Inclusive development in Northern Kosovo 2017-2024 Inkluderande utveckling i norra Kosovo 2017-2024 Development of municipal planning and local self government in Northern Kosovo. The effort consists of support for the development of municipal planning and local administration in seven municipalities in Northern Kosovo. UN-Habitat is Sida's contracting party, and will in turn work with and through local and national authorities as well as a network of civil society organizations. The overall purpose of the effort is to strengthen the ability of participating municipalities to deliver community services in accordance with Kosovo's legislation in the area, through inclusive planning. The effort also includes two smaller funds, one to support smaller municipal investments and one to support civil society organizations to strengthen them in dialogue with authorities, to demand responsibility and to represent citizens. The effort has a clear environmental perspective and an integrated conflict perspective. Insatsen utgörs av stöd till utveckling av kommunal planering och lokal förvaltning i sju kommuner i Norra Kosovo. UN-Habitat är Sidas avtalspart, och kommer i sin tur att arbeta med och genom lokala och nationella myndigheter samt ett nätverk av civilsamhällsorganisationer. Det övergripande syftet med insatsen är att stärka medverkande kommuners förmåga att i leverera samhällstjänster i enlighet med kosovarsk lagstiftning på området, genom inklusiv planering. Insatsen omfattar även två mindre fonder, en för stöd till mindre kommunala investeringar och en för stöd till civilsamhällsorganisationer för att stärka dem i dialog med myndigheter, för att utkräva ansvar och representera medborgana. Insatsen har ett tydligt miljöperspektiv och ett integrerat konfliktperspektiv. The overarching objective of the programme is to: Foster inclusive development and good governance in northern Kosovo through support to integration in Kosovos planning framework, with strong democratic oversight, local-central dialogue, and inter-municipal cooperation.

The programme will contribute to achievement of the headline goal through the realization of three intended outcomes:

(1) Increased integration of northern municipalities within Kosovos governance framework, achieved through development of institutional capacities to progressively improve performance of their responsibilities related to integrated spatial and urban planning and development, consistent with Kosovos planning system and principles of sound public administration

(2) Enhanced quality of local governance, achieved through extensive public dialogue, feedback and accountability mechanisms, and civil society action to demand greater municipal responsiveness and performance

(3) Strengthened public confidence in local institutions and the integration process, achieved through demonstration of practical infrastructure and service delivery improvements, and delivered by enhanced mechanisms for local-central and inter-municipal trust-building, dialogue, and coordination

The objectives of the programme, aligned with the intended outcomes above, are as follows:

(1) Facilitate alignment of northern Kosovo municipalities with the Kosovo-wide planning framework, establishing strategic planning schemes in line with Kosovos legal requirements and principles of sound public administration

(2) Increase local government transparency, responsiveness and accountability through civil society mobilization and citizen participation

(3) Foster integration by nurturing local-central and inter-municipal dialogue and cooperation, and demonstrating tangible progress to citizens by investing strategically in practical infrastructure and service delivery improvements.

The main direct beneficiaries of the Inclusive Development Programme includes:

a) Local governments. The programme provides guidance to 7 local governments in northern Kosovo, serving as a basis for policymakers to develop and refine policies and programmes that advance inclusive development and good governance. Local governments in northern Kosovo are equipped and empowered to design and implement MDPs and MZMs in line with Kosovo legal requirements, and strengthen the democratic engagement of citizens in decision-making. Support is provided to local governments to engage in local-central and inter-municipal trust-building and coordination activities, enabling them to develop practical joint projects and advocacy initiatives, to mutual advantage and satisfying citizen demands. Vitally, the programme will in the future provide municipalities with access to catalytic co-financing for infrastructure and service delivery improvements.

b) Civil society. Local CSOs benefit from opportunities to build their internal organizational and technical capacities and strengthen links with the broader public, as well as to engage directly with municipal decision-makers, contribute to formulation of strategic public responses to key issues, representing an important step toward raising the collective voice of civil society in the 7 municipalities. The programme  provides CSOs with access to catalytic co-financing for actions promoting citizen participation and accountability in local governance.

c) Government of Kosovo. Central line ministries, especially MESP and MLGA currently benefit from a neutral institutional bridge to local governments in northern Kosovo, enabling them to build trust and pursue deeper engagement and alignment. More generally, the Government of Kosovo benefits from support in implementation of key aspects of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and subsequent agreements; and are supported to develop future-oriented local government policies that leverage the advantages of subsidiarity and decentralization.

Main indirect beneficiaries of the Inclusive Development Programme will include:

Population of northern Kosovo. By investing strategically in infrastructure and service delivery improvements, the programme will contribute to tangible positive changes in living conditions in the short-term; by enhancing the effectiveness of municipal planning in 7 northern municipalities, the programme is associated with better prospects for inclusive development and stability in the long-term. The programme aims to equip citizens with new tools and resources to articulate their needs and aspirations and demand responsiveness and accountability from local institutions. The impact of programme activities is likely to be especially significant for the most vulnerable constituencies, including women, young people, and displaced persons, who are often marginalized from decision-making and sharing in the benefits of development, but who are specifically targeted during programme implementation.