K osovo Local Government Institute Instituti Kosovar për Qeverisje Lokale Kosovski Institut za Lokalnu Samoupravu

K osovo Local Government Institute

Instituti Kosovar për Qeverisje Lokale

Kosovski Institut za Lokalnu Samoupravu

International Conference:

Citizen Participation in Kosovo-
Before and Now!

How does Kosovo compare to other Countries?

Practical Examples

Draft Agenda


Conference is supported by:

Swiss-Kosovo Local Governance and Decentralization Support Project, LGI Budapest and

British Council Kosovo
Objective of the Conference:

The aim of KLGI to organize an international conference is twofold: first, a range of practitioners should present their view on the citizen participation and share interesting data gathered from qualitative research conducted in Kosovo and in four other countries. Secondly, the LOGOS experience on citizen participation in decision making in Kosovo is presented to the participants and put up for discussion.

The conference further helps making the voice of Mayors and marginalised groups like women and youth associations hear to raise awareness and to share opinions on ways to improve citizen participation in public decision making process. The KLGI shall produce a report from the conference to identify an action plan for follow-up activities. The KLGI will present conference conclusions to the respective line ministry and to the Association of Kosovo Municipalities.

July 9 - 10, 2009

Accommodation: The Grand Hotel Mother Theresa Street Prishtina/Kosovo tel.: [phone]

Conference Venue: Conference Room The Grand Hotel Prishtina/Kosovo

Thursday, 9 July 2009
13:00 – 18:00 Arrival and check-in of participants from abroad

19:30 Reception and dinner for the Guest Speakers with:

Mr. Sadri Ferati, Minister of Local Government and Administration

Prof. Isa Mustafa, Mayor of Prishtina Location: Tiffany Restaurant

Location: Renaissance Restaurant


CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Friday, 10 July 2009
8:30 – 9:15 Registration of participants at the conference hall - first floor
9:15 – 9:30 Opening Remarks:

• 
  Mr. Sadri Ferati, Minister of Local Government Administration
  
• 
  Ms. Sylvia L. Schaer Hahn, Project Coordinator for Intercooperation LOGOS Project
  

FIRST PART:

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN KOSOVO: HOW WAS IT BEFORE AND HOW IS IT NOW?

9:30 – 11:00 Moderator: Iliriiana Kacaniku, Program manager of KFOS

Citizen Participation and Civic Society mobilisation - How it was 20 years ago?

• 
  Mr. Veton Surroi, the Founder of Koha Group (15 min.) (TBC)
  

How Citizen Participation led to institutionalised citizen mobilisation?

• 
  Mr. Rexhep Osmani, Minister of Education during 1991-1998 (15 min.) (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in the beginning of 21 Century - the role of International Donor Community in the context of countries in transition in South-East Europe

• 
  Mr. Valentin Mitev, Former Head of Citizen Participation Division (Confirmed)
  

OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Department of Democratisation (15 min)
Presentation of the preliminary research findings on citizen participation in public decision making at local level – how it is now?

• 
  Besnik Tahiri, KLGI Executive Director (Confirmed)
  

11:00 – 11:30 Plenary Discussions
11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break

SECOND PART:

TRANSITION DEMOCRACIES AND THE NEED FOR CITIZEN

PARTICIPATION - CONTEXT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

12:00 – 13:30 Moderator: Ms. Besa Luzha, Director of Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Citizens participation – Bottom up Approach-Swiss-Kosovo Local Governance and Decentralization Support Project LOGOS

• 
  Ms. Merita Barileva, National Program Officer – LOGOS project (30 min) (Confirmed)
  

• 
  Women and youth voices are heard at local level- Experiences from Viti and Kamenica municipalities-local women NGO (30 minutes) (Confirmed)
  

12:30 – 13:30 Kosovo Municipal Context: Challenges of Citizen Participation
Between Citizens Participation and Reaching Multi-Ethnic Standards

• 
  Mr. Begzad, Sinani, Mayor of Kamenica
  

Struggling for local development and working for citizen mobilisation

• 
  Mr. Pal Lekaj, Mayor of Gjakova (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in rural areas – challenges and perspective

• 
  Mr. Ilaz Pireva, Mayor of Podujeva (Confirmed)
  

Participation of women and youth in public decision-making - challenges & perspectives

• 
  Ms. Arjeta Rexhaj, Director of Gender Training and Research Center
  

13:30 – 15:00 Lunch
THIRD PART:

CASE STUDIES FROM THE REGION

• 
  15:00 – 16:15 Moderator: Ms. Arjeta Emra, British Council Director (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in Local Government Decision-Making in Rumania

• 
  Ms. Iuliana Georgescu, Researcher of Pro Democracy Association (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Between Tradition & Transition

• 
  Ms. Snezana Misic-Mihajlovic, Centre for Management, Development and Planning MDP/Initiatives (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in Municipal Decision-Making in Croatia

• 
  Ms. Vanja Skoric and Mr. Igor Bajok, Researchers of NGO GONG (Confirmed)
  

Citizen Participation in Municipal Decision-Making in Croatia

• 
  Ms. Jasmina Beba Kuka, Local Initiative Program (LIP) Coordinator at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA
  

16:45 – 16:15 Plenary discussions
16:30 – 17:00 Conclusions and Press Conference
16:30 – 17:00 Conclusions and Press Conference

Address: Fehmi Agani street, 25/1 Prishtinë, Kosovë, 10000

Tel: [phone] or 044-640164 Email: [e-mail] www.klg-institute.org