Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The objective of the project Rural Economic Sustainability Initiative (RESI) is to promote competitiveness of farmers, agricultural producers and food processing companies to enhance sustainable and inclusive rural development, job creation and income generation in the target municipalities Prishtinë/Priština, Novo Brdo/Novobërdë Kamenicë/a and Ranil(l)ug. To achieve sustainable project outcomes, it is imperative that new forms of agricultural production and innovative technologies can be unlocked to increase the productivity, stability, and resilience of production systems with goals beyond just raising yields, but including saving water and energy, reducing risk, improving product quality, protecting the environment and climate change mitigation.

Expected results

1) The capacity of municipal support structures, Young Professionals (YP) and other development actors (NGOs, cooperatives, associations) is strengthened to provide effective and demand-driven services.

2) A sustainable grant scheme is established and operational, and municipal support structures are actively engaged in the grant disbursement cycle to enhance ownership and knowledge transfer.

3) Women and socio-economically vulnerable groups (among them ethnic minorities) in the target municipalities are involved into agri-businesses through targeted capacity development and funding scheme.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The project will benefit at least 750 farmers (male and female), 15 young professionals, 20 public employees, 90 individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (from which 50% women) and that consist mainly of small holder farmers, members of marginalized ethnic minorities, widows and female headed households. Given the comprehensive training component for the target municipalities, it is expected that at least 10.000 farmers will be indirectly reached via public agribusiness advisory services in the 4 municipalities. Indirect beneficiaries represent some 65.000 individuals from the targeted rural populations.

The municipality of Prishtinë/Priština is additionally funding CARE to implement the grant scheme in its municipality with EUR 1,5 mio.

Activities

The multi-layered capacity strengthening component of the project is of special importance. The trained municipal staff and the YPs will be prepared to pass over the knowledge to agricultural producers and food processors. An additional value added will be the identification of lead famers that will introduce innovative farming techniques with the support of the project on model farms. Exchange visits will be organized to promote and encourage best-practice models and to promote women economic empowerment.

A regional grant scheme will be established with the purpose of strengthening and building integrated agricultural value chains in the respective municipalities.

Particular attention will be devoted to special needs of women and socioeconomically vulnerable groups, as well as organizations representing them. Further synergies will be created by networking and cooperating with research and educational institutions.

2) A regional grant scheme will be established with the purpose of strengthening and building integrated agricultural value chains in the respective municipalities.

3) A special emphasis will be placed on the promotion of initiatives designed by women and associations/cooperatives representing socio-economically vulnerable groups.

Context

The project aims to address generally low levels of development in the rural territories in Kosovo. The prevailing poor intensity of farming is caused by implementation of outdated farm technologies and farm management practices on the one hand and lack of technical expertise, weak rural infrastructure and advisory systems on the other. Farmers in Kosovo have limited access to investment capital and Kosovo suffers also from particularly low environmental standards and high levels of pollution in comparison with the European average. Kosovo’s National Development Strategy states nevertheless that the agricultural sector has high potential for growth and employment generation.