Candidates for judicial and prosecution service taking ethics examination. Photo: UNOPS

UNOPS in Pristina provides services including project management, administrative support, procurement and fund management.

Justice and reconciliation

UNOPS is supporting a range of projects to enhance the judicial system in Kosovo.

On behalf of the European Union, United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Government of the United States of America, UNOPS in Pristina provided project management and administrative support to the Appointment of Judges and Prosecutors project. The project supported the establishment of an independent judiciary and prosecution service to administer Kosovo’s justice system professionally and transparently, building public confidence and trust in the rule of law. UNOPS administered merit-based vetting and the selection of some 500 judges and prosecutors across Kosovo. The project ended in December 2010 and had a budget of just over €5 million.

Ground-breaking ceremony for the high security prison in Kosovo. Photo: European Commission

UNOPS is now constructing a high security prison near the village of Gërdoc/Grdovac in the municipality of Podujevë/Podujevo. Funded jointly by the Government of Kosovo and the European Commission, the €15 million project is designed to accommodate detainees whose escape would represent a danger to the public or to national security.

The new prison project is being implemented in line with international standards and in particular will improve the size of the cell, access to natural light, ventilation, sanitation and shower facilities.

In addition to supervising the construction works, UNOPS is providing procurement services and fund management.

Census support

A population and housing census was conducted in Kosovo in April 2011 after the last reliable census took place in 1981. Due to vast changes in the demography and the 1998-1999 conflict, up-to-date and reliable information was needed about Kosovo’s population. The new census will help Kosovo’s government develop sound policies for the entire population, contributing to increased stability and assisting with preparations for accession to the European Union.

The census was financed by a €12 million trust fund which was managed by UNOPS. Donors to the fund included the Government of Kosovo, the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo and the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The project runs until the end of 2013 as the data processing and the dissemination of the results is in progress.

Post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation

UNOPS in Pristina has supported UNMIK and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in projects to rebuild destroyed houses, rehabilitate factories, construct or repair electricity and water supply systems, and reconstruct roads.

Construction of the sports hall in Zveçan/ Zvečan municipality, Kosovo. Photo: UNOPS

In Skenderaj/Srbica, for example, UNOPS re-equipped a brick factory, procuring and installing electricity generators and heavy machinery, and refurbishing offices and other facilities for the workers.

UNOPS helped improve living conditions through a variety of measures aimed at the reconstruction, stabilization and development of the municipality of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, for UNMIK. Activities included improving infrastructure (such as electricity and water supplies and street lighting), facilitating access to public services, developing local capacity and administering small grants for business development. UNOPS also managed the rehabilitation of regional employment centres and buildings for the administration of social services for UNMIK.

Environment

Efforts to restore the urban and rural environment in Kosovo have an important effect on the local quality of life. UNOPS has supported various UNMIK projects, including managing the complete rehabilitation of the City Park in Prishtina/Pristina, procuring waste management equipment for selected municipalities and administering the testing and analysis of pollution from power plants.

Mine Action

UNOPS provided mine action support for UNMIK in 1999-2001 to address the severe landmine problem inherited from conflict in the 1990s. Learn more about UNOPS Mine Action work.

Education

On behalf of UNMIK, UNOPS has implemented projects to improve educational opportunities for children in Kosovo. Initiatives include rehabilitating schools and equipment to meet European standards and creating twenty school bus operations in minority enclaves throughout Kosovo where students previously lacked access to education due to poor transport or security problems.

Governance

For UNDP, UNOPS managed the Local Governance Programme, which developed five development agenda documents to coordinate donor assistance and facilitate transparent resource allocation, helping identify funding gaps. With additional UNMIK funding 12 more local development agendas were prepared.

In the field of human rights, UNOPS activities included administrative and management support to the Kosovo Property Agency in Kosovo, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The agency collects, processes and solves claims relating to privately held agricultural, commercial and residential property. UNOPS also managed the UNMIK Civilian Police and the Kosovo Police project, which rehabilitated holding cells in twenty-two police stations to ensure they meet international human rights standards. UNOPS also supported the development of public broadcast media, building capacity and setting up broadcast facilities and infrastructure.

Health

UNOPS health sector support has included procuring drugs and equipment for medical facilities, the repair of a university clinic in Prishtina/Pristina, and specialized training in emergency medicine in Kosovo and elsewhere in the region. UNOPS rehabilitated the Emergency Cardiology Centre in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, procuring specialized equipment and the training of medical and paramedic staff. UNOPS also acts as the Local Fund Agent for the Global Fund in Kosovo.

*Referred to throughout in the context of UNSCR 1244/99