Overview
The United Nations United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have established a Joint Programme entitled “Support to addressing Gender Based Violence in Kosovo through strengthening the Implementation of the Kosovo Law, National Action Plan and Strategy against Domestic Violence”. The Joint Programme has a comprehensive and inclusive approach to address Gender issues in three pilot municipalities over two years (2011-2013).
The Joint Program will support the implementation of the National Strategy and Action Plan Against Domestic Violence (NSAPDV) by adopting a comprehensive and inclusive approach to address Domestic Violence (DV) in three pilot municipalities. The comprehensive approach to address domestic violence piloted in different local contexts will allow replication and expansion to a broad range of municipalities at a later stage.
The program will follow the following overall objectives:
- To raise awareness on domestic violence and enhance access to services for survivors of domestic violence in pilot communities;
- To strengthen the formal/informal service chain of DV prevention, protection and reintegration services through catalytic interventions in pilot municipalities;
- To enhance the economic independence of (potential) survivors of domestic violence and provide counseling for families and perpetrators;
- To disseminate program results, capitalizing on lessons learned for scaling-up in other municipalities.
The Joint Programme is also shaped to contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security. Alongside progress in the recovery of Kosovo, high prevalence of domestic violence remains a concern since the aftermath of the 1999 conflict. Women who were subjected to rape and sexual violence during the 1999 conflict have yet to receive justice; there are cases where survivors of rape experience further suffering in the form of exclusion and stigmatization by their own families and communities.
Assistance Strategy
In order to enable achieving tangible results by the Participating Organizations (UNFPA, UN WOMEN, UNICEF, OHCHR, UNDP), the program will be implemented over the 2011-2013 period, in line with the NSAPDV and Finland’s Development Policy Framework Program for the Western Balkans (2009-2013).
Taking into account the key challenges, gaps and opportunities identified the Joint Program will focus on strengthening responsiveness of municipal key services related to domestic violence through municipal coordination, awareness raising, community based dialogue and advanced capacity development in line with the NSAPDV, providing a platform for mutual learning and institutional cooperation among pilot municipalities. The program’s bottom-up strategy involves building ownership at municipality level by establishing partnerships with key actors and selected key services and mechanisms related to domestic violence through catalytic interventions, seeking synergies with existing and related UN interventions.
The Joint Program foresees to achieve its objectives through four key intervention methods:
- Prevention: enhanced awareness among women/girls and men/boys on domestic violence and women’s rights in pilot municipalities;
- Protection: increased capacity and financial sustainability of DV protection mechanisms to provide quality services in pilot municipalities;
- Reintegration: enhanced economic independence of (potential) DV survivors and counselling for families and perpetrators; and
- Scaling-up dissemination, validation and replication of program results & lessons learned through policy dialogue among key stakeholders at different levels.
To measure program effectiveness, inform awareness campaign, guide strategic planning, make effective and efficient use of resources and determine where the program is on track and where corrections need to be considered the Joint Program adopted several M&E tools and methods, including the collection of baseline data at the start of program implementation through specialized early warning reports and mapping of all dimensions of domestic violence perception, prevalence and risk factors; a comprehensive mapping of availability, access and quality of formal and informal DV and economic support services, narrative and financial progress reports and a mid-term and end of program evaluation.
Governance
Program’s Board
The Program’s Board includes the following members:
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At the local level: key stakeholders from pilot communities (the Mayors of the 3 pilot municipalities and a shelter representative);
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At the central level: Secretariat of the NSAPDV, the Kosovo Police, Gender representatives of different ministries (e.g. Ministry of health, Ministry of Interior); Association of Municipalities; Kosovo’s Women’s Network and the Shelter Coalition;
- The UNKT Task Force consists of (1) UN representatives of Agencies involved in the Joint Program, (2) Specialized Technical Assistance; (3) Project staff of other UN projects directly related to program implementation, whom can be invited as resource persons;
- The Embassy of Finland, as the Donor;
- The Administrative Agent, as ex-officio member;
- Other relevant stakeholders may be invited to participate as observers. The nationally recruited Program Team is operational at both central and local levels
The Board will meet bi-annually: one meeting will focus on the approval of the work plans and (bi-) annual reports; and the other on monitoring of the implementation progress.
UNKT Taskforce on Domestic Violence
The UNKT Taskforce on Domestic Violence organises monthly meetings to monitor progress, coordinate the outputs/activities agreed on in annual work plans and budgets, and ensures coherence and consistency in program implementation. Members of the Taskforce will include UN representatives of Agencies involved in the Joint program, Specialized Technical Assistance, as well as Project staff of other UN projects directly related to program implementation can be invited as resource persons. The taskforce will also develop a resource mobilization strategy to move forward with a third year activity and funding.
Program Team
The Program Team is established for the effective and efficient operational management of all program activities and resources
Administrative Agent
Funding for the Joint Programme utilizes a pass-through funding mechanism. Under this modatility, Participating UN Organizations agree to channel funds for the Joint Programme through the Administrative Agent. The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the UNDP serves as the Administrative Agent (AA) of the Joint Programme. The AA is responsible for concluding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Participating UN Organizations and Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with donor(s), as well as for the receipt, administration, and management of contributions from donors; disbursement of funds to the Participating UN Organizations; and consolidation of financial reports produced by each of the Participating UN Organizations and Participating Non-UN Organizations and provision of these reports to the Steering Committee for onward submission to the donor(s).
Decision-Making
The Program’s Board approves work plans and budgets as well as any substantive or financial issues pertaining to the Joint programme. The Program’s Board acts as the Governance body of this Joint Programme. The role of the Board is to provide strategic direction and monitor the overall implementation of the JP. It will approve the work plan and the annual progress reports.
