UNFPA in Kosovo

UNFPA Kosovo office was established in July 1999 as part of an emergency response programme with an overall goal to restore basic and safe conditions for women and their newborn babies. In early 2000, the Ministry of Health mandated UNFPA as the lead agency in reproductive health in Kosovo. UNFPA is committed to strengthening the capacity of all Kosovars to protect their reproductive health and those of their partners; to access and receive reproductive health services when needed and to strengthen institutional capacity to collect, analyse and utilize population-based data.

UNFPA Office in Kosovo works actively with governmental and non-governmental sector in seven areas:

•  Supporting the health sector to address reproductive health

•  Safe motherhood

•  Family Planning

•  Preventing HIV/AIDS

•  Supporting Adolescents and Youth

•  Promoting Gender Equality

•  Collecting Population Data

1. SUPPORTING THE HEALTH SECTOR TO ADDRESS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

UNFPA contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through advancing a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights by focussing on maternal mortality, adolescents and youth, gender equality, HIV prevalence and unmet family planning needs.

UNFPA has contributed to strengthening the health sector to address reproductive health in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Emergency reproductive health kits

•  Drafting Law on Reproductive Health and Reproductive Health Strategy

•  Assessment on sexual violence

•  Basic training in reproductive health

•  Training of OB/GYNs on basic reproductive health practices

•  Side-by-side training: at Neonatology Units 1 & 2 - Prishtina University Medical Centre

•  Public health promotion of reproductive health using the media

•  Advocacy on reproductive health and reproductive rights

•  Strengthening professional health associations

2. MAKING MOTHERHOOD SAFER

Reducing maternal death and protecting women from serious health complications associated with pregnancy and child birth is not only a leading development priority, but is also human rights imperative.

UNFPA has contributed for making motherhood safer in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Reconstruction of maternity labour and delivery areas at Pristina University Medical Clinic and Prizren Hospital

•  Medical equipment for hospital and health house maternities

•  Technical support to Drenas health house maternity, Neonatology units 1&2 at Prishtina University Medical Centre

3.FAMILY PLANNING

Family planning enables individuals and couples to determine the number and spacing of their children—a recognized basic human right. Improving access to voluntary family planning information and services can reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and deliveries and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

UNFPA has contributed for a planned and healthy family in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Training of health workers at all levels in modern contraceptive technologies

•  Improving availability of and accessibility of modern contraceptives delivered through public health facilities

•  Social marketing of male condom and low-dose oral contraceptive pill

•  Qualitative study on Pregnancy and Family Planning in Kosovo

4. SUPPORTING ADOLESCENTS AND YOUTH

UNFPA works to empower adolescents and youth with skills to protect their health, education and future opportunities through increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, commodities and services. The Fund connects young people to livelihood and employment programmes and promotes youth leadership and participation as a priority for human development and social and economic growth.

UNFPA has supported adolescents and youth in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Adolescent and Youth Peer education on STIs/HIV/reproductive health

•  Establish Pilot Youth-Friendly Health Services

•  Establish and support of Youth Peer Education Network

•  Law on Youth Participation and Empowerment

•  Support to Government's Youth Action Plan

•  Advocacy programs and behaviour change campaigns on S/RH, HIV/AIDS, and STI's

5. PREVENTING HIV and AIDS

Both HIV/AIDS and poor sexual and reproductive health are driven by common root causes: poverty, gender inequality and social marginalization. Responses to both health issues need to be closely linked and mutually reinforcing. UNFPA is committed to the human rights of people living with HIV and has leadership role in condom programming and HIV prevention, especially among young people, women and other vulnerable populations .

UNFPA has contributed to HIV prevention in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  HIV prevention programmes among young people and women in Kosovo

•  Education, outreach and condom distribution programmes

•  Supporting the development and implementation of National HIV/AIDS Strategy

•  Supporting Kosovo AIDS Committee

•  Leading UNKT Joint Team on HIV/AIDS

•  Marking and supporting annually World AIDS Day

6. PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY

Gender equality advances development and reduces poverty; it is a human right integral to the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals. Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. UNFPA in Kosovo has implemented activities in support of healthcare and protection for women victims of gender-based violence.

UNFPA has promoted gender equality and responded to GBV in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Providing reproductive health services to shelters of GBV, and domestic violence, and victims of trafficking

•  Qualitative Gender-based violence research

•  Research Study on Extend of Gender-based Violence and its impact to women's reproductive health

•  Foundation of Kosovo Coalition Against Family and Sexual Violence

•  Advocacy efforts to policymakers on GBV issues

•  Direct support for safe houses and improved healthcare services, awareness-raising through media campaign and roundtables.

7. POPULATION and DEVELOPMENT

The Fund supports globally and at regional and country levels demographic research and censuses as they provide the necessary planning, monitoring and evaluation tools for population and development policies. Population dynamics, including growth rates, age structure, fertility and mortality, migration and more—influence every aspect of human, social and economic development. In turn, other core areas of UNFPA's work, including reproductive health and women's empowerment, powerfully influence population trends.

UNFPA has contributed to population data in Kosovo through the following interventions:

•  Technical and capacity building support to Statistical Office of Kosovo

•  Reactivating Vital Statistics System within the Statistical Office of Kosovo

•  2001 and 2003 Demographic Health Surveys

•  Annually addressing population issues on World Population Day

•  Chair the UNKT Team on statistics

Our staff

1. Ms. Doina Bologa - Chief of Operations
2. Ms. Visare Mujko-Nimani - National Programme Officer
3. Mr. Naim Galica - Administrative and Finance Associate
4. Ms. Zarife Miftari - Project Manager
5. Mr. Thomas Lammar - Programme Analyst
6. Ms. Linda Abazi- Programme Assistant
7. Ms. Enisa Medic - Project Associate
8. Ms. Daniela Bodnarova - Programme Assistant
9. Mr. Jeton Ajeti - Driver
10. Mr. Nexhat Xhambazi - Project Driver
11. Mrs. Lendita Mula - Maintenance

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If you require any more information about UNFPA's work in Kosovo, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Visare Mujko-Nimani, National Programme Officer, at nimani@unfpa.org or at 249 087