5 years MCIC in Kosovo

Macedonian Center for Interna-

tional Cooperation
5
years MCIC in Kosovo

1999-2004

Macedonian Center of International Cooperation

 CONTENTS

Message from MCIC 5

Kosovo Crisis 7
MCIC’s First Presence in Kosovo 11
Support of Agriculture 16
MCIC Continued with its Programmes 19
Strengthening Kosovo Partners 27

We are remembered in Kosovo by doing good 30
Statistical Data 34
Financial Report 35
Organization 36
What Had Been Said About Us 38
Message from MCIC

The first activity of the Macedonian Center of International Cooperation

(MCIC) on Kosovo was realized on June 28, 1999 with the assistance
provided in Dragas, followed by the opening of office in Gjakovica on
July 15, 1999.
MCIC on Kosovo? Why?
In April 1999, upon the appeal of El Hilal, MCIC got involved in providing
assistance to the displaced persons in “no man’s land” between Kosovo
and Macedonia. Since then and throughout the Kosovo crisis, MCIC was
one of the leading organizations coping with the consequences of the
Kosovo crisis in Macedonia: the refugees and the political instability.
Such involvement gave an opportunity to MCIC to see not only the
threat on the political stability caused by the numerous refugees, but
also to see the human tragedy in the midst of the crisis.
Those were not refugees from Kosovo, but our people, our neighbors in
trouble. Regardless of the political or ethnical or any other differences
help should be provided to the people, to our neighbors in deed.
So, it was natural decision of MCIC to help the neighbors and in their
country, Kosovo, to play the role of “ice breaker” in the relations 
between the two neighbors and the ruling prejudices.
Organization from Macedonia helps in Kosovo, with mixed teams
from Macedonia and Kosovo, and of ethnic Macedonians and ethnic
Albanians both from Macedonia and Kosovo. And teams capable of
working both with Kosovo ethnic Albanians and non-Albanians (first
of all Gorans). And to work in the areas fiercely suffering from the war,
such as Gjakovica or Mala Krusa in Prizren.
In 2001, following its principle of local capacities development
the operational presence has transformed into partnership of three
organizations. Two of them stem from MCIC’s team in Gjakovica: Kosovo
Development Center and Kosovo Women Initiatives.
In the past years we witnessed the great sacrifices of many people in
Kosovo’s reconstruction, but also the establishment of many friendships
on all levels. I am sure that many of the involved people support the
friendship between the people from Macedonia and Kosovo. That is
our small contribution towards peace and stability, development and
building of good relations.

Saso Klekovski
Executive Director
 Mission statement
The Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) is a civic society
organization that operates in the domain of sustainable development,
awareness raising and social - humani­ta­rian (basic) assistance.

The goal of MCIC is the promotion, support and development of local, national
and international initiatives for encouraging sustainable development of
human resources in Macedonia and abroad.

For the implementation of its goals and tasks, MCIC mobilizes and organizes
human resour­ces, financial and material assets, both in the country and
abroad.

MCIC provides funding for the activities from numerous agencies of the World
Council of Churches and from governmental and international organizations.

GOALS, SECTORS AND METHODS

The strategic goals of MCIC are:
- promotion of peace;
- further development of civic society;
- help to groups in need.

MCIC is active in the following sectors:

- water supply and sanitation;
- rural development;
- education;
- employment and income generation;
- civic society and democratization;
 - emergency aid.

MCIC implements its activities through:

- support of projects;
- training and consulting;
- information;
- advocacy and lobbying;
- management.

MCIC is re-registered in the Register of Citizen Associations and Foundations,

at the Primary Court Skopje I, under registration number 492, by Resolution
No. 434/99, dated 06.10.1999. Source number 4878256. Unique tax
number4030994180119
 KOSOVO CRISIS
The Kosovo crisis of 1999 indisputably covered Macedonia as
well, which accepted around 350,000 refugees from Kosovo. The
Macedonian Centre for International Co-operation tried to make
certain estimates event before the start of the crisis, in order to be
prepared to response to possible demands and needs of all entities
involved in the crisis. But, the big wave of refugees caught not
only the humanitarian organizations unprepared, but government
institutions as well. In Macedonia, fear and concern about the
possible spill-over of the crisis in the country occurred.
In accordance with its general policy and strategy, MCIC reacted
immediately. At the end of March 1999, the Plan for Emergency
Operations “Shelter Macedonia” was made. The plan started being
implemented in April 1999.
The plan covered several tasks: establishing the preparedness
for relevant and real activities that would take place in case of a
negative development of the situation; support of the basic needs of
the refugees hosted with families and camps; support to marginalized
groups; strengthening the human resources to recognize common
values and priorities; contribution to the promotion of the national

Studying is inevitable even
in most dire conditions stability and protection of refugees via decreasing the inter-ethnic
tensions among Macedonian citizens. MCIC reacted quickly to the
wave of refugees at the border crossings. In the first week of the crisis
MCIC distributed enough food for 40,000 refugees and coordinated
the aid to the partner organizations that came from their countries
by air and by road(Diakonishes Werk from Germany, DanChurch Aid
from Denmark and Norwegian Church Aid from Norway).
With the approval of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and in
accordance with the High Commissioner for Refugees of the United
Nations, MCIC took over the managing of the refugee camp at the
village of Radusa. It also undertook a number of activities to resolve
the water supply and sanitation of the camps at Radusa and Bojane.
MCIC also built the complete sanitation system, organized the hard
waste removal and building of the drainage system at the camps at
Cegrane.
The first wave of refugees Despite the 14 open refugee camps, most of the refugees (about
at the border crossing of Blace 170,000) were with host families. MCIC provided aid to about 50,000
beneficiaries per month (in a period of 5 months), 26,000 of whom
were refugees and members of host families, including 2,000 babies,
as well as 24,000 socially endangered persons.
 MCIC succeeded to promote joint activities
with local citizen organizations, which was
of double value. The local NGOs were the
most important ‘channel’ for support to the
refugees. Thanks to these organizations,
such as El Hilal, accommodation was
provided for around two thirds of the
total number of refugees. Maybe most
important was the establishment of an
NGO coordination in order to provide
assistance for all people, regardless of
their ethnic or religious affiliation. As a
result of this cooperation, for example, the
Roma organization Mesecina from Gostivar
supported ethnic Albanian refugees, and
there were also reverse examples.
MCIC built water supply system in
Radusa, Skopje

In front of the Blace border crossing, from left to right: Saso

Klekovski, Christian Balslev-Olesen, General Secretary of DCA and
Paul Nielsen, then Minister for Development of Denmark

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

 Organizations
involved in
distribution of
the humanitarian
assistance
Roma Humanitarian and Volunteer
Society ‘Mesecina’ – Gostivar, with
organizations in Debar and Kicevo
Humanitarian Organization (of the
Islamic Community in RM) – El
Hilal – Skopje, with branches in
Kumanovo, Tetovo and Gostivar
Humanitarian (Roma) Organization
‘Peace’ – Skopje
Humanitarian (Roma) Organization
Approximately 170.000 refugees were sheltered at ‘Homos’ – Skopje
host-families Roma Community Center ‘Drom’ 
– Kumanovo
Association of Macedonians with
Islamic Religion – Skopje
Humanitarian Voluntary Society
‘Mother Theresa’ – Struga
Union of the Albanian Woman in
Macedonia – Tetovo, with branch in
Gostivar
Women’s Organization – Probistip
Single Parents Society ‘Hope’
– Kocani
Single Mothers Society – Stip
Union of Serbian Women in RM
– Skopje
Humanitarian Organization (of
the Bitola eparchy of the MOC)
‘Resurrection’ – Bitola
Evangelist-Methodist Church
– Strumica

The Camp of Chegrane

The office in Gjakovica, where all
activities were coordinated
MCIC’S FIRST
PRESENCE IN
KOSOVO
At the end of June 1999, MCIC decided to actively work, rather
than talk about good neighborly and regional cooperation,
making the first step outside Macedonia, with its program
“Restoring the Life in Kosovo”. The goal was to encourage
peaceful and just solutions for the existing differences
and promote good neighborly relations, co-operation and
peaceful cohabitation among everybody living in Kosovo
and the region. The program supported the communities in
restoring the life after conflict, by fixing their homes and
other infrastructure, providing food, support to agriculture,
4
creating basis of income generation and support to local civic
organizations. For this purpose, MCIC opened local offices in
Gjakovica and Dragas, with personnel of 20 people.
The program “Restoring the Life in Kosovo” was implemented
Jacques Willemse and Karel
in the south-west part of Kosovo, that is, in 43 villages of the
Righters, members of Consortium for
11
municipalities of Gjakovica, Orahovac, Prizren and Dragas. Macedonia and Saso Klekovski on a
Certain activities, such as development of civil society and working visit to Kosovo
media support, took place at the whole territory of Kosovo.
The support covered about 48,700 beneficiaries.

Members of GB of MCIC during a visit to a

family in Gjakovica
 Reconstruction of houses
The biggest activity of MCIC in Kosovo was to provide homes for the
refugees that returned home. The aid consisted of: temporary shelters,
reconstruction of houses and providing prefabricated homes.
The refugees that returned home did not have the elementary living
conditions, or a roof above their heads, and because the winter was
approaching, temporary shelters or reconstruction of houses with
minor damages was to be provided.
MCIC provided aid in tents, beds, mattresses, sheets and blankets
for 171 families. This was provided by Action of Churches Together
(ACT).
In July 1999 MCIC selected six villages of the region of Gjakovica and
Orahovac with about 6,000 citizens and the whole region of Dragas
with a total of 36 villages and about 40,000 citizens to support.
The most intensive activity was the reconstruction of the houses 4
that covered a hard roof, two rooms, kitchen, water supply and
electricity. In 1999 and 2000 MCIC supported 160 families that
lived in 151 houses, in 11 villages and the city area of Gjakovica,
People have difficulties in meeting end to as well as all 27 families with damaged houses in the municipality
end after the war of Dragas. The selection was made in cooperation with the village
boards, and in the cases of municipalities of Dragas and Gjakovica in
consultation with the municipal power. In order to take care of the
families whose houses were classified as category 5 (houses that can
not be reconstructed), MCIC, in cooperation with other ACT partners
in Kosovo provided 136 prefabricated houses that were delivered and
set before the coming of the winter.

12

Gjakovica right after the end of the war Distribution of construction material for renewal
of homes

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

 Construction of a Destroyed Village
Shefqet Brahimay is an agricultural engineer, director of the
agricultural association in his village. Unless somebody tells you that
he is 50, you’ll admire the mobility of “at least 70 year old” Shefqet.
The combination of the face filled with wrinkles and the strong and
mobile body will become logical after you find out that his village had
been a conflict area for at least seven years.
Shqiponja (Eagle) as they call it now, or Jablanica, as they called it
until the peace came, is a Gjakovica village with 131 houses, with
about 1,000 villagers. In March 1997 it was fiercely shelled. The
villages remained there until the end of the war, although their houses
were all damaged during the attack.
They did not leave the village even after the end of the fight in 1999,
despite the lack of basic living conditions. Most of their tractors were
fully destroyed, and the few of them that “survived” were damaged. 22
tractors were fixed by the end of the year.
The constriction works were the reason why we went to this village
on that December morning. Because the reconstruction of the houses
had not began yet, the winter found most of the villagers in tents.
An engineer from Albania who was to show how montage houses are
set to the villagers, so that they do it afterwards themselves, was also 13
with us.
We went to Shefqet’s house. The “old man” was in the yard with
Children rejoice at their new homes several other villagers. Engineer Piro immediately went behind the
walls of one of the two demolished houses in the year. Hammering
was heard from there. Several guys had already started setting up the
prefabricated houses intended for the family of Shefqet’s brother. The
materials for the prefabricated homes has already arrived, and the
guys had started assembling the boards, either being impatient, or
because of the coming cold.
While we were in the yard, chickens were around our feet. Shefqet
also got them from MCIC. When the idea of distributing chickens
was mentioned to made many people laugh, but the reaction of the
villagers showed that it was a very practical one. They got eggs every
day.
Shqiponja or Jablanica, was left behind us, as we went along another
road, though the mountains, filled with various cartridges, left from
the demolition time.
Aid in food was
welcomed by all
Aid in food
MCIC also started with food distribution, covering 43
villages. In the period of August-October 1999, monthly
distributions were made of food packages and hygiene
products, from ACT supply brought from Albania. In
November and December distribution from Macedonia was
made for the villages in the region of Gjakovica, while
there were “winter packages” made for all 36 villages
in the region of Dragas and there was a one time aid
distribution.

The Village of Senoc Survived Distribution of food in village

of Rastelica, Dragas
the Worst
“MCIC was the first organization to help the village. In the
beginning it was aid in food, clothes and hygiene products,
and later the distribution of construction material and tool
kits started. The aid was necessary to start a normal life,
because the damages of the village were big, around 90%”
as Faredin Krasniqi, president of the village told us.
The village has around 900 citizens. Because the
reconstruction work started later, the winter came and
15
it made the distribution of constriction material difficult.
There was a house of culture built in the village, and a
playground. Some of the 4 category houses were not
reconstructed yet. Most of the villages worked in the
agriculture and the others worked abroad.
“When the war started in the spring, the population
escaped the village, and very few remained. In June,
everybody returned. My house was completely destroyed,
and we slept outside, under a tent, for almost four months.
When it rained, it was wet inside. But man can sustain
everything.” Told us Faredin at the end of the discussion.

Food packages for the inhabitants

of village Senoc
 SUPPORT OF
AGRICULTURE
The activities in the area of agriculture covered several aspects.
The support of the agriculture was provided via distribution
of laying hens, feed, various agriculture tools and fixing of
tractors.
The aid in fixing of tractors and tools was done in cooperation
with MCIC partner, Diakonisches Werk from Germany. The
identification was made in the villages of the region of Gjakovica
and Dragas. There were repair services open in two villages.
MCIC signed an agreement with the service owner that he would
compensate the funds invested in his service with the necessary
fixing work for the community. At the end of July 2000 there
were 200 beneficiaries of agricultural machines identified from In the southwest part of Kosovo
23 villages in the south-west part of Kosovo, and there was aid reparation of 150 damaged tractors, 50
approved to fix about 150 damaged tractors, 50 cultivators and 6 motocultivators and 6 combines was
performed
combine harvesters.
In May 2000 there was aid distributed to 2,000 families of 16 4
villages in the municipality of Strpce, 11 of which were with
ethnic Serbs and 5 with ethnic Albanians, They received aid in
fodder, fertilizers and laying hens. This contributed to meeting
the basic needs of population that lives isolated with insufficient
own resources. Mostly, the population was into cattle breeding.
However, the isolation of almost two years, especially in the
16 populated places of ethnic Serbs, from the other part of Kosovo
created difficulties for the citizens. The inability of trade with
cattle made all the cattle breeders slaughter most of the cattle
that they bred for sale. Besides, all international organizations
that mainly provided aid in food withdrew from Strpce. To
distribute the aid, MCIC developed co-operation wit the local
authorities and civic organizations in Strpce. They were in charge
of beneficiary identification and final distribution.

Distribution of aid to villages

inhabited with ethnic Serbs

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

With Will and Desire to Big Results
In the course of the first visit to Gjakovica, MCIC identified one dairy factory in
the village of Sheremet. The situation after the war was very hard, about 80%
of the facility and machines were destroyed. MCIC approved aid of 75,000 Euro
to the owner of the factory, Sali Golay, to start production, and it was repaid in
delivery of dairy products to schools and social institutions.
“In my family we had no hope that we will continue with our work. The only hope
was that someone would help us. Then MCIC appeared, giving us the chance to
start work. The funds were sufficient to return to the former situation. In April
2000 we reactivated the factory. It was a big pleasure for us, but also for the
whole region.” Told us Sali.
At the beginning, five persons were employed in the factory, and now, there
are 14. The number of farmers who buy out milk grows every day. Today, there The milk farm “Golaj” has set
are about 100. The market demands also grows, but not at a satisfactory level, an example for successful work
because of the current economic policy. Almost all dairy products are produced in nowadays
the factory, and around 1,400 liters of milk are processed daily.
“We hope that in time we will improve the technology of the factory, and
therefore we invest in new machines every year. In this way we will increase the
production, which is the possibility for new jobs in our region” told us Sali at the
end of the conversation.

Aid to Ethnic Serbs

Four years after the first visit of MCIC to Brezovica and Strpce, we came to 17
visit these people, whose life had not changed since then. The people looked
at us strangely, a bit surprised. When we told them we came from MCIC, they
remembered the aid that we distributed then. We looked for Dragoljub, who was
the person in charge for distribution of the aid to the beneficiaries. His house
was by the road to Prizren. Dragoljub came out of the house and looked at us
confused. We greeted him, and there, Dragoljub recognized us.
“How come you are here, we thought that you had forgotten us”, said Dragoljub
smiling. “The people are very grateful for the aid they received. They are asking
4
where the people who helped us then are. The people from Macedonia did not
forget us in those difficult moments. Other organizations did not help our
villages. During the conflict it was very bad, and after the war we could not come
out of the village. We were cut from the world. We did not even have petrol for
the cultivator.” Said Dragoljub while we drank coffee at the yard.
He told us that people now worked more for the international organizations, and
very little on the land. There is very little left for sales of produce. He told us that
there were still displaced persons. In Brezovica there were around seven hundred
citizens and three hundred displaced persons.
We separated from Dragoljub and Brezovica. On the road there were constantly Dragoljub has not forgotten
about his friends in Macedonia
vehicles of the Kosovo police. We hoped that these people will find their peace.
 SUPPORT TO MEDIA
MCIC supported the board of editors of the Pristina weekly “Zeri”, who faced
the problem of lack of appropriate technical equipment for regular work. The
project enabled further issuing of the weekly, as well as publishing of the daily
“Zeri”, in order to better inform the public on current events.
In the beginning of June 2000, MCIC, together with the civic organization from
Gjakovica “We Are with You” started implementing the project “Training of
Journalists”. It covered support to the media in Kosovo by providing training
to journalists, thus contributing to the development and strengthening of the
civic society and democratization. The training had two phases: training of
trainers and school for young journalists.
In the first phase, there was a 12 day course for 15 experienced journalists
from the region, in Neum and in Sarajevo, from 17 to 28 June. The second
part covered establishment of a training centre for young journalists from
Gjakoica.

INCOME GENERATION 4
This part supported the factory for production of tiles IMN from Gjakovica,
which employed 220 persons. The production of this factory was restored
in November 1999, and the aid that MCIC provided was paid in kind, used
to build houses.
In the course of 1999-2000, besides the urgent aid, there were activities
implemented in the areas of water supply in the villages, distribution of
18 agricultural raw materials for the spring and autumn sewing season, and
there were pregnant heifers purchased for 165 families and the Association
of Dairy Producers from Gjakovica.
All of these activities contributed to recovery of the villages after the
conflict and rehabilitation of their production capacities, mainly in the
area of agriculture, because this is a rural area. MCIC, as in other programs
it had, mainly was guided by the needs of the people and tried to design
the aid according to these needs. One of the most successfully evaluated
methodologies was the use of vouchers for agricultural raw materials that
could be used by the farming facilities to choose products they were most
in need of in the local agricultural pharmacies.

Factory for tile production in

Gjakovica

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

MCIC CONTINUED
WITH ITS PROGRAMS
2001-2002
After the end of the urgent phase and in accordance with its experience,
MCIC started a development program, fully implemented via local citizen
associations (CA). In the course of 2001-2002 the program Transition of
Kosovo (TKS) was implemented.
MCIC identified three partners of this kind in Kosovo that continued
and followed the involvement and achievements of MCIC in Kosovo:
We Are with You (NCCV), Kosovo Development Centre (KRC) and Kosovo The farmers share the experience
Women Initiative (KZI). Each one of them is focused and was responsible
for different parts of the program. In this context, MCIC continued its
presence in Kosovo as a relation, to provide: gradual transformation of
the programs from urgent to development ones; implementation by local
CA, instead by MCIC; appropriate aid and guidance of local CA, as well
as capacity building for them; providing appropriate continuation of the
previous activities that local CA could not cover fully (ex. the area of 19
Dragas).
Within TKC program, there were 47 projects approved and implemented.
One of the main values of the MCIC involvement in this program was
enabling local partner CA in Kosovo.
Within these frames, there was training in project cycle management 4
held in May 2002, in order to provide basic knowledge on project
phases, establish an appropriate system for project management in
these organizations. The target group of this training was the employees
in the local CA that were also direct implementing agencies of the TKC
activities. There were 12 persons participating in the training, employees
and activists of the organizations, and it was implemented in Mitrovica
by two MCIC trainers.
The second activity of this part was the project Training for Institutional
Development and Organizational Strengthening (IR/OJ) for local
partners. The project implemented training for the managements of the
local partners from Kosovo, who were introduced to the methodology for
more efficient management of organizations. The training took place in
July, and there were 11 persons participating.
Training for local associations
 WE ARE WITH YOU
The non-governmental organization “We Are with You” was established in
July 1999, following the war in Kosovo. Professionals in various areas were
involved in the organization.

Mission
The civic association “We Are with You”, through its activities supports the
concept of development of the democratic mentality and culture, where
citizen with creative ideas and capabilities are able to contribute to social
and economical welfare of the individual and the community.

Goals of the organization were: Initiating and supporting local initiatives;

Development of civil society and culture of democracy; Creating prerequisites
for multi-ethnic dialogue; Health, educational and cultural education; Taking
20
care of the environment; Promotion of needs for healthy and quality food.
The organization realized activities as organizing seminars, lectures,
promotion and development of training for civil society projects; Publishing
leaflets, posters, and brochures with educational contents; Organizing summer
youth educational camps; Building public awareness for environmental
protection; Organizing concerts, exhibitions and cultural evenings; Initiating
and supporting projects with development character.
4
Target group
Young people, women, persons with special needs, nationalities and
professionals.

During its existence, the organization implemented various projects. Some
of them are: “Re-integration of Former UCK Combatants in Civil Life,” where
adaptation and integration in the civil life was provided for 168 former
combatants. Computer courses, English lessons, psychosocial help, crafts
skills and other courses were organized. “Sexual Education of Juveniles” was
a six months project, implemented in several towns and villages. Within the
project, two doctors succeed to provide sexual education of juveniles through
lectures, brochures and direct contacts, thus contributing to the action
against artificial and illegal abortions and planning of youth’s sexual life;
New knowledge for better practical “Journalist Ethics and Freedom of the Press” was a two day seminar where
realization of projects
20 journalists participated, with exposés of prominent Kosovo journalists.
Attendants agreed that the freedom of the press in Kosovo is endangered.

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

“We Are with You” (WAWY) was in charge of the institutional development
and organizational strengthening of civil associations. Five trainings were
implemented for the local CA in the region of Orahovec, Malisevo, Decani,
Klina, and Skenderaj; five issues of the civil society bulletin were published,
and three projects for lobbying and advocacy were implemented: Coalition
and Networking of CA (developing a network for cooperation between CA from
the region of Southwestern Kosovo); Legal Framework for CA (CA introduction
to basic principles of the legal framework for CA in Kosovo); Public Debates
on Tax Policy of the CA (informing CA on new tax policy on Kosovo, as well as
introducing CA to their obligations and responsibilities towards the central
fiscal authorities in Kosovo); and Micro-project Financing of Local CA (ten
micro grants were assigned to CA from Southwestern Kosovo).

Through Training to More Knowledge

From 18 to 22 June 2002, in Decane, project cycle management training was
held, where 15 participants from civil associations from Decane took part.
At the training, standard themes were covered, such as: planning and the
significance of the planned; development of a tree of goals, grouping the Training aimed at civic
problems, selection of strategy / logic of intervention, analysis of revenues society activists
and expenditures, financial sustainability, allocation of resources, methods
of establishing monitoring system over the project cycle, etc.
“I have spent some nice working days; I think that with this kind of training
by which the knowledge is expanding,” said Astrit Basriu from the civil
association “New Era” from Decani. “The presentation was very successful
and understandable. It is up to us to apply the learned material into our
organizations. I am talking for myself, as I don’t have experience in writing
project-proposals,” he added.
“The organization to which I belong found it necessary to send me to this
training, in order to get me involved in more projects. The expectations were
the same, as one would have before any training. To learn something new,
to foresee that what you know will be channeled in some way, that one will
receive answers to all questions and uncertainties,” told us at the end of the
training Lumnije Jusufi from “Family Advice” from Decane.
The training was conveyed by Bekim Sejdiu (FKShC), Arbnor Pula (FID), Arta
Zherka (East-West Institute), and Luan Gola (We Are with You).
Training participants expect
answers to many questions

21
 KOSOVO DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE
Kosovo Development Centre (KDC) is civil and not-for-profit
organization, which was established in 2001 by the local initiative
and was supported by MCIC and ICCO. Kosovo Development Centre
is registered with UNMIK under registration number 510105-8. The
structure of the management consists of: assembly, board, executive
director, project associates, administrator, and an accountant.
Furthermore, depending on the needs, junior project associates are
participating in certain projects.

Organization Goal
Strategic goals of KDC are:
• Improvement of social and economic level of Kosovo’s
agriculture;
• Development of civil society;
• Distributing aid to the groups in need.

KDC acts in following sectors:

• Development of rural areas;
• Employment and income generation;
• Civil society and democracy;
• Information and publications.
4
Sector(s) of intervention (number of covered sectors, local self-
governments, villages):
KDC is mainly active in the southwestern region of Kosovo, but also in
other Kosovo regions.
KDC covers villages in 15 local self-governments: Prizren, Orahovac,
Gjakovica, Dragas, Istog, Decani, Pec, Vitina, Skenderaj, Drenas, and
22
Vustri.

Type of intervention (short description of advisory and other

activities):
Main products and services offered by KDC include:
• Increasing the needs for services;
• Small grants for
a) Community development initiatives, and At one of the staff meetings
b) Strengthening cooperation;
• Developing local associations’ capacity with trainings and courses;
• Organizational support for agricultural associations;
• Information exchange on rural development;
• Informing (through brochures and bulletins);
• Information exchange on agricultural sector;

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

• Advocacy and lobbying for consumers’ rights protection, control of
the food quality and support of agricultural sector;
• Financial support for initiative development through grants.

Agricultural families, beneficiaries of KDC activities:

15 local communities, 30 villages and almost 5000 beneficiaries.
Target group (clients, partners):
Agricultural associations, entrepreneurs and individual farmers, widows,
minority groups.

Kosovo Development Centre (KDC) was responsible for implementing

activities for socio-economical development of farmers in rural areas.
A total of six trainings were held and four issues of the Agro Bulletin
were published for individual farmers, agricultural associations
and agricultural cooperatives. In addition, the project “Support
in Establishing Agricultural Associations” was implemented. KDC
facilitated workshops for the establishing process of six associations.
Furthermore, technical assistance to farmers was given, and they were
trained in successful farm management and production increase. Hasan and his crops

Hasan’s Example Should Be a Role

Model for Other Farmers
Hasan Halili from the village of Bec, Gjakovica grows vegetables: 23
tomato, pepper, cucumbers, as well as potatoes and watermelon. He
owns 12 acres of cultivable land.
He is into this for 30 years now. He told us that in the past there was
a great income from vegetables. This year he planted tomatoes in a
greenhouse, and potatoes, peppers, cabbage, watermelons, onions, and
other plants in the field.
“I have great experience in growing vegetables in the field; I started
to work with greenhouses in 2000. Thanks to KDC, besides the offered
assistance in materials, I have gained great experience in cultivating
vegetables in greenhouses, which is of great support for the family
economy.”
Hasan is satisfied with the prices on the Kosovo’s market, as during the
season the goods are available, there is an invasion of goods from the
neighboring countries, thus creating big agitation and damage.
“This year,” Hasan emphasized, “we have big problems with the weather
conditions too, as the vegetables that were planted in the field were
infected with various diseases and our treatments were unsuccessful, as
there was constant rain and heavy sun from time to time, which created Farmers associations’ training
a fertile environment for diseases.”
We should say that the example of the farmer from Bec is an inspiring
case. Hasan and other members of his family are working at the field,
thus providing means for the life of the family of 13 members.
 KOSOVO WOMEN INITIATIVE

Vision
We would like to live in a society where woman would have gender
equality, where she would be emancipated and become professional
Iniciativa e Femrës Kosovare in all fields of life.

Mission
Kosovo Women Initiative (KWI) is civil and not-for-profit
organization, which serves economical, educational, and democratic
development of civil society, and especially women, through projects
and programs that unite sustainability of the non-profit sector and
improve professional structure.
Kosovo Women Initiative from Gjakovica is civil and non-profit
organization, which was established in June 2001. Since its early
beginnings it aimed toward supporting the inclusion of women and
youth into social life, by offering programs for strengthening their
position, and their schooling and education, as well as programs for
economic development, offering numerous trainings for managing of
their business.
Women inclusion in social life aims toward assistance, consulting,
and training in the fields of gender equality inclusion from all
aspects, and especially in the fields of politics, through mediation in 4
resolving various conflicts within the family, and establishing youth
monitoring groups in the municipal assembly. KWI participated in the
Children rejoice at the New Year’s presents
preparation of the Strategic National Plan for gender equality, which
now acts as a law after adoption by the Parliament of Kosovo.
Programs for schooling and education aim towards awareness raising
of women and monitoring of their position and role in Kosovo’s
24 society, as well as their better inclusion in social life. Within these
programs, a number of activities are incorporated, such as training of
women and girls in advocacy, course in Albanian language for young
Bosniacs, training of Gjakovica citizens in citizen participation and
advocacy, etc. Several round tables, debates, and seminars were held
on the topics of women and juvenile rights and their role in the
society.
KWI is one of the most active civil associations in Gjakovica and has
good cooperation with various civil and government organizations in
Gjakovica and other municipalities.
Kosovo Women Initiative (KWI) was in charge of the development
of the civil society with a focus on women issues. Projects were
implemented in the field of trainings on women and family violence,
introduction to inheritance rights, and training for the business
improvement. In the field of awareness rising, the project for

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

 integration of women in the social life was implemented. Furthermore, there
were projects in the cultural field, such as promotion of handcrafts, exhibition
of traditional handcrafts and exhibition of knitted handcrafts implemented.

Preserving the Tradition

In Kosovo, the handcrafts tradition has been cherished for centuries. Traditional
handcrafts are still attractive for most of the people, both for Kosovo population
and for foreigners, which comprise a significant number of today’s inhabitants.
However, this time the handcrafts were not intend to generate income, but had
rather a humanitarian character.
“The idea was completely incidental. In a conversation with one of my friends,
she told me that her mother is knitting, but she is not satisfied with the sales.
As the New Year Eve was approaching, I thought to bring some happiness to
the children with no parents, so I thought to myself that we could arrange
something together,” told us Ardita Rizvanoli, manager of the project.
Women that work on handcrafts were involved in the project. These women
come from different municipalities, and we would like to stress the fact that
women from ethnic minorities were also involved in the project. Women working
Women from different ethnic on the production of the handcrafts were from: Great Hoca (region inhabited
communities have participated by Bosniacs), Rahovec, Prizren, Gjakovica, and Pec. The exhibition was opened
in the project realization
for three weeks in November, at the exhibition gallery “Vizioni and ri 2000+” in
Gjakovica.
The exhibited products were for sale, while the funds gathered were used to buy
presents for the children with no parents and for single mothers. 25
During New Year festivities, the presents were given to the children with no
parents and to single mothers.

Initiatives in Dragas
Within the program Transition of Kosovo (ToK), there were also supported small
development initiatives in Dragas, where eight projects were implemented:
Courses in English language (organized by CA Flaka) and Courses in computers
(Mother Teresa) were held, aimed to train CA activists in basic knowledge in
English language and working with computers. Likewise, with the project
Technical Support to CA Vatan, the newly established organization of Gorans in
Dragas was supported.
Water supply for the villages of Brut and Kosava, reparation of a bridge in
village of Backa, children playground, and renovation of sanitary facilities of
the clinic in the village of Krusevo, were the projects for support of development
initiatives for improvement of the infrastructure in these villages.
The health education of women, organized by CA Flaka aimed towards rais-
ing the women awareness on health condition, in order to reduce diseases
and mortality at mothers and babies, and women training in timely seeking of
health care, through various lectures.
 With the Bridge – Closer to the World
The village of Backa is situated in the eastern part of the municipality of
Dragas, on the slopes of the Sar Mountain, at 1,200 meters altitude, some
6 kilometers from the municipal center. There are approximately 150 houses
in the village. At the moment, there are 85 inhabitants in the village, while
during the summertime and summer holidays this number raises to 900
inhabitants, as the largest part of them have moved out of the village after
the war on Kosovo, as well as because of economical reasons. Only a small
number of inhabitants of this village are employed in the municipality. There
is a school in the village, for pupils of first to fourth grade, while children
of fifth to eight grade attend the primary school at the village of Brod. The
main occupation of the villagers living in the village is cattle breeding.
The only road that connects the village with the municipality of Dragas leads
over Brodska River where an old and damaged bridge is situated (8 meters
long). The bridge is not passable for vehicles.
“I went abroad in search for employment in distant 1952. We have a pastry
shop there. Our village is cut off from the world. By repairing the bridge,
we solved many problems. It is something indescribable. A real salvation
for us. We live well with Albanians. We have helped them a lot during the
crisis. There are some 900 inhabitants in the village during the summertime,
and barely eighty in the winter – the oldest and those who have a job here.
Almost all of the villagers are working in Vojvodina and Serbia,” told us Murat
Construction of the bridge has solved some of Shaqiri.
the problems of the villages of village Backa
Water for the Inhabitants of the Village of
Kosava
The village of Kosava is located in the northern part of the municipality of
Dragas, some 13 kilometers from the municipality center. There is unpaved
road leading towards the village. Kosava is mountainous village at the foothill
of the Shar Mountain, at approximately 1,150 meters altitude. There are 110
families in the village, with some 1,200 permanent residents. Inhabitants
26 of this village are mostly working on cattel breeding. Approximately 30
inhabitants from the village live and work abroad, while some 40 inhabitants
are employed in or outside the municipality. The village has four hamlets
(mahalas), and each one of them has individual waterworks and water
networks, but there are no water meters in any of the settlements. The
hamlet of Mejzini-tertini has approximately 350 inhabitants.
“There was no water supply in the village, only village fountains. Now, all of
the houses are connected. We were in big trouble. There are vast amounts
of water in these mountains, there just be a way to use them. Women
were engaged in carrying the water, as well as the children. When bigger
quantities were needed, we, the men, were engaged too. But, even with all
those efforts, there was not enough water for all our needs,” told us Veiz
Sherifi, inhabitant of the village.
MCIC activity consisted of financial support for placing hydro insulation and
mortaring of a new tank, as well as for pipe connection of the tank with the
existing network, and installation and other works.

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

STRENGTHENING
KOSOVO PARTNERS

The evaluation of the Transition of Kosovo program was important to prepare and
start the new program Strengthening Kosovo Partners, 2003-2004, which contained
two main components: Strengthening the Capacities of the Kosovo Partners and
Support to Partner Programs. These two components were included with the three
local partners.
The evaluation of the program recommended “all three NGO-s, in order to maximize
their limited human and financial resources should develop more focused visions,
missions, goals and strategies. Related via the need for a bigger focus, the three
NGO-s should develop a mid-term planning framework that will connect the strategies
and activities with the organizational goals, from which annual plans and budgets
will result.”

Kosovo Development Centre (KDC)

Strengthening the Capacities
The goal of the project was institutional development and organizational strengthening
of the personnel and management structures of the organization, according to a
tailor-made program coming from the Needs Assessment Mission, conducted in 27
January 2003, by independent foreign consultants. The project covered activities
like: training of the personnel and management structures members; printing the
annual report of the organization as a basis for transparency towards donors, target
group and other relevant actors; external evaluation of the organization, to see the
4
relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of the organization with the target group after
the three-year implementation of activities and annual audit for 2002 and 2003, in
order to check the functioning of the financial procedures in the organization.

Support of Programs
The goal of the project was to contribute to the socio-economic development of the
farmers in the rural areas.
The activities were implemented in part of south-east Kosovo, where MCIC was active
in the period of 1999-2001. This covers the broader region of Gjakovica, Orahovec,
Prizren and the municipality of Dragas. Some of the activities were focused on
more regions with a specific target group of the rural areas (via the agriculture
component).
Kosovo Development Centre was responsible for collection, preparation land
dissemination of the information relates to the agricultural sector in the Target
regions, via the “Fermeri” agro-newsletter. The newsletter contained information
on the regulations, momentary situation and the development of the agricultural
 sector, case study (success stories of the target region), important
statistical data, advice for farmers, etc. The newsletter was issued on
quarterly basis, and it was distributed to the farmers and other NGO-s.
KRC also issued five brochures on various agricultural produce, such as
fruit and vegetables. The brochure covered information of the specific
character of the produce, conditions for its production, etc, with
various experts from the area of fruit and vegetables included. (picture
of the Bulletin).
Six training cycles were organized for farmer associations that are
founded with the help of KRC in the previous year. The training
was specifically related to the needs of the farmer association. KRC
also allocated 6 grants for various farmer associations, intended for
technical equipment.
Besides the training, there was also direct technical aid to farmers who
indicated interest for improving their work on the farms. This included:
advice for proper documentation, record and analysis of the production,
work plan development, etc. Study visits to positive examples among
the producers of the same produce in Kosovo were organized.
KRC financially supported 2 local initiatives in the region of Gjakovica Bulletin for the farmers
(municipal representatives, village boards, suburban boards, etc)
for repairs to the public infrastructure (schools, clinics, children
playgrounds).

We Are with You (WAWY)

Strengthening the Capacities
The goal of the project was institutional development and organizational
strengthening of the personnel and management structures of the
28 organization, according to a tailor-made program coming from the
Needs Assessment Mission, conducted in January this year, by local
independent consultants.
The activities covered training of the personnel and management
structures members; printing the annual report of the organization as a
basis for transparency towards donors, target group and other relevant
actors, as well as annual audit for 2002 and 2003.

Support of Programs
The goal of the project is institutional development and organizational
strengthening of the local NGO-s. The target area was part of south-east
Kosovo, where MCIC was active in the period of 1999-2001. This covers
the broader region of Gjakovica, Orahovec, Prizren and the municipality
of Dragas.

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

The project covered three training cycles for project cycle management
(RPC), while NSV provided individual advice for other NGO-s in the course
of the target period of the program. Three issues of the NGO newsletter
were printed, focused on the area of south-east Kosovo. We Are with You
in the period of 2003-2004 worked on four topics such as: coalitions and
networks of NGO; legal frame for NGO; tax policy related to NGO; and
awareness raising for the roles of the NGO sector. Workshops and open
debates on these topics were organized.

Kosovo Women Initiative (KWI)

Strengthening the Capacities
The goal of the project was institutional development and organizational
strengthening of the personnel and management structures of the
organization, according to a tailor-made program coming from the Needs
Assessment Mission, conducted in January this year, by local independent
consultants.
Kosovo Women Initiative conducted training of the personnel and
management structures members, according to the capacity building plan;
printing the annual report of the organization as a basis for transparency
towards donors, target group and other relevant actors; annual audit for
2002 and semi-annual audit for the first half of 2003, by an external audit
company, in order to check the functioning of the financial procedures
inside the organization; as well as annual audit for 2003 that was
conducted in March 2004.

Support of Programs Reward for MCIC from

This component was implemented by the local partner KWI. The goal of its Kosovo partners
the project was civil society development with a focus on women issues.
The activities were implemented in part of south-east Kosovo, where MCIC
was active in the period of 1999-2001. This covers the broader region of
Gjakovica, Orahovec, Prizren and the municipality of Dragas. Some of the
activities were focused on more regions with a specific target group. 29
Within the project, there were six debates held on raising the public
awareness for the role of woman in social processes. There were two
training cycles held on capacity strengthening of the women groups, two
with the local government, one training for the public administration, one
training on public relations and six workshops with the target group.
The support to Kosovo Women initiative was stopped in 2004, due to
internal structural changes in the organization and the split to two
independent entities, Kosovo Women Initiative and the Kosovo Women
Initiative – New Vision.
 We are remembered in
Kosovo by doing good

Memories from Kosovo

The work in Kosovo was one of the most impressive episodes of
my life.
The decision to accept the challenge in August 1999 was maturing
for a longer time, and probably the main moment leading to it,
happened around five months previously, at the beginning of
NATO bombing in SR Yugoslavia. It was the birthday of one of the
children of my high school friends, where for the first time we
talked with them about the existing crisis – the bombing itself, the
justification of the intervention, the situation with the refugees
on Blace, the relation between the Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo,
the perception/stereotypes of “our” Albanians. I was surprised
(softly said) by the difference in the discussion, the attitudes, and
the terminology itself, between my friends and me. I noticed that
the five-year experience in MCIC and the opportunity to work with
many different groups of people (ethnically mixed areas; rural/
urban; promoters of the rights of the marginalized groups – Roma,
women and skeptics on these issues) has significantly increased
4
my tolerance of differences and capability of understanding and
accepting “the others”. Then, I realized that I want and I should
continue in that direction, and that with the gained experience
I can contribute in overcoming the differences in understanding
among the various groups.
I remember the situation in Kosovo in the autumn of 1999. The
starting point was to avoid the holes made by NATO bombs to the
30 already ruined roads, in which obviously nothing was invested
since they were constructed. Or, the long journeys along those
roads and the waiting on the temporary bridges and border
crossings. Then, the use of satellite telephones, as the only
possible mean of communication, up to the working conditions
in the offices and houses – often without water and electricity,
with noisy generators on petrol and stoves using firewood, to
neutralize the temperatures of 20 below zero.
This situation has already been sufficiently “adventurous”, but
the work itself also brought many challenges. For me a partial
cultural shock was the first trip to Kosovo, when I expected to see
dominantly Albanian ethnic and Muslim religious symbols, but I
saw the illuminated Orthodox Church in the center of Prizren. Or
the driving through the main street – “corso” of Gjakovica, full of

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

young people, well dressed boys and girls, without any traces of the traditional dressing code.
There were also security challenges – telephone threats to some colleagues as well as the intrusion
of armed persons in the office. However, the representatives of the municipality and the local
police successfully dealt with them. Also impressive were the visits to the Serbian enclaves of
Orahovac, Strpce or Gracanica, where I had an opportunity to establish communication with the
both sides along the security barricades of NATO forces and to contribute for restoring of the
interrupted relations between the former neighbors and friends.
I remember the fire in the sport hall “Boro and Ramiz” in Pristina, as well as the “black
humoristic” stories afterwards whether Boro’s or Ramiz’s part of the hall was burnt down. I had
a similar story when one British humanitarian worker published his article on the Internet “Cikle
and Fatmir”, emphasizing my cooperation as ethnic Macedonian, with the colleague – ethnic
Albanian.
I was also impressed by the statement of our host in the rented house in Gjakovica – Agron
Poloska, after the discussion on Macedonia’s path towards the independence and the withdrawal
of the entire weaponry of the Yugoslav Army, when he said, “you should erect a 30-meter
monument for going through this process without a war”.
The debates in Kosovo on dependence – independence became concrete in 2001 when MCIC
decided to close its operational office and continue the support of three local organizations. We
forced their independence, and (to my surprise) they preferred “dependence” on MCIC. At the
end we came to the best combination – interdependence, to cooperate on activities of mutual
interest as equal partners.
Yes, these were some of my memories and experiences, since the time of the large humanitarian
operation when MCIC together with 360 other international organizations gave contribution for
Kosovo’s reconstruction.
The time when with intensive engagement in a short period of time and under difficult
circumstances we have helped to 350 families to reconstruct their houses, several thousand
people to get food during the first winter after the crisis, in fact seven villages with all its
residents to restore their life. 31
Why did we do all this? Aleksandar ?????
Read Alek’s story!

Aleksandar Krzalovski
Coordinator of MCIC program
in Kosovo in the period 1999 – 2001
 Experience with many peripetia
At the end of 2001 I was faced with an interesting decision,
whether to apply or not for a job in Kosovo, as MCIC’s
representative in Kosovo. It was challenging to apply, but
in the same time I had a dilemma whether the time spent
there with the partner organizations would be productive
and fruitful. Yet, I applied, although that meant additional
engagement for me. And a lot of energy as well. One thing
was obvious that what we have tried to do in our attempts
for capacity development of our three local partners was just
a small investment in the development of the civic society
in Kosovo. At the beginning the work was just the same as
taking care of a toddler or an adolescent child, when they
think they know everything and do not need help. This
made our job more challenging for me and the other MCIC
colleagues involved in this.
I remember one moment when I talked with the three local
partners about the need of strategic planning and thinking
of changes, because that was the only way for tackling
the new emerging challenges. It seemed to them that we
were talking about something that was beyond their needs.
After a year, two of the three organizations started to talk
on this topic, started to think strategically on their future
directions. We from MCIC were normally there to support
them, to help them with our experience in finding out the
road that will be fulfilling for them and their target groups.
32 Now the three local partners are well known organizations in
different areas. KDC in the field of agriculture, WAWY in the
field of civic society through strengthening the capacities
of NGOs and the institutions of the local government, and
the third partner KZI which following the internal structural
changes has divided into KZI and KZI new vision are well
known for resolving the gender issues.

Fatmir Bytyqi
Coordinator of MCIC program
in Kosovo in the period 2002 – 2004

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

 Alek’s Story
By chance, five and a half years ago I was hired by MCIC. My first job was
on 5 August 1999, in Kosovo, in the city of Gjakovica.
Almost all the people I knew, friends and family, thought the decision to
go in that place at that time was unreasonable. To be honest, I also started
doubting at one moment, but yet I went. Of course, with fear.
When I arrived, there was a lot of work, and I had no time to review my
decision. My closest collaborators were Albanians. My colleagues were
Albanians. The final beneficiaries of the aid we distributed were Albanians.
In the beginning, I was one of the two Orthodox Christians in Gjakovica.
Two years later, I went to the Serbian enclave of Strpce. My collaborators
were Serbian, the final beneficiaries of the aid we distributed were
Aleksandar with inhabitants of Serbian.
village Backa, Dragas
In 2001 I returned to Macedonia. We also faced the same fate. The
war conflict started. I worked with the internally displaced persons
– Macedonians. My collaborators were Macedonian, the final beneficiaries
of the aid that we distributed were Macedonian.
In these five-six years I have worked both with Albanians, Macedonians and
Serbs. Their features were different, their religion was different, but their
troubles were the same. They say that brothers are not the same, the fingers
on one hand are not the same, but these people were.
There I was an MCIC representative, or as they called us in Kosovo QMBN,
that is, “baca Aleki prej QMBN”.
These days, we went to Kosovo again with my colleagues from the
information department. I went, but I was not sure how they would receive
us, but all doubts disappeared. Everybody remembered us well. They spoke
of MCIC with smiles on their faces. 33
I can’t describe you the feeling I had at those moments. A feeling that
overcomes man when he sees the positive results of what ha had worked
on.
I think that we, MCIC, prolonged the life of all of those suffering people
at the moments that were the most difficult for them. I believe that it was
hard for them when they had to leave their homes, but it is even harder
when man returns and has to do something from what had remained of his
house that he had been building all of his life.
I am greeting everybody who needed our help, everybody whom we helped,
everybody who remembers us or have forgotten us in time and everybody
who said good words about us.
I dedicate this to them: May you be alive and healthy, and may God never
allow that you need such help on our side. May you stay in health.

Aleksandar Stevanovski
Project Assistant for MCIC
 STATISTICAL DATA
MCIC follows its achievements with a project portfolio monitoring system, as well as by keeping specific records of
the individual products. MCIC does the project portfolio monitoring through several mechanisms: sector, programs,
location, target group and instruments. This overview shows the results according to some of these parameters,
providing table overview by years. In its five-year work in Kosovo, MCIC has realized 120 projects, with overall
budget of MKD 458 million or EUR 7 million. The table 1 shows the results realized according to sectors and
years. Over 50 percent of the realized projects are in the civic society sector, followed by the agriculture, emergency
assistance etc.

Table 1 Sector 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total

Number of Water supply and sanitation 1 3 2 6

projects Employment and generating income 1 1
divided Civic society and democracy 11 17 3 27 5 1 64
by sectors
Emergency assistance 11 2 13
realized in the
period 1999- Agriculture 5 8 2 10 1 26
2004 Social activities 2 4 4 10
Total: 30 32 5 44 8 1 120

Dominantly Instruments 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total

used instrument Table 2 Financial support 26 22 5 12 8 73
in the programs Loan
in Kosovo, but Number of
projects Training 2 8 20 30
also generally
in MCIC, is according to Information 2 6 1 9
the financial instruments Representation/lobbying 2 6 8
assistance. in the period
1999 – 2004 Total: 30 32 5 44 8 1 120

34
The distribution of the
target group in these
Celna group
Target grupa 1999 2000 2001
2000 2001 2002
2002 2003
2003 2004
2004 Vkupno
Total categories is made
@eni
Women 1 33 88 11 13
13 according to the dominant
Selani
Peasants 77 11 88 Table 3 participation of the users
Etni~ki
Ethnic malcinstva
minorities 22 22 22 66 in the projects. In cases
Number of
of multiple vulnerability
Children and youth
Deca i mladina 3 11 44 projects
of the users (belonging to
according to the
Marginalized
Marginalizirani 44 44 two or more categories,
groups
grupi target groups in
such as young Goran’s
the period 1999
Refugees
Begalci iand
raseleni 15 11 22 10
10 28
28 women in rural areas),
– 2004
displaced
lica persons only one is taken in
General
Op{ta 11 14
14 33 24
24 44 11 57
57 consideration, the most
Total:
Vkupno: 30 32
32 55 44
44 88 11 120
120
relevant regarding the
number of users and the
type of project activities.

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

FINANCIAL REPORT
INCOME 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total
Interchurch Organisation for 5,436,607 155,245,149 3,250,000 20,675,500 21,612,175 176,983,277*
Development Cooperation
Dutch Interchurch Aid 71,704,717 6,964,356 78,669,073
ACT Netherlands 3,999,485 13,461,211 17,460,696
Christian Aid 26,911,499 19,591,165 46,502,664
Norwegian Church Aid 20,353,035 20,353,035
DanChurchAid 931,001 12,321,033 13,252,034
Swiss Interchurch Aid 2,379,229 12,093,738 14,472,967
Diakonisches Werk 7,751,070 3,052,275 10,803,345
Lutheran World Relief 14,281,828 18,875,937 33,157,765
Lutheran World Federation 6,407,134 6,407,134
United Church of Canada 811,642 811,642
Presbyterian Church 23,944,012 23,944,012
United Church of Christ Japan 1,692,371 1,692,371
Regional Environmental Center 550,664 550,664
Positive forex, own and 4,957,026 4,497,822 345,666 3,859,491 13,660,005
extraordinary income
TOTAL INCOME 186,630,170 222,749,317 29,032,244 23,727,775 21,957,841 3,859,491 458,720,684
EXPENDITURES
Rehabilitation of houses 66,197,990 66,492,522 132,690,512
Public infrastructure 2,120,708 1,434,856 3,555,564
Social activities 8,912,488 8,440,439 17,352,927
Food security - distribution 47,996,550 47,996,550 35
Food security - agriculture 22,977,572 64,817,615 18,437,916 106,233,103
Income generation 3,689,183 3,689,183
Civic society 1,948,191 4,619,245 2,707,467 15,742,136 19,940,351 493,730 45,451,120
development
Media and information 4,408,696 2,292,012 6,700,708
Reserve activities 4,617,619 4,617,619
(contingencies)
Logistic support 6,579,005 6,579,005
Sub Total Direct Assistance: 169,448,002 148,096,689 21,145,383 15,742,136 19,940,351 493,730 374,866,291
Operational costs 17,265,120 45,416,474 8,929,692 7,156,126 3,608,680 673,610 83,049,702
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 186,713,122 193,513,163 30,075,075 22,898,262 23,549,031 1,167,340 457,915,993
BALANCE -82,952 29,236,154* -1,042,831 829,513 -1,591,190 2,692,151 804,692

* The balance in 2000 originates from ICCO and it has been employed for financing the Kosovo programs in the following years. The
allocation of financial means per year is listed in the table, whereas the overall amount of funds from ICCO has been decreased for
that amount.
 ORGANIZATION
MCIC was founded on 14 December 1993. The seven founders and three other
members comprise the first governance and management structure of MCIC:
Assembly, Executive Board and Professional Service, managed by the Programme
Director. MCIC was registered in 1994.

ASSEMBLY/COUNCIL
The highest governance body of MCIC is the Assembly/Council, The Council has the
following competences: to adopt, amend and supplement the Charter; adopt general
policy and strategy; to adopt the annual report on operations and the financial
report, and receive the report by an independent auditor; to select members of
the governance Board; to decide on merging with another foundation and on MCIC
membership in national and international associations and organizations; and
perform other work in conformity with the Charter and general acts of MCIC.

EXECUTIVE/GOVERNANCE BOARD
^lenovite na Sobranieto/Sovetot izbiraat Izvr{en/Upraven odbor od 10
~lena. Members of the Assembly/Council elect a 10-member Executive/Governance
Board. A total of 19 persons have been members of the Board during this ten-year
period. The Governance Board of MCIC: adopts future and annual work programmes
and plans; adopts financial plans; adopts the annual financial report; decides on
establishing awards and recognitions; adopts acts that regulate the operation of
the executive Office; appoints an Executive Director, establishes companies and
other legal entities.

Composition of the Governance Board in the

period 1998-2004
36 Mirko Spiroski
Ivan Tulevski
Natasa Gaber – Damjanovska
Teuta Krasnica – Cuckova
Dragi Kostadinovski
Zejnula Fazliu
Zoran Kostov
Mihail Cekov
Muhamed Toci
Nurije Kadriu
Bukurie Bajrami
Biljana Gerasimovska – Kitanovska
Sveto Stefanovski

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

EXECUTIVE OFFICE Emergency and International
The Executive Office performs management, as Programmes
well as professional and administrative tasks, Aleksandar Krzalovski
i.e. it carries out daily operations, services MCIC Aleksandar Stevanovski, Salih Alili
bodies and administers the policy and programmes Gjorgji Tane, Tahir Nuhi
approved by them. Tanja Hafner, Dervisa Hadzic
Staff review in the period 1999-2004 Miodrag Kolic
Associates per group
Information
Executive Director Gonce Jakovleska
Saso Klekovski Aneta Trajkovska, Daniel Medaroski
Jane Stefanov, Kresnik Ajdini
Development Darko Dimitrovski, Suzan Shakir Sulejmani
Roman Papadimitrov Gramoz Sabani, Filip Stojanovski
Aco Kocovski, Dimce Mitreski Daniela Stojanovska, Adis Rahic
Ljupco Kocovski, Mirjana Fotevska
Nikola Ikonomov, Vladimir Lazovski Administration and Finance
Nahida Zekirova, Aleksandar Gumberovski Aleksandar Buzarovski
Aleksandar Jovanovski Toni Gicev, Vesna Bogdanovska
Danilo Mitov, Marjan Dimitrov
Emergency Operations 1999 Mirjana Kunovska, Milka Miova – Bozinovska
Albert Hani, Aleksandar Curciev Biljana Vucurevic
Elisaveta Bejkova, Goce Solev
Goran Velkovski, Sinisa Stojkoski Offices in Djakovica and Dragas 37
Kostadin Gramatikov Eranda Kumnova
Rajmonda Purini
Employment Ismet Isufi
Tetjana Lazarevska Ardita Rizvanoli
Joana Josifovska, Emina Mahmutovic Avni Kasumaj
Hamsi Behluli, Lara Krsteva – Icokaeva Kustrim Kuci
Ljupco Tosev, Vasil Minovski Mevlije Dafota
Vlatko Danilov, Lazar Nedanoski Leonora Kuludra
Afrodita Musliu, Sonja Jovanovska Petrit Zrza
Lirim Hajredini Yll Bardhi
Albert Dafota
Civic Society Vegim Nura
Lucia Popovska
Astrit Dafota
Suncica Sazdovska, Valentina Ciceva
Husein Ismaili
Goran Budioski, Liljana Alceva – Jovanovska
Avdi Ferizi
Fatmir Bitici, Kalin Babusku
Edmond Kuludra
Neda Maleska Sacmaroska, Aleksandar Stamboliev
Arbana Zhara
Kustrim Hodza, Florent Bajrami
Bujar Bunari
Emina Nuredinoska, Krenar Kuka
Afrim Rudi
Seat Nuhiu
 WHAT HAD BEEN SAID
ABOUT US

Maybe the best way to describe MCIC is to quote what others said about
MCIC: evaluators, partners and associates.

EVALUATION OF KOSOVO
PROGRAMMES
Evaluations of the ACT Programs in Kosovo (2000-2002)
MCIC participated in three evaluations of ACT, for the Macedonia and
Kosovo operations from 1999 to 2001. The main findings with regard to
MCIC were: innovative design of support and unique positive example for
possible cooperation of the people with various ethnic and religious origin
in the Balkan context.
The presence of MCIC in Kosovo was a challenge in itself. As one of the
evaluators of the ACT programs in Kosovo said, the evaluation team was
impressed that Muslim Slavs (Gorans) in the remote region of Dragas
were helped by MCIC (mainly Orthodox, ethnic Macedonians in the
Skopje personnel) with a local personnel made of ethnic Albanians. With
this involvement, MCIC gave an example on a good neighborly regional
cooperation.

Kosovo Transition (TKS), Mocoro (Great Britain), 2002

38 MCIC managed to help the three NGO-s to incorporate some of the basic
elements for efficient management – management structures, efficient
financial management, reporting capacity, routines in documentation
keeping. A tailor-made approach to the capacity building needs is
necessary, for each of the supported organizations individually.

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

 LOCAL PARTNERS
“During August 1999 in my office, as a President of the Assembly of the municipality
of Gjakovica, I received the representatives of MCIC. I was reserved at the beginning,
as a number of organizations were promising immediate support. I suggested them
supporting house reconstruction in devastated by war villages of Shqiponja (Jablanica),
Smolica, Ponosec, and others in the municipality of Gjakovica. The approach in a
realization of these projects was taken very seriously by MCIC and before winter
arrived, the projects were implemented with great dedication of their employees. I
kept in my memory MCIC involvement in the financial support of the “Golaj” diary. As
a company, it opened a perspective and brought back the hope in these villages. In
those hard days for governing, we will always remember MCIC as respected partner.”
Mazlom Kumnova, former President of the Assembly
of the municipality of Djakovica

MCIC is well-known organization in Kosovo and it will be remembered as such forever.

During the most difficult times that Kosovo went through, MCIC was deeply involved
in assisting. MCIC and its members were very engaged in assisting the whole region.
Their engagement varied, and they did especially concerns the so-called emergency
phase. The engagements were of a various nature, but very important.
If anyone goes through the region, he will notice everywhere traces left by MCIC. 39
The traces do not have just a symbolic or material significance. Much more is the
influence upon the feelings and thoughts of people. Simply, when you ask even the
most common person about MCIC, he will tell you a lot about MCIC. The words of the
people will almost always be the same: Thank you, MCIC.
Working as a member of the local staff at Djakovica, I had the possibility not only to
work and to meet my obligations, but also to achieve a lot more.
Saso, Aleksandar, Fatmir and all the others employed at MCIC, besides the investments
and support, which they made possible, they also invested in people. They started
trainings us on various topics, especially in the area of ‘civic society’.
As a result of this, KDC is one of the most successful NGOs in Kosovo. Everything
started when KDC was established with a grant from MCIC. This was followed by a
quick development. KDC was supported continuously and achieved the level where
it is now.
I use this opportunity, which accidentally corresponds to the end of the year, to
express my congratulations on the MCIC 5-year anniversary of presence in Kosovo,
with wishes for a great success.
MCIC is an international organization that will play a large role in the further
development of the region and Europe. I hope that in these processes, KDC will be
together with MCIC.
Once again, congratulation!
Ismet Isufi, Executive Director
of the Kosovo Development Center (KDC)
 “In the beginning, when MCIC started with its activities in Kosovo, we were
a small group of people who managed to control the work well. We had good
relations with the international personnel although they were Macedonian. In
the beginning it was difficult but we managed to overcome these barriers by
work. MCIC started the capacity building of the local personnel as well. MCIC
trusted us when they let us manage the projects. The result of this was the idea
to establish an organization. Now, after all of these years of working on various
projects, I think that we have improved our administration. As personnel, we
learned how to conduct monitoring and evaluation of the projects. MCIC helped
us build bridges with other donors. We have learned how to communicate with
the local government. We are a young organization, but we have obtained big
experience in such a short period.”
Ardita Rizvanolli, President of
Kosovo Women Initiative – New Vision

“The cooperation with MCIC started in September 1999. In December the same
year we implemented the first project with MCIC. In 2002 it was decided that We
Are with You would be the partner of MCIC in the issues of civil society. We have
implemented various activities, such as training, lobbying, accountability of the
civil organizations to the public, within our program. In the last five years MCIC
became very well known in Kosovo. We too managed to build confidence with the
others. Happy birthday and a lot of success in the future.”
40 Luan Gola, Program Manager at We Are with You

“In August 1999 the activities for analysis of the municipalities where MCIC
could be active started. The Dukagjin region had many damages. Then MCIC
decided that the seat of the office should be in Gjakovica, which would cover
the municipalities of Gjakovica, Prizren and Decane. The second phase was the
reconstruction of the damaged houses. Assistance was also provided in the area
of agriculture and civil society. There was a significant cooperation with the local
population and international organizations. We received the basic knowledge
from MCIC, as well as from the training and work experience. MCIC is a big
organization, not only in Macedonia, but also in the region. The lessons learned
from working with MCIC will be implemented in the future as well. Although now
we have become independent as an organization, we have continued with the
same scope of activities. Thank you for everything that you have done for us.”
Eranda Kumnova, President of the Kosovo Women Initiative

5 years MCIC in Kosovo

“MCIC was present in the municipality of Dragas right after the end of the war in 1999.
Cooperation with its representatives was very open, friendly and with understanding. It
was very pleasant to cooperate with Nikola and Gjergj. We are grateful and will always
remember that you helped us in the most difficult moments. I wish you a great success
and prosperous celebration of the fifth anniversary, which many would be envious to.”
Irfan Ibrahimi, Assembly
of the municipality of Dragas

“At the moments when there were big efforts made in the Construction Material Industry
at Gjakovica made to restart the factory, there were many promises from various foreign
organizations, but it was the promise of MCIC for assistance that resulted in a fast and
effective implementation of the basic needs for activating the brick stove. This meant
start of the production in a time when there was a big demand for construction material
for reconstruction of Kosovo after the war. In the last five years we have increased
the capacity of the production, and in this way the quality and application of modern
methods of our products. Thank you for your contribution and for the things that we
have achieved in the last period with your help.”
Oliver Curi, IGM Director

“Our organization has been working at the territory of the municipality of Strpce since
2000. At the time after the war in Kosovo, and since the start of our organization until
today, it has not happened that organizations such as MCIC appear in this area, both
in the way they work and in the assistance that we receive.
The only thing that has happened after the war is the presence of MCIC. It was the 41
only organization that looked for us, and thanks to God, they found us and offered
us cooperation. What MCIC did in our 13 villages in the municipality of Strpce, was
something that we could not think of or do better even ourselves. On behalf of the
organization and all citizens of our municipality we want to thank MCIC for the
assistance given. We were happy to have such a partner, which helped us via the
humanitarian work to learn a lot from that. Even nowadays the old, the young speak of
MCIC, of Alek, the man who worked with dedication and unselfishly together with us
in the worst weather. May God protect MCIC and its personnel.”
Miroslav Milosavlevic, Vice President
of the “Better Life” NGO from Strpce

“In the period of conflict in 1999, our municipality was in a very difficult position.
The assistance that came from Macedonia surprised us all; it was something that we
will never forget. Its presence in the municipality of Dragas has changed many things
in our lives. We have not heard anything until it came, but later we found out that
they had taken care of many refugees from Kosovo. We will not forget the distributed
humanitarian aid, the water supply system that they built in our villages and other
activities. Thank you from our hearts.”
Nuhija Tahirovci, Municipality of Zlipotok
 Publisher Design and preparation
Macedonian Center for Koma, Skopje
International Cooperation
Print
MCIC Executive Director and Boro Grafika, Skopje
Editor in Chief
Sašo Klekovski Copies
300
Editor
Gramoz Shabani Address
Macedonian Center for
The following contributed International Cooperation
to the monograph str. ”Nikola Parapunov” bb,
Gonce Jakovleska P.O.Box. 55 1060 Skopje
Aleksandar Kržalovski Republic of Macedonia
Fatmir Bytyqi e-mail: [email protected]
www.mcms.org.mk
www.graganskisvet.org.mk

CIP – Catalogue of publications

National and University Library “St. Kliment of Ohrid”, Skopje

341.232:061 (497.7) (497.115) “1994-2004”

5 years MCIC in Kosovo : 1999-2004 / (editor in chief Sašo

Klekovski ; editor Gramoz Sabani). – Skopje : Macedonian
Center for International Cooperation, 2005. – 44 p. : color
photographs; 21 cm

ISBN 9989-102-19-8
1. Gl. stv. nasl. 2. Klekovski, Sašo
a) Macedonian Center for International Cooperation – Kosovo
– 1999-2004

COBISS.MK-ID 63068426

5 years MCIC in Kosovo