OSCE Mission helps Kosovo municipalities increase public participation in budgeting process

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is organizing a study trip for representatives of five municipalities and the Ministry for Local Government Administration to Germany from 12 to 15 June 2012. The aim of the trip is to help Kosovo municipalities increase the level of public participation and gender-responsiveness in budget planning processes.

The Mission identified Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, Gllogoc/Glogovac, Kamenicë/Kamenica, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and Vushtrri/Vučitrn as the best performing municipalities in Kosovo on this topic. The study trip is being organized in recognition of their efforts so far, and aims to promote an even greater level of achievement.

“These five municipalities ensured deadlines were met, and held public budget hearings organized by both legislative and executive structures,” said Stefan Scheer, acting head of the Mission’s Local Governance Section. “Furthermore, they complied with legal requirements and have ensured that the budget planning process was properly overseen by municipal assemblies.”

The study trip to Bonn, Germany, will provide the five municipalities and the Ministry with an opportunity to learn about best practices in budget planning, and will help them include gender-responsive practices in the 2013 budget planning processes.

Following the study trip, the OSCE Mission will organize further training with a focus on gender-responsive budgeting for municipalities and civil society organizations in Kosovo.

The OSCE Mission is mandated with democratization and human rights protection and promotion. It is helping municipalities reform in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government to increase transparency, accountability and public participation in decision making processes.