Organisation Development in rural Kosovo

General

The project aims at sustainable development of the farmers' organisations of women, men and youth, promoting equal opportunities for all communities without gender, ethnic or religious discrimination in rural areas of Kosovo. Expected results are - Capacity development of farmers in business, financial and marketing development; - Market oriented production, introduction of new methods and alternative agriculture crops; promotion and marketing campaign; - Sustainable rural production through facilitating new markets, market chain supplier-farmer-trader-costumer; - Agriculture production in line with environment protection measures and resilience to climate change; - Encouraged youth to engage in agriculture through capacity building, joint fundraising activities; - organise activities for rural women’s day. Marking 18th of October with activities such as roundtables, possible fairs and other initiatives by involving stakeholders that affect women’s participation on agriculture; - At least 3 agriculture promotion fairs each year organised in municipalities where farmers would have opportunities to expose and sell their products as well to build contacts and relationship with costumers and other partners; At least 6 study visits during the project at neighbour o regional countries to give farmers opportunities to gain knowledge and exchange experiences, learn contemporary methods of working, and new cultivation cultures; Women’s empowerment in economic growth by engagement in economic structures and agricultural markets; - Promotion of small-scale entrepreneurship by encouraging role of business women as a main pillar of society development; - Enhanced awareness on property rights of both women and men regarding ownership and inheritance through trainings promoting women’s rights, study circle method and social networking; - Promoted and increased awareness on Women Rights and Gender Equality through application of Study Circle method; - Build relationships with Banks in Kosovo, to ensure lower loan interest rates for women groups, as well other farmers’ organisations and also enable group lending and collective participation; - Campaign for gender equality: roundtables, meetings with communities and central and local authorities, trainings on gender equality, women rights, women property rights etc; also promotion through social media and IKC webpage; - Promote and advance relationship between Rights-holders and Duty-bearers through mediated meetings and events; - Extraction of Study Circle material in collaboration with MAFRD and local authorities; - At least 4 Regional Conferences, with attendance of stakeholders such as farmers, academic representatives, MAFRD, experts, NGO, local authorities, Faculty of Agriculture, representatives from Food and Veterinary Agency, student of Agriculture, other stakeholders. Conferences would elaborate and discuss different topics and problems that farmers and agriculture has deal with the previous year; - Establishing internship for students of Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary at Departments of Agriculture at several municipalities, offering students opportunities to be involved in practical aspects of agriculture; - Strengthen collaboration with MAFRD, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, other central and local authorities; - Increasing regional collaboration with We Effect partners through study visits, joint projects, continuing collaboration in publishing “Toka Ime” as a joint activity etc; - Strengthening IKC capacity regarding the functioning of the member-based organisations, IKC has become member-based organisation; - Exchanged experiences through Study visits and practical enhancement the understanding of the work of member-based organisations; - Increased synergies with local authorities, Faculty of Agriculture, MAFRD and other NGOs; - Build capacities of IKC staff, fundraising, organisational management financial management, property law in Kosovo; - Increasead economic and social collaboration of all communities from all ethnicities, religions and gender; - Established mixed association from different ethnic mixed groups (Albanians, Serbians, RAE and other); - Joint activities of mixed groups in fairs, study visits, study circle, gathered meetings, trainings, and roundtables, facilitate creation of new market chain; - At least 3 multi-ethnic joint applications submitted for financial aid or funding; - At least one IKC staff member has gained knowledge in M&E processes and is performing M&E of the project.

Objectives

• As planned, Initiative for Kosovo Community (IKC) started processes of becoming a fully member-based organisation. The transformation process of IKC started at the beginning of 2018. Several documents have been developed, including the membership application form. So far, 16 different associations have submitted the applications for becoming members of IKC. • Lobby activities of IKC resulted in signing 2 agreements for cooperation for a 3-year period with the Municipality of Ferizaj and Viti. • IKC is continuously encouraging rural women on entrepreneurship activities and is trying to find funds for start-up business for women's organisations. • 30% from the project applications prepared by IKC for its women member organisations have been approved during 2018 • IKC increased the number of farmers who were introduced to new cultivation methods and new agriculture crops. A total of 41 farmer and 5 women organisations were included in the introduction sessions to new cultivation methods and new agriculture crops. • IKC increased the awareness on women's property and land rights • IKC is strengthening its fundraising capacity, one of the main challenges of the organisation. In the reporting period, 2 joint applications were prepared and submitted with other NGO to other donors. • An Octagon Assessment of IKC was conducted in a workshop facilitated by We Effect. Based on the findings, an Action Plan for Organisational Development is developed, addressing the main issues identified. The implementation of the Action Plan will be followed by We Effect and IKC.