About us
UN-HABITAT in Kosovo
Overview
Since the
end of the war in Kosovo in 1999, UN-HABITAT has been promoting good
governance, security of tenure, sustainable human settlements development and
inclusive spatial planning in Kosovo and the broader region. UN-HABITAT’s
interventions were focused on the establishment of institutions to deal with
property and planning issues, such as the Housing and Property Directorate, the
Kosovo Cadastre Agency, the Institute for Spatial Planning within the Ministry
of Environment and Spatial Planning. The other line of interventions went to building
capacities for efficient management of local governments through capacity
building programmes and on the job assistance: LoGo (Local Government
Programme), and Municipal Support Programme (MSP 2000-2001), Urban Planning and
Management Programme (UPMP, 2001-2003), the Governance and Development Planning
Programme (GDPP, 2003-2006), Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme
(MuSPP, 2005-2008) and the ongoing MuSPP2 (2008-2011). The programmes were
funded respectively by the Government of the
Through
these combined interventions, a new planning system has been developed,
anchored and institutionalised.
Building
sustainable capacity for inclusive planning is a prerequisite for accession to
the European Union. UN-HABITAT has engaged with various countries in the South
east European region on urbanisation policy advice and technical cooperation in
the past years. To support SEE countries in furthering reforms in the areas of
Housing and Urban Development and to assist in the EU integration process,
UN-HABITAT, in cooperation with the Stability Pact and in close consultation
with the governments in the Western Balkans, developed a Regional Capacity
Building Programme for Housing and Urban Development in SEE. The programme
document is being reviewed to better respond to the present day needs of the
participating countries and fund-raising efforts are continued.
Context
Since the
conflict ended in 1999, Kosovo has been facing an unprecedented construction
boom and growth of urban areas. This is partly a consequence of the war-time
destruction of housing stock, the post-war migration in search of better and
/or safer living conditions and employment, and well as the global urbanization
trend.
Cities in
their former boundaries are unable to provide space for new investments, which
leads to unplanned and uncontrolled urban developments. Informal settlements
become a common sight on the city outskirts, illegal constructions are raised,
the access to services although improving over time is still not satisfactory.
The
Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Kosovo in 2008 puts on Kosovo’s
institutions responsibility for building democratic and law-abiding structures,
passing supporting legislature and building capacities of civil servants. This
relates also to spatial development and gradual adoption of European standards and
international principles for sustainable urbanization and good urban
governance. The resolution of property issues and incorporation of informal
settlements in local development plans continue to be an important factor in creating
sustainable urban settlements in Kosovo.
A new planning system – outputs
New philosophy in planning and a new
legislation
Planning
for sustainable future of Kosovo required new planning system and legislation,
institutions and practices. In response to this, over years, UN-HABITAT
provided technical support in drafting a new legal framework for planning;
assisting the post-conflict transition from the former centralised, top-down
planning system towards an inclusive, participatory and multi-disciplinary
approach to planning. This planning approach takes into account specific needs
of various social groups and is focused on participation, transparency and
accountability. Working at the same time with the central and local
levels, the University, and civil society organisations, and developing
adequate legislation, was a unique and comprehensive approach, which allowed
the anchoring of the process among these institutions.
Strengthening municipal planning
capacities to develop and regulate the cities in an inclusive and transparent
manner
Managing
new planning system and putting it in practice needs human resources and
capacity strengthening.
With this
in mind, over the last 8 years UN-HABITAT conducted a series of capacity
building programmes. Local planners, working in the urbanism and planning
departments of all 30 municipalities across Kosovo were trained in applying a
new inclusive, strategic and action-oriented approach to municipal and urban
development planning in accordance with the new Law on Spatial Planning and in
line with international principles for good urban governance.
Recognising
the value of practical on-the-job support, both the first and the second phase
of the Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme focused on the direct
professional advice to partner municipalities. Initially the focus was on the
support to drafting municipal and urban development plans, while now the core
assistance is directed at the implementation of the adopted plans and the
development of capital projects. The on-going on-the-job assistance to
municipal planning bodies and direct advice to the development and
implementation of spatial and urban plans at the local level is regarded as a
vehicle to consolidating good urban governance practices in MuSPP 2 partner
municipalities.
Engaging civil society in planning
processes
Understanding
strategic planning, being able to advocate for citizens priorities, learning
about budgeting, and how citizens can get involved in it, are the basis of
participatory inclusive planning. Inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in the
planning process is not only an element of good governance, but also the means
for ensuring funding for projects and major investments. Therefore, UN-HABITAT has
been working together with civil society
organisations, decision makers and municipal planners to build a common
understanding of the planning process and prepare civil society organisations
with a focus on NGO’ s representing youth, ethnic minorities, and woman, for
participation in dialogues and public debates and engagement as partners in
strategic projects.
New planning system requires a new generation of planners
Education
and development of human capital is crucial for the continued building of
democratic institutions and practices in Kosovo. Through cooperation with
European Universities, UN-HABITAT helped the