About the Project

The United Nations Kosovo Team (UNKT) provides socio-economic response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Three UN agencies: IOM, UNHCR and UN Women have started the joint implementation of the project “Countering the deepening of pre-existing inequalities in Kosovo through COVID-19 by assisting Kosovo’s non-majority communities and domestic violence survivors”. The project aims to address both the public health as well as the humanitarian and development challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic.

The project is founded by the United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Multi-Partner Trust Fund designed to assist the most vulnerable to economic hardship and social disruption.

Expected outcome:

Most vulnerable people in targeted areas have access to social and economic protection mechanisms

Targeted beneficiaries:

Most vulnerable members of non-majority communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence (DV) who were affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Special attention will be given to gender disparities and supporting equal access to social services and economic resources

Targeted municipalities (but not limited to):
  • Fushë Kosovë/ Kosovo Polje
  • Graçanicë/Gračanica
  • Istog/Istok
  • Kamenicë/Kamenica
  • Pejë/Peć
  • Mitrovicë/Mitrovice
  • Prishtinë/Priština
  • Novobrdë/Novobrdo
  • Gjakovë/Djakovica
  • Ferizaj/Urosevac
  • Obiliq/Obilic
  • Kline/Klina
  • Gjilan/Gnjilane
  • Prizren/Prizren.
Activities:

The project will support the targeted beneficiaries to overcome direct or indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic through a wholistic approach in synergy with other ongoing interventions.

Social protection and basic services:

  • Free in-home medical careservices for those who cannot access healthcare facilities (primary care, basic medicines, specific dietary needs, etc.)

  • Free psychological assistance

  • Legal aid to vulnerable IDPs and returnees

  • On-line training for institutions engaged in work against gender based and domestic violence

  • Developing emergency Safety Plans for Shelters to guarantee protection of their staff and residents during emergency situations

  • Developing S.O.S mobile app to provide for digital solutions to enable locating DV/GBV survivors and ensure their access to essential services

  • Focus group discussions with IDP and returnee women and with participation of high-level personalities

Awareness rising activities:

  • Providing accurate and reliable information on prevention of communicable diseases as well as measures undertaken by relevant institutions, in all official languages of Kosovo

  • Offering gender-sensitive recommendations to women shelters in response to the pandemic

  • Small grants for women in shelters to start businesses

  • On-the-Job training for members of non-majority communities

  • Vocational training for IDPs and returnees i

  • Career orienteering, job counselling and placing / match making

Note: Not all activities will be implemented in all municipalities.

Referral mechanism

A referral mechanism will be developed to serve as a bridge between the beneficiaries and services offered by the project and/or local institutions and other organizations. The mechanism will be administrated jointly by the implementing UN agencies with the highest standards of data protection and ethics It will be applied in cooperation with local institutions, organizations and network of volunteers.

About the Organization

IOM - International Organization for Migration - is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. Working in natural disasters, man-made crisis, and protracted displacement contexts, IOM aims to deliver coordinated, timely, and contextspecific assistance to populations in need, including but not limited to internally displaced persons, refugees, other migrants, and host communities. IOM also works in crisis contexts to address the drivers and root causes of displacement to promote longer-term solutions to individuals, households and communities.

UNHCR - United Nation High Commissionaire for Refugees - has extensive experience in emergency preparedness and response, and in working in difficult situations where movements are restricted. UNHCR engages in effective protection and assistance to the most vulnerable and isolated IDP and returnee communities, supporting the authorities on the development of legislative and administrative frameworks in the areas of asylum and durable solutions for displaced population. By strengthening the capacity of the institutions at the central and municipal levels, UNHCR fosters the effective implementation of the legislation, in accordance with the international standards.

UN Women - is grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Itworks for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and gender equality in the achievement of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women works with governmental institutions at the local and central level, external stakeholders, the civil society, international organizations, the judiciary, police, victims' advocates and their representatives and other partners to ensure that gender concerns are integrated into UN policies, programmes and activities.

MPTF-factsheet.pdf