---

In cooperation with Community Building Mitrovica, Lëvizja KOHA publishes Youth Monitoring Report

---

In the framework of the project “Civil Society is watching you: demand for accountability and transparency on local level”, Lëvizja Koha issued youth monitoring report for the period October 2015 – March 2016. In the conference organized for the publication of this report, present were Mitrovica South Municipality Mayor Mr.Agim Bahtiri, Vushtrri Municipality Mayor Mr.Bajram Mulaku, other high representatives of local institutions, civil society, representatives of youth organizations and media.

This report is a result of monitoring of the Mitrovica South and Vushtrri Municipal Assembly and respective Education Department and Culture Youth and Sports Department under the project entitled ‘’Youth is monitoring you’’ supported by CBM. Good Governance Program Manager in CBM Ms.Florentina Hajdari Hajra delivered the opening speech by giving a brief introduction of ‘’My need My decision’’ project and congratulating Lëvizja KOHA for the work completed. Also, CBM encourages the partner organizations to continue the objective monitoring process and work more on lobbying and advocacy, for what the capacity building program within the project has been implemented. Also, Ms. Hajdari Hajra highlighted the importance of the cooperation between civil society sector and institutions, especially when it comes to enhancing the daily life issues and solving the joint problems that citizens are facing, “Community Building Mitrovica is in the process of signing of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with seven Municipalities monitored, respectively included within project. While the final monitoring report for these seven Municipalities will be published in May 25th” -said Ms.Hajdari Hajra.

‘’The purpose of this project was to monitor the work of local institutions in the issues that are related to youth through the participation in the Municipal Assembly Session and different meetings with the departments competent for youth’’ – said the coordinator of Lëvizja KOHA Mr.Qendrim Uka. Both respective Mayors Mr.Bahtiri and Mr.Mulaku gave their perspective regarding the monitoring report and encouraged youth to continue with their actions and openly voice their concerns in order to increase the transparency and effectiveness of local institutions. The main findings of the report that are similar for both monitored Municipalities were:

• Approval of the regulation for recognition and promotion of the voluntarism, although there are lacks on its materialization;
• Increase of transparency;
• Budget cuts for respective Culture Youth and Sports Departments that resulted in the lack of different activities;
• Lack of activism in the Assembly sessions by Municipal Assembly members;

Following the presentation of the report the floor was given to Education and Youth, Culture and Sports Departments directors who had the chance to discuss for the findings of the report, give their perspective and also recommendations for future improvements. The open discussion continued by the other part of the participants of the conference who had a lot to contribute, in which case once again was emphasized the worry regarding budget cuts especially in a time when the needs of youth are increasing.

‘’Youth is monitoring you’’ report will be updated further on with all the recomandations that were result of this conference.

“Civil Society is watching you: demand for accountability and transparency on local level”, is an EU funded project managed by European Union Office and co-founded by Austrian Development Agency, The Netherlands Embassy in Pristina and MOTT Foundation, while implemented by Community Building Mitrovica and Center for Resources Youth and Media Coalition.

---