The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), during a press conference has published the research analysis “Social Policies at local level”, which includes the Municipality of Prizren, Rahovec and Dragash. The concerned research emphasised the stagnations experienced in the drafting of annual plans and maintenance of social and family services in these municipalities. The focus of the analysis focused in the municipalities’ policies for allocation of subsidies and social housing programs.
Naim Cahani from KDI emphasised during the conference that despite municipalities’ legal obligations to draft the Annual Plan for Maintenance of Social and Family Services, none of the municipalities’ included in the research have such a document. He stated that this reflects the lack of municipalities’ transparency and accountability with regard to citizens’ inclusion in drafting and implementation of social policies. Furthermore, he emphasised the lack of adherence to the procedures and lack of clear criteria for granting subsidies at local level.
Furthermore, Elmedina Dorambari from KDI spoke on the policies of funding Civil Society Organizations that provide specific social services. “During the research was noted a lack of criteria and uniformity, not specifying in details which of the criteria have to be fulfilled to ensure the Civil Society Organizations access to subsidies. The lack of internal policies is reflected by a lack of transparency and exclusion of many organizations providing social services in the territory of relevant municipalities” stated Dorambari.
According to this research, the Municipality of Prizren is the only municipality that has invested in the funding of special housing programs within its social policies. However, the Municipality of Prizren should establish a multi-party mechanism to monitor implementation of contracts with current beneficiaries.
Ms. Dorambari, presented the recommendations from this research for these municipalities as follows: