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Inclusive Cities, Urban Planning, and Cultural Heritage

Inclusive Cities, Urban Planning, and Cultural Heritage

Intern with an organization committed to a democratic governance and sustainable economy at the local level (as well as regional) through community mobilization, overseeing public decision-making and partnership in the implementation of development programs and policies.


They have been actively involved in the empowerment of active citizenry to influence public policies at the local level (Prizren municipality), with a particular focus on cultural policies in accordance with the following programs: Inclusive City, Good Governance, and Research. The organization is engaged in active citizenship to create a living environment by promoting an appropriate organization of the community, democratization of institutions and enrichment of cultural life in the main centers of Kosovo, with a special focus on Prizren and Prishtina. They are led by the following values: impartiality, activism, results-driven and the community as the basis for action.

This organization believes that democratization and overall state development is a process that must be planned and built from the bottom up. At the core of democratic governance lies the openness and involvement of all in decision-making aimed at the common good, while development planning requires the rational use of territorial resources, without compromising their usability by future generations. Both democracy and development must be built on the basis of sound knowledge that guarantees wise and visionary decisions and actions.


Interns may be involved in one or more of the following projects:


1. Eco School The overall objective of the project is to advocate for the introduction of “eco school” concept in Prizren’s schools through piloting the respective environmental protection model and methodology with wide participation of schoolchildren and teachers in a competitively selected school.


2. Filigree School The purpose of this project is to contribute to the preservation of the filigree craft through documentation, promotion and knowledge and skills transfer to women and youth leading to their increased employability.

The project objectives and respective results:

  • To transfer filigree craft knowledge and skills to women and youth through educational and capacity development programs,

  • To document and promote filigree craft as an intangible cultural heritage asset on the brink of extinction,

  • To develop a strategic management framework that aims to transform Filigran into a sustainable enterprise.

3. Urban Platform for Prizren The project aims to encourage and support the local government of Prizren to develop a structured approach to sustainable urban development, which will be in line with the EU Urban Agenda. Through this project, the EC aims to advocate to public authorities for the initiation of a structured urban planning and development platform of the city. Urban planning issues, in addition to legal obligations, constitute an important part of the commitments of state institutions (with a focus on municipalities) to meet European Union standards, both as approximation of legislation and as my governance practices.

  • Initiating the construction of an urban platform that will structure all the information of urban planning and development of the city,

  • Translation of identified issues (in the two respective sectors) into policy proposals and alternatives for local government,

  • Mobilizing institutional, professional and civil society potentials for an urban governance platform in line with the standards of the EU Urban Agenda.

4. Spatial Planning Transparency The project aims to open all spatial planning documents in the municipality of Prizren, including those related to cultural heritage  for the Historic Center of the city. The opening of spatial planning data and documents will create greater opportunities for overseeing the work of public authorities in relation to urbanism, building permits, development planning and cultural heritage management.


5. Deepening European knowledge in planning and urban development The project aims to mobilize the existing resources in Kosovo to advocate for better urban planning and urban development policies through: producing and deepening European knowledge on urban planning and development, advocating for a structured urban platform for Prizren and written contribution to the report about Kosovo for the European Commission. All of these forms of action will adhere to the theme of urban planning and development, within which cultural heritage (and integrated planning) will have special attention.


6. Urbanism Watch – “Urbanism of Prizren under Constant Watch” Through this project, the company aims to install a permanent monitoring system regarding the local government’s legislation in the fields of management and urban development in the city of Prizren, with particular emphasis on the Historic City Center. Through the monitoring findings, this system will be complemented with publications and advocacy components to ensure urban order in Prizren. The main purpose of the project is to prevent further urban degradation of the city and to push for the creation of an enabling environment for controlled and sustainable urban development through an increase of transparency and ensuring accountability in the field of urbanism and spatial planning.


7. Regional Development through Cultural Tourism in Prizren The overall objective of the project is to support the local and regional economic development efforts in Economic Region South by structuring and enriching the cultural tourism offer of the region through new and unique products and services.

8. Reform Index and Municipal Transparency The project aims to improve transparency practices in Kosovo municipalities through a permanent assessment and advocacy tools(index). The project will be implemented in seven main municipalities in Kosovo.

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