;
Establishing mechanisms for the participation of minority groups in the implementation of joint programmes as well as supporting women and youth entrepreneurs;
Strengthening capacities of local NGOs and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) through providing trainings and supporting implementation of Community Action Plans in order to nurture local ownership:

The project is expected to contribute to the peaceful coexistence and sustainable development of multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.

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