Promoting sustainable, evidence-based durable solutions programming in Kosovo - Year 1

This project will enhance durable solution opportunities for returnees by strengthening local level returns mechanism’s capacities to assess returnees’ needs and support their achievement of durable solutions, and increase the impact of community integration assistance and support multi-ethnic cohesion.

Building on lessons learned during a previous 2-Year project funded by PRM, DRC, in partnership with project municipalities, will take the next step towards supporting returnees in finding durable solutions for their reintegration in cooperation with remainee communities. This project will target 156 direct beneficiaries (of which 77% refugees and 23% non-refugees) as well as 30 return stakeholders, as well as an estimated 600 indirect beneficiary families in the municipalities of Prizren, Klinë/Klina and Gjilan/Gnjilane.

The project entails activities organized into three complementary and inter-related components that rely primarily on capacity-building to promote enhanced effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided by central and local authorities. It intends to respond to returnees’ essential socio-economic reintegration needs and to reduce their isolation using a coordinated, practical and effective approach.

Project Objectives:

Improve capacity to support returnee integration through enhanced, durable solutions-focused assessments of integration challenges-related needs
In collaboration with central level authorities and municipal staff, DRC will receive capacity building in terms of measuring durable solutions indicators covering progress towards public participation, social cohesion, perceptions of safety and access to services and employment via a Durable Solutions assessment tool.

Enhance the implementation of existing returnee integration support mechanisms by applying a coordinated, comprehensive and multi-stakeholder approach
DRC will conduct a capacity assessment of existing municipal coordination mechanisms on returns, and based on the assessment results, provide technical assistance to coordination mechanisms to fulfil their role effectively.

Improve the achievement of durable solutions for rural returnees through direct, needs-based assistance
Through operationalizing local returns mechanisms, DRC will will identify most vulnerable returnee families in need of gap assistance covering either minor shelter repair, food/NFI, furniture assistance and psychosocial counseling or a combination thereof, depending on identified needs. In addition, following rural market and agricultural value chain assessments, DRC will support the implementation of 3 joint rural grant schemes including business training and monitoring of grant beneficiaries.

All activities will be coordinated with institutions in Kosovo, in particular the Ministry of Communities and Return (MCR), relevant institutions in Serbia, displaced persons and their representative bodies, BPRM and its partners, UNHCR, and other stakeholders to ensure that adequate support is available to returnees in pursuit of durable solutions and community stabilization.

This project is funded by the United States Government.