LOCAL EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE ACTIVITY QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT January 1, 2019 – March 31, 2019 CONTRACT NO. 7201678C00001 APRIL 15, 2019 This publication is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the International City/County Management Association and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. USAID Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 This page intentionally left blank for double-sided printing. USAID Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 USAID Local Effective Governance Activity QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT CONTRACT NO. 7201678C00001 Program Title: USAID Local Effective Governance Activity Sponsoring USAID Office: USAID/Kosovo Contract Number: 72016718C00001 Contractor: International City/County Management Association Date of Publication: April 15, 2019 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 Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 ACRONYMS AKM Association of Kosovo Municipalities AWP Annual Work Plan CSO Civil Society Organizations CYAC Central Youth Action Council CYM Community Youth Mapping ICMA International City/County Management Association IMAWP Integrated Municipal Annual Work Plan IMC Inter-Municipal Cooperation IWG Informal Women Group LEGA Local Effective Governance Activity LYAC Local Youth Action Council MELP Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan MLGA Ministry of Local Government and Administration MOCR Municipal Office for Communities and Return NGO Non-Governmental Organizations NSMM Northern Serb Majority Municipalities PIO Public Information Officer RMA Regional Municipal Advisers TEAM Transparent Effective and Accountable Municipalities project USAID United Nations Agency for International Development VCs Village Councils USAID Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 Table of Contents ACRONYMS ii 1. 4 2. 5 3. 6 1.1 6 1.2 7 1.3 7 1.4 Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.5 Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1 12 2.2 12 Cooperation / coordination with other USAID programs 10 Meetings and Events 10 Additional support to Municipalities 10 Communication and Outreach 11 4. 16 5. 17 ANNEX 1 16 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Quarterly Performance Report follows the requirement of section F.7.d of the above referenced contract and describes the progress on all Local Effective Governance Activity (LEGA) initiatives during the period of January 1st, – March 31st, 2019. While the program has undergone substantial changes in staffing and leadership, implementation remains a critical priority. LEGA worked closely with USAID during the course of the reporting period to finalize the submission of the revised Annual Work Plan (AWP) and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan (MELP). LEGA also drafted 14 individual Annual Municipal Work Plans. While these deliverables were a key focus during the quarter, the LEGA team was able to implement several key initiatives which already produced results in the partner municipalities. Several highlights include: ● LEGA facilitated municipal discussions in Klinë/Klina on the inclusion of a section on Returnees and Integration in their 2019 Municipal Office for Communities and Return (MOCR) Annual Work Plan, which has since been successfully drafted and adopted. ● As a result of support to the MOCR in Parteš/Partesh the municipality has completed its 2018 annual report and submitted it to the central government. USAID Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 ● In Dragash/Dragaš and Štrpce/Shtërpcë LEGA worked with municipal staff to update them on new central level regulations regarding the development of the Municipal Action Plans for Transparency (MAPT). As a result of the facilitation of internal working groups both municipalities were able to submit MAPTs to their Municipal Assemblies (MA) for adoption. The adopted MAPTs are now with the Ministry of Local Government and Administration (MLGA) for review. ● LEGA worked closely with the MLGA to establish the criteria and application package for the Inter-Municipal Cooperation (IMC) Fund. To promote the IMC, LEGA co-organized with MLGA three convenings covering all 38 municipalities. 121 participants attended from 29 municipalities targeting high level stakeholder including Municipal Assembly Chairpersons, Chiefs of Cabinets of the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, Urbanism Directors, and Public Service Directors. ● To support the Informal Women Group (IWG) in Parteš/Partesh, LEGA facilitated cooperation between the IWG and the municipality which resulted in the Municipal Assembly officially recognizing the IWG as the consultative mechanism for mainstreaming women’s interests locally. ● LEGA supported a public debate in Istog/Istok with 20 non-majority community representatives present to discuss the draft version of the Municipal Development Plan. As demonstrated throughout this report, LEGA has mitigated disruptions in implementation due to staffing changes and continued to provide quality support to municipalities. 2. PROGRAM BACKGROUND Challenges associated with local government institutions’ inadequate performance and their poor relations with citizens constitute a threat to the democratic development and stability in Kosovo. The governance crisis in Kosovo is directly linked to the durability of corruption, poverty, unemployment, inequality, lack of respect for human rights, and strained relations between ethnic communities. Effective governance reflected in improved relations between local governments and citizens is crucial to achieving a sustainable democracy in Kosovo and securing the country’s European future. USAID Local Effective Governance Activity is a five-year program funded by USAID/Kosovo that is being implemented in 14 selected Kosovo’s municipalities. The Activity’s overall purpose is to strengthen the operations and inclusiveness of municipal governance in municipalities with non-majority communities in Kosovo. The 14 partner municipalities are: Gračanica/Graçanicë, Štrpce/Shtërpcë, Novo Brdo/Novobërdë, Klokot/Kllokot, Parteš/Partesh, Ranilug/Ranillug, Istog/Istok, Klinë/Klina, Obiliq/Obilić, Dragash/Dragaš, Severna Mitrovica/Mitrovicë Veriore, Zvečan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić/Leposaviq. The overall purpose of USAID Local Effective Governance Activity will be achieved through the following objectives and sub-objectives: Objective 1: Improved equitable, efficient, and transparent municipal governance which responds to citizens’ priorities with a focus on non-majority participation in democratic structures. 1.1 Strengthen local municipal governments and administration to improve service provision to both majority and non-majority communities. USAID Local Effective Governance Activity – Quarterly Performance Report, January 1st, 2019 – March 31st, 2019 1.2 Improving the ability of municipalities to articulate their municipal needs to the central-level government. 1.3 Strengthen municipal transparency and outreach to all citizens. 1.4 Strengthen the central-level capacities in outreach and governance to better support municipalities in addressing needs of the non-majority communities and improve municipal service delivery. 1.5 Facilitate linkages between municipalities. Objective 2: Increased active citizen participation of both majority and non-majority communities in municipal structures. 2.1 Increase interaction between majority and non-majority communities in joint priority settings. 2.2 Empower all communities to engage with the municipalities and hold them more accountable. Local governments in Kosovo are starting to recognize the need for introducing government policies and practices inspired by the principles of transparency, accountability, and citizen participation to better respond to the demands of their constituencies. Unfortunately, in many cases they lack the capacities and political will needed to fully operationalize these policies and principles. The Local Effective Governance Activity will not only assist the municipalities but will also enable citizens to fulfil their role in a multiethnic and pluralistic society by influencing development, implementation and monitoring of local policies and by strengthening their participation in the decision-making processes. 3. ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS During the quarter LEGA submitted a revised AWP on February 11th, which was provisionally approved on February 20th. Fourteen Annual Municipal Work Plans were submitted on February 19th, and a revised MELP was submitted on March 18th. The approved Branding and Marking Plan was amended and approved on March 27th noting the project’s new approved acronym, LEGA. Objective 1: Improved equitable, efficient, and transparent municipal governance which responds to citizens’ priorities with a focus on non-majority participation in democratic structures. 1.1 Strengthen local municipal governments and administration to improve service provision to both majority and non-majority communities. Activity 1.1.1 Facilitate integrated municipal planning, budget execution and oversight