The Norwegian Ambassador, Per Strand Sjaastad, together with the KLGI Institute, hosted all Kosovo Mayors, representatives of line ministries as well as local and international partners to conduct an informal discussion on the achievements, challenges and perspectives in the field of Local Governance in Kosovo.
This meeting was organized for the project “Supporting Stronger and Sustainable Municipalities” funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by Kosovo Local Government Institute.
The Norwegian Ambassador, Sjaastad in his speech noted that this meeting aims to discuss how to advance local governance. Kosovo has made great progress in the last ten years after its independence by establishing a comprehensive system of local government. Norway Embassy will be a long-term, constructive partner for local government, at the same time supporter of the KLGI Institute.
National Coordinator for State Reform, Besnik Tahiri, took the opportunity to thank the Norwegian Embassy for support in local governance. Mr. Tahiri, noted that if the municipalities have positive results, the state itself is successful, taking into consideration that the municipality is the first hand of the state providing services to the citizens of Kosovo. Regarding accountability, he highlighted the issues should be addressed until their realization.
The Executive Director of KLGI Institute, Besnik Muçaj, while presenting the SSSM project noted that for less than one year and a half years there are over 500 beneficiaries directly from all municipalities; representatives from line ministries and civil society. It is undeniable that Local Government has achieved results, which are shown by local and international reports.
Despite the progress, there is still to be done in Strengthening Local Democracy; Increasing Participation, Transparency and Accountability; Equal Gender Representation in Leadership and in Decision-making Positions; Inclusion of the Community and Civil Society; First and foremost, increasing citizens' ownership in local politics.
The main goal of this SSSM project is to increase functionality, sustainability and ownership in relation to competencies and capacity building in the area of local government.
The project as such is divided into 4 components of implementation: Improving legislation and reducing ambiguity in the area of local government; Mentoring and improvement of inter-municipal, inter-institutional and inter-community cooperation; Trainings for local level officials; Empowering civil society at the local level.
