Press Release

15 January 2021

The European Union (EU) office in Kosovo, together with implementing partners United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Save the Children, launched the EU funded Programme ‘EU4 Social protection following the coronavirus crisis’ to help the most vulnerable categories cope and overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.

While the pandemic began as a health crisis, very soon it turned into a multi-dimensional crisis with far-reaching socio-economic implications hitting hardest those who are already in vulnerable situations, further increasing inequalities.

The second Socio-economic Impact Assessments, conducted by UNDP in cooperation with UN Women and UNFPA - to be launched next week - shows further decrease of income, increased loss of jobs, reduced spending on health and education, and an increase in the incidents of domestic violence.

Three projects in total worth of 11.8 million euro, signed today, will provide emergency support, social protection and early socio-economic recovery to socially vulnerable groups in Kosovo.

Maria Suokko, UNDP Resident Representative emphasized the importance of the project to reach out to those most in need, based on the UN’s leave no one behind principle:

“

We have a unique opportunity now, with EU’s support, to provide some relief to those in most vulnerable situations and those that have been marginalized - regardless of ethnicity or urban/rural divide. I would like to extend our heart-felt thanks to the entire EU Kosovo Office team for trusting UNDP to deliver this support. This Action aims to improve access to integrated social protection for those most vulnerable. We will work with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and Centers of Social Welfare to enhance targeting and delivery of the support. We will also help train a new generation of social workers, jointly with UN

Volunteers. Direct support for women and girls is an integral part of the Action, and we will be engaging UN Women as our partner.” 

“With the additional funds and extended project timeframe, IOM will continue its commitment to assist the most vulnerable and will not only support significantly more beneficiaries than originally anticipated, but also respond adequately to the diverse immediate, intermediate and longer-term needs of the target groups, improving the resilience and support whole-community recovery. We will continue to work in close coordination with the programme donor, the European Union, and the programme partner, the Ministry for Community and Returns, municipal officials and local stakeholders,” said Anna Rostocka, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Kosovo.

Working at the heart of UN Kosovo Team, UNDP in Kosovo has been supporting the people and institutions of Kosovo to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic since the outbreak, focusing particularly on the most vulnerable. We have rapidly shifted focus, responding swiftly and efficiently and reorienting our programme to assist Kosovo’s efforts to stop the spread of the virus, helping to protect people from the pandemic and its impacts, respond during the outbreak, and recover from the economic and social impacts in the months to come.

For UN Kosovo Team’s Socio-Economic Response Plan, please visit https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/KSO_Socioeconomic-Response-Plan_2020.pdf

For more information, please contact:

Burbuqe Dobranja, UNDP Communications Associate

Phone: (038) 249 066 ext. 410;   mobile: 049 720 800      e-mail: burbuqe.dobranja@undp.org

Danijela Mitić, Communication Associate UNDP

Phone: (038) 249 066 ext. 412;    mobile: 049 720 824     e-mail: danijela.mitic@undp.org

Luljeta Kuraja, Communications Assistant International Organization for Migration

Phone: +381 38 600 521;        mobile: +383 44 676 303        e-mail: lkuraja@iom.int