Usaid Advancing Kosovo Together
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USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER FINAL REPORT July 17, 2017 This report was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by USAID Advancing Kosovo Together implemented by prime contractor Chemonics International, with input from subcontractors Development Professionals Inc., Business Support Center Kosovo, and the Berman Group. USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER FINAL REPORT Contract No.AID-167-C-14-00003 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER: FINAL REPORT ii ACRONYMS AKM Association of Kosovo Municipalities AKT Advancing Kosovo Together Program AKT-LS Advancing Kosovo Together Local Solutions Program AUK American University in Kosovo B2B business to business BSCK Business Support Centre Kosovo BSO business service organization CAT computer-assisted translation CDF Community Development Fund CDKD Center za Depolitizaciju Kosovskog Društva CDP Capacity Development Plan CF Community Forum CFF Crimson Finance Fund CLE USAID Contract Law Enforcement project CPT Center for Peace and Tolerance CoDe Community Development Institute CSD Communications for Social Development CSO civil society organization DEMOS EU Decentralization and Municipal Support project DPI Development Professionals Inc. FY fiscal year G2G government to government GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit IADK Partner Initiative for Agricultural Development of Kosovo JWG Joint Working Group KAIS Kosovo Agency for Information Society KCC Kosovo Chamber of Commerce KIPA Kosovo Institute for Public Administration KRD Kosovo Relief and Development LUL Law on Use of Languages MACC Municipal Assembly Communities Committee MCF Municipal Community Forum MDAF Management Development Associates Foundation MF Ministry of Finance USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER: FINAL REPORT iii MLGA Ministry of Local Government Administration MNWE Multi-Ethnic Network of Women Entrepreneurs MOCR Municipal Offices for Communities and Returns MPA Ministry of Public Administration MSME micro, small, and medium enterprises NDI National Democratic Institute NGO nongovernmental organization OCA organizational capacity assessment OLC Office of the Language Commissioner OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe PIR project intermediate result PMCG Policy Management Consulting Group PPRC Public Procurement Regulatory Commission RCT Regional Technology Center SSI Small-Scale Infrastructure SIAP Service Improvement Action Plan QI Quick Impact QPM Qendra e Performances se Mire UNDP United Nations Development Programme USAID United States Agency for International Development WRA Workforce Readiness Assessment USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER: FINAL REPORT iv CONTENTS ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 1 OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................. 1 Project Intermediate Result (PIR) 1: Improve autonomous, horizontal communication between: (a) majority and non-majority communities; and (b) the GOK and non-majority communities ............................................................................... 1 1.1 Support the Government of Kosovo in implementation of laws that protect minority rights ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Improved government communications, responsiveness, and engagement with non-majority communities ................................................................................... 5 1.3 Build skills of minorities and women to obtain public sector positions ........... 7 1.4 Facilitate community-led initiatives among majority and minority communities to address common issues .......................................................................................... 9 1.6 Provide constructive engagement through small-scale infrastructure projects ...................................................................................................................................... 12 PIR 2: Improve economic opportunities in target municipalities ... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1 Assess and facilitate market linkages between majority and non-majority businesses ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2 Promote SME competitiveness and access to finance and support youth entrepreneurship and employability, including returnees .......... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3 Support youth employability ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.4 Support women-owned enterprises .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined. PIR 3: Increase the efficiency and capacity of target municipal administrations to respond to the needs of all the citizens ........................................................................ 23 3.1 Enhance capacity of municipal administrations for strategic planning and to deliver and oversee quality service ........................................................................... 24 3.2 Support municipalities to increase own-source revenue (OSR) for municipal services and capital projects ..................................................................................... 28 3.3 Build Capacity of target Municipalities’ Offices of Communities and Returns (MOCR) ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Strengthen mechanisms to promote transparency and community engagement ................................................................................................................. 29 3.5 Strengthen municipal capacity to manage government-to-government (G2G) awards .......................................................................................................................... 31 PIR 4: Build the capacity of host-country organizations by leveraging local, cross- ethnic leadership to implement program objectives ................................................... 32 4.1 Enhancing technical capacity and aligning the local consortium’s work plan, sub-awards, and operational capacity with overall AKT objectives ...................... 32 4.2 Enhancing operational and management capacity ........................................... 33 4.3 Creating a forum for sub-awardees to network to share information and highlight integration successes to wider audiences ............................................... 35 USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER: FINAL REPORT v 4.4 Increasing ability to handle USAID reporting requirements and procedures . 36 4.5 Strengthening financial management capacity .................................................. 37 4.6 Increased ability to establish professional linkages with a variety of stakeholders ................................................................................................................ 37 CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED ........................................................................ 38 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE INTERVENTIONS .................................................. 40 ANNEX I: MONITORING AND EVALUATION ANNEX II: EVALUATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS ANNEX III: INDEX OF TECHNICAL REPORTS ANNEX IV: OBJECTIVE 1 AND 3 BENEFICIARIES AND COST INFORMATION USAID ADVANCING KOSOVO TOGETHER: FINAL REPORT vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents results of project impact surveys conducted by the Advancing Kosovo Together program, Contract No.AID-167-C-14-00003, funded by USAID and implemented by Chemonics International Inc. from April 2014 to April 2017. USAID Advancing Kosovo Together (AKT) program’s goal is to foster positive, constructive interethnic cooperation between minority and majority populations in addressing common problems of unemployment, social needs, and municipal services in 16 target municipalities throughout Kosovo. It achieved this through the following project intermediate results: 1. Improve autonomous, horizontal communications between: (a) majority and non-majority communities; and (b) the Government of Kosovo and non-majority communities. 2. Improve economic opportunities in target municipalities. 3. Increase the efficiency and capacity of targeted municipal administrations to respond to the needs of all the citizens. 4. Build capacity of host-country organizations to leverage cross-ethnic leadership to achieve program objectives and implement USAID Kosovo funded activities. AKT’s approach to improving communications between majority and non-majority communities and with the Government of Kosovo focused on supporting implementation of the Law on Use of Languages (LUL); community mobilization and participation in public decision making; building skills to improve the participation of women and non-majority citizens in public sector positions; community-led initiatives, including infrastructure and procurement; and civil society organizations. AKT worked with majority and non-majority- owned businesses and associations to improve economic development in target municipalities. It facilitated interethnic market linkages, competitiveness of businesses (including