Stretching City Limits - Publications

AUSTRIA
The REC
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is an
international organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems.
Among other activities, the REC supports civil society organisations (CSOs) to be more
effective in their crucial role in the democratic process. The REC supports CSOs through
grants programmes, building capacities and organisational viability, and strengthening
networking. During its 19 years, the REC has distributed more than EUR 12 million in
5,500 grants to environmental CSOs. In South Eastern Europe, regional and national
grants schemes — including those carried out under the SECTOR project — have been
used successfully to support scores of CSOs during the last five years.
Grants in Kosovo*
HUNGARY
The SECTOR National Grants in Kosovo ran from 2006 to 2010, supporting 12 projects
totalling EUR 120,431.
SLOVENIA
ROMANIA
C ROAT I A
The Municipal Green Framework was drafted, adopted and is now being implemented in
the region surrounding Peja and Prishtina.
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
REC HEAD OFFICE: Tel: (36-26) 504-000 l Fax: (387-33) 713-110 l Web: www.rec.org l
Field office REC Kosovo l E-mail: [email protected] l Tel: (381-38) 22 51 23 l
Country Office web: kos.rec.org
SERBIA
Water supply and wastewater management and transport were the focus of 25 percent of
projects activities. Campaigns highlighted such issues as unnecessary water consumption,
the benefits of public transport and bike riding as a mode of transport, and wastewater
management. Projects involved meetings and lectures in schools, the lobbying of public
authorities to create paths for bicycles, and workshops.
The SECTOR project
April 2006 marked the launch of the framework programme SECTOR (Supporting
Environmental Civil Society Organisations in South Eastern Europe), which helps
grassroots groups perform their roles as important drivers of community development in
the field of environmental protection. In promoting civil society, SECTOR aims to push
society toward more sustainable development and improved living conditions in cities.
Its beneficiary area covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (as defined by UNSCR 1244).
Running from April 2006 to April 2010, it has an overall budget of EUR 3.7 million,
provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Results
of an assessment survey, based on a questionnaire completed by groups in the region,
stakeholder interviews and background data, were presented in an updated directory of
environmental CSOs. The identified development needs were then addressed through
Mediterranean
activities falling under the other three core project components:
Sea
●● Organisational viability: The REC developed an organisational assessment and
development planning tool which was used by 58 CSOs. It helped them to better
organise, and get better results from, their activities; become more sustainable; and
better address the concerns of their communities. Thirty-five groups received seed
money to implement selected components of their development plans.
●● Project support (grants): This granting scheme identified and supported projects
initiated by CSOs in the target countries at the national and regional levels.
●● Networking assistance and training: The Master Class training series assisted
188 students in strengthening capacities in environmental lobbying, working with
independent media, facilitating public participation, doing advocacy work and
monitoring government and industry. Two regional CSO networks received grants
to begin realising their organisational development plans.
Awareness-raising was the primary supported activity, with the objective being to
stimulate community involvement in local decision making. More specifically, 34 percent
of activities focused on greening cities and urban planning. Campaigns were followed by
distribution of T-shirts, posters, leaflets, TV debates, regional meetings and study tours.
M O N T E N E G RO
KOSOVO
(as defined
by UNSCR 1244)
Adriatic
Sea
I TA LY
BULGARIA
FYR
MACEDONIA
Energy consumption and waste management were the topics of 16 percent of projects.
Awareness raising pointed up the relationship between the energy consumption
and environmental protection and ways to reduce the waste stream. Workshops were
organised, leaflets and posters distributed, and radio advertisements aired.
Lessons learnt
●● Involvement of local authorities was key to project success, hence local elections hampered
TURKEY
certain project goals.
However, in a few cases local authorities gave co-financing, as the
Gjakova municipality did for the installation of natural wastewater treatment plants.
●● Cooperation between CSOs was challenging due to the lack of tradition in Kosovo.
But it was worth the effort and very fruitful at the end of projects.
ALBANIA
●● CSOs started for the first time to connect their projects proposals with ongoing local
development plans, including urban plans and local environmental action plans.
0
100
200
GREECE
kilometres
●● Although CSOs complained about the complexity of the proposal preparation, the
quality of proposals improved significantly by the second round of grants.
●● Connecting the capacity building component (trainings of the Program with direct
support for CSOs (grants) was very appreciated and beneficiary by them.
* All references to Kosovo in this brochure refer to the territory defined by UNSCR 1244.
National SECTOR grants
The national grants were distributed in three rounds and supported 109 projects in
total. Announcements ran from 2006 to 2010, with a total of EUR 550,608 distributed.
The major themes of the projects included waste management, energy consumption,
sanitation, urban greening and urban transport.
By theme, the biggest share of projects — 40 percent — addressed waste-related issues, as
this was identified by most of the countries as the most pressing urban problem. Project
activities focused on awareness raising and education to influence citizens’ behaviour
and attitude. Along with campaigns on the classic topics of recycling and reusing
containers and other products, many CSOs tried innovative approaches such as urging
shop owners to consider reusable shopping bags, teaching householders to reduce water
consumption and educating members of the Roma community on waste collection.
Thirty-seven percent of the projects focused on awareness-raising activities aiming to
make cities more green and promote community involvement in development decisions.
The CSO activities ranged from removing illegal dumps near waterways to establishing
“green zones” and giving practical education in the field.
DISTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL GRANTS PROJECTS BY THEME
All countries’ projects
Greening cities
and urban planning 37%
Water and wastewater
management 6%
Kosovo’s projects
Greening cities
and urban planning 34%
Water and wastewater
management 25%
Stretching City Limits
National Grants Help Environmental
Groups Improve Urban Life in Kosovo
Transport and
its impacts 9%
Energy consumption 8%
Waste management 40%
Transport and its impacts 25%
Energy consumption 8%
Waste management 8%
SECTOR
Treating the river right
Awareness raising activities were organised in Peja on June 5, 2009, in Prizren on August 28 and Prishtina
on October 31. Leaflets and posters were distributed and campaign tents were set up for teh distribution
of leaflets and green ribbons and t-shirts were sold to raise funds for buying plants. Interviews with
citizens were compiled in a report which was distributed to stakeholders. The bicycles were awarded at
the closure of campaign.
Waste and wastewater treatment is a major challenge throughout Kosovo. Water quality in lowland rivers
in general is very poor due to a lack of wastewater treatment and waste disposal.
One of the rivers impacted by these problems is the Krena, which flows through the city of Gjakova from
the Tile Factory to its confluence with the Erenik River. Along this segment of the river reside 3,000
families with 18,000 inhabitants and its banks are strewn with waste of all kinds. Sewage flows directly
into the river, which creates environmental hazards and fragments habitats.
To improve the water quality in the Krena by strengthening cooperation between different sectors,
especially local authorities and community, the Kosovo Development Center (KDC) implemented a
project with a grant of SECTOR grant of EUR 12,155 beginning in 2009.”
Receipts from t-shirt sales (87 in Peja, 93 in Prizren, and 71 in Prishtina) were used to buy trees, which
were planted. In cooperation with the Office for Maintenance of Green Areas, three areas were selected
to be planted (an area near PTK in Prishtina, the centre of the city in the so-called “Ura e Zallit” in
Peja, and Marash Park in Prizren). Volunteers from the ERA Group, the CSO Fisniket, young students
from the Xhemail Kada school, representatives from a local chapter of Red Cross, and members of Sot
MOVE planted trees, adding to the green areas of cities.
Initially KDC organised continuous meetings with inhabitants, visiting each house in order to get a clear
picture about the waste disposal in the river.
Even though the awareness-raising campaign coincided with the city elections, it concluded
successfully.
These meetings were followed by two workshops, on May 7, 2009 and February 1, 2010 and a training
held July 29-30, 2009. All three events aimed at raising awareness among municipal institutions, the nongovernmental sector, civil society and other stake holders regarding environmental legislation and public
participation on environmental decision making.
The last activities of the project involved analysing 559 filled-in questionnaires and publishing a
report. The report was electronically distributed to the CSOs; media; local, national and international
stakeholders.
The direct involvement of 20,329 citizens in project activities and their increased awareness regarding
the importance of changing lifestyles by using more sustainable transport were the main achievements
of the project.
Information was shared about water-management laws and legal mechanisms to increase public
participation in environmental decision making. Attendees were also given a picture of the environmental
state of the river. After feedback was collected from participants, it was agreed that municipal institutions
should be petitioned to address the problems. A working group for sustainable development consisting
of three members was established to assist the Municipal Assembly in seeking funds to carry out advocacy
activities.
Participation of local authorities, including the mayor of Peja City, was a big step forward in the lobbying
efforts for more green space in Prishtina, Peja and Prizren.
The cooperation between the various project partners was another achievement and has stirred interest
in further joint activities.
One activity involved a day-long study visit to sewage-treatment facility of Kumanova, former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. Two Gjakova City Assembly member, two representatives of civil society and
two from NGOs participated took part. Participants gathered enough ideas to implement a similar plant
in Kosovo.
Shared environment, shared responsibilities
The involvement of local youths in project activities, the donation of bicycles and the expansion of green
areas have promoted public transport and bike riding, and given an impetus for the further work on
green spaces.
Throughout the project, a periodic bulletin was produced by KDC to inform stakeholders about project
activities and a brochure was produced giving information about the condition of the river actual steps
being undertaken for its improvement. Public information was also distributed through a local TV show,
in a promotional video and on a local radio station.
Contact: Gjeneza Budima l Society On The Move – Sot MOVE l Dardania 6/5 C2, No. 6; 10000
Prishtina l Mobile: (377-44) 117-161 l E-mail: [email protected]
The lack of a document regulating environmental protection at the municipal level motivated the
Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM) to implement the project Environmental Local
Convention with a grant of EUR 9,930.
Hoping to stimulate local governments to improve living conditions in urban areas, AKM organised
meetings at the regional level in Prishtina and Peja. A joint workshop with municipalities from two
regions was held on the implementation of the project and a final meeting was organised concerning the
Municipal Green Framework to assess the environmental situation and to identify issues that should be
addressed in a proposed local environmental convention.
Although the aim was to prepare two documents — a municipal green framework and local
environmental convention — it was decided to merge the second into the first. Such an approach would
avoid misunderstandings and would be more easily ratified by the environmental officers of the various
municipalities in the region of Prishtina and Peja.
The Municipal Green Framework was meant to achieve a coordination of acts that impact on the
protection of the environment in municipalities and influence neighbouring municipalities. It also
aims to foster a balanced integration of social, economic and environmental goals at the city level. The
document was prepared by the environmental municipal officers from 13 municipalities in the Prishtina
and Peja region.
At a conference on March 20, 2008, AKM promoted the document as it was signed by president of AKM,
the head of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, the deputy minister at the Ministry of
Local Government Administration and mayors from 13 municipalities included in the project.
The Municipal Green Framework is being implemented by the regions of Prishtina and Peja, whilst the
Collegia of Municipal Environmental Officers are working on adoption and implementation of the
document by municipalities that have not been involved on the project.
Contact: Arsim Osmani l Association of Kosovo Municipalities l Str.Gustav Mayer no.5; 10000
Prishtina l Tel: (381-38) 245 734 l Fax: (381-38) 245 733 l Mobile: (377-44) 161-773 l
E-mail: [email protected] l Web: [email protected]
KDC managed to strengthen cooperation betweem stakeholders, build capacities of municipal
institutions and civil society, and used regional experience to help solve its wastewater problem. It also
has inspired other civil society groups to carry out similar activities in neighbouring communities. But
the main project result was getting Gjakova City Assembly to agree on funding the installation of two
biotype treatment facilities for the river Krena at a value of EUR 15,000. The facilities are to come on
line by Aprill 2010.
Contact: Destan Krasniqi l Kosovo Development Center (KDC) l Str, Deshmoret e Lirise,
No 135, 50000 Gjakova l Tel: (381-390) 326-374 l E-mail: [email protected]
Trees add green to concrete jungles
Urban environmental problems, including dangerous emissions, noise and a lack of green areas, are
growing. Air pollution from motor traffic causes is the main threat human health and life quality, while
the lack of green spaces means the air isn’t adequately replenished with oxygen.
With a grant of EUR 9,950, Sot MOVE implemented a project called “Help Yourself, Your Family and
the Environment” to promote public transport and bike riding densely populated centres, especially
among young inhabitants. The project focused in Prishtina, Peja and Prizren and activities included
awareness raising, the awarding of three bicycles for awareness-raising interviews, greening of public
spaces, and lobbying for bike paths.
Cities and Civil Society Get a Boost
AUSTRIA
The REC
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is an
international organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems.
Among other activities, the REC supports civil society organisations (CSOs) to be more
effective in their crucial role in the democratic process. The REC supports CSOs through
grants programmes, building capacities and organisational viability, and strengthening
networking. During its 19 years, the REC has distributed more than EUR 12 million in
5,500 grants to environmental CSOs. In South Eastern Europe, regional and national
grants schemes — including those carried out under the SECTOR project — have been
used successfully to support scores of CSOs during the last five years.
Grants in Kosovo*
HUNGARY
The SECTOR National Grants in Kosovo ran from 2006 to 2010, supporting 12 projects
totalling EUR 120,431.
SLOVENIA
ROMANIA
C ROAT I A
The Municipal Green Framework was drafted, adopted and is now being implemented in
the region surrounding Peja and Prishtina.
BOSNIA AND
HERZEGOVINA
REC HEAD OFFICE: Tel: (36-26) 504-000 l Fax: (387-33) 713-110 l Web: www.rec.org l
Field office REC Kosovo l E-mail: [email protected] l Tel: (381-38) 22 51 23 l
Country Office web: kos.rec.org
SERBIA
Water supply and wastewater management and transport were the focus of 25 percent of
projects activities. Campaigns highlighted such issues as unnecessary water consumption,
the benefits of public transport and bike riding as a mode of transport, and wastewater
management. Projects involved meetings and lectures in schools, the lobbying of public
authorities to create paths for bicycles, and workshops.
The SECTOR project
April 2006 marked the launch of the framework programme SECTOR (Supporting
Environmental Civil Society Organisations in South Eastern Europe), which helps
grassroots groups perform their roles as important drivers of community development in
the field of environmental protection. In promoting civil society, SECTOR aims to push
society toward more sustainable development and improved living conditions in cities.
Its beneficiary area covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (as defined by UNSCR 1244).
Running from April 2006 to April 2010, it has an overall budget of EUR 3.7 million,
provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Results
of an assessment survey, based on a questionnaire completed by groups in the region,
stakeholder interviews and background data, were presented in an updated directory of
environmental CSOs. The identified development needs were then addressed through
Mediterranean
activities falling under the other three core project components:
Sea
●● Organisational viability: The REC developed an organisational assessment and
development planning tool which was used by 58 CSOs. It helped them to better
organise, and get better results from, their activities; become more sustainable; and
better address the concerns of their communities. Thirty-five groups received seed
money to implement selected components of their development plans.
●● Project support (grants): This granting scheme identified and supported projects
initiated by CSOs in the target countries at the national and regional levels.
●● Networking assistance and training: The Master Class training series assisted
188 students in strengthening capacities in environmental lobbying, working with
independent media, facilitating public participation, doing advocacy work and
monitoring government and industry. Two regional CSO networks received grants
to begin realising their organisational development plans.
Awareness-raising was the primary supported activity, with the objective being to
stimulate community involvement in local decision making. More specifically, 34 percent
of activities focused on greening cities and urban planning. Campaigns were followed by
distribution of T-shirts, posters, leaflets, TV debates, regional meetings and study tours.
M O N T E N E G RO
KOSOVO
(as defined
by UNSCR 1244)
Adriatic
Sea
I TA LY
BULGARIA
FYR
MACEDONIA
Energy consumption and waste management were the topics of 16 percent of projects.
Awareness raising pointed up the relationship between the energy consumption
and environmental protection and ways to reduce the waste stream. Workshops were
organised, leaflets and posters distributed, and radio advertisements aired.
Lessons learnt
●● Involvement of local authorities was key to project success, hence local elections hampered
TURKEY
certain project goals.
However, in a few cases local authorities gave co-financing, as the
Gjakova municipality did for the installation of natural wastewater treatment plants.
●● Cooperation between CSOs was challenging due to the lack of tradition in Kosovo.
But it was worth the effort and very fruitful at the end of projects.
ALBANIA
●● CSOs started for the first time to connect their projects proposals with ongoing local
development plans, including urban plans and local environmental action plans.
0
100
200
GREECE
kilometres
●● Although CSOs complained about the complexity of the proposal preparation, the
quality of proposals improved significantly by the second round of grants.
●● Connecting the capacity building component (trainings of the Program with direct
support for CSOs (grants) was very appreciated and beneficiary by them.
* All references to Kosovo in this brochure refer to the territory defined by UNSCR 1244.
National SECTOR grants
The national grants were distributed in three rounds and supported 109 projects in
total. Announcements ran from 2006 to 2010, with a total of EUR 550,608 distributed.
The major themes of the projects included waste management, energy consumption,
sanitation, urban greening and urban transport.
By theme, the biggest share of projects — 40 percent — addressed waste-related issues, as
this was identified by most of the countries as the most pressing urban problem. Project
activities focused on awareness raising and education to influence citizens’ behaviour
and attitude. Along with campaigns on the classic topics of recycling and reusing
containers and other products, many CSOs tried innovative approaches such as urging
shop owners to consider reusable shopping bags, teaching householders to reduce water
consumption and educating members of the Roma community on waste collection.
Thirty-seven percent of the projects focused on awareness-raising activities aiming to
make cities more green and promote community involvement in development decisions.
The CSO activities ranged from removing illegal dumps near waterways to establishing
“green zones” and giving practical education in the field.
DISTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL GRANTS PROJECTS BY THEME
All countries’ projects
Greening cities
and urban planning 37%
Water and wastewater
management 6%
Kosovo’s projects
Greening cities
and urban planning 34%
Water and wastewater
management 25%
Stretching City Limits
National Grants Help Environmental
Groups Improve Urban Life in Kosovo
Transport and
its impacts 9%
Energy consumption 8%
Waste management 40%
Transport and its impacts 25%
Energy consumption 8%
Waste management 8%
SECTOR