Over the course of the implementation of the project Empowering Civil Society to Participate Effectively in Policy and Decision-Making Processes through Dialogue with Government Institutions, funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, ECMI Kosovo, and with its partners Communication with Social Development (CSD) and Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Womens’ Organisation of Kosovo (NRAEWOK), supported the establishment of the Serb Community Network. The Anamorava/Pomoravlje region stretches through south eastern Kosovo, and has generally been characterised with stable inter-ethnic relations. However, the Serb community living in this area faces similar problems to other Serb communities, especially the youth. The establishment of a network fosters a link between various CSOs from the region and better advocate for their respective local government structures. Since many of these municipalities are newly established through the decentralisation process, the network is essential to providing a secure channel to work together. Moreover, many Serb inhabitants from this area feel they are underrepresented in comparison to other regions in Kosovo, showing the necessity of the network in order to make their voices heard at the central level and one within the Serbian community, operating in the Anamorova/Pomoravlje.

The Network is the first structure of its kind in Kosovo to bring together all CSOs from the Serb community to advocate for the issues that are of central importance to the community as a whole.

One of the activities of the Network was to conduct a research employment and economic opportunities; transparency and accountability in the local government; and Youth activities available for the Serbian communities. These questionnaires developed with the support of ECMI Kosovo, CSD and NRAEWOK were published in Serbian language and distributed throughout the municipalities by our local correspondents, with the support of CSD and NRAEWOK.

Through the research gained by these questionnaires, ECMI Kosovo presents these Policy Briefs, which will briefly outline the findings of the research, as well as recommendations for institutions and conclusions that can be drawn.

This research was conducted in the Municipality of Kamenicë/Kamenica, Šilovo/Shillovë, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Parteš/Partesh, Novobrdo/Novobërdë, and Klokot/Kllokot.