How to engage together in a policy dialogue: Kosovo and the Czech Republic

The Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM (Czech Republic) and Kosovo Civil Society Foundation implemented a joint project aimed at strengthening the role of the Kosovo civil society in order to actively participate in the process of public policy development and its implementation in practice. The project has increased the capacities of NGOs and other actors to conduct a structured and sustainable dialogue in two public policy areas, namely the rule of law and education area, using the experience of experts from Czech NGOs, think tanks and institutions.

The project was achieved through a 5-day study tour that took place in the Czech Republic in April 2010. During the study tour, 10 Kosovo NGOs representatives acquired knowledge about the mechanisms of public consultations on state level in the Czech Republic generally and then specifically in the two areas covered by this project: educational reforms and rule of law. The study tour participants met with the representatives of public administration, NGOs as well as with the Czech media.

This experience was later shared in a 2-day interactive workshop in Kosovo in May 2010 with 15 representatives of Kosovo NGOs, state institutions and media. The workshop focused on issues of the NGO advocacy in the process of public policies development as well as on the issue specific to the two areas covered by this project.

An establishment of working relations between Kosovo NGOs and their Czech counterparts was facilitated and the gradual launch of civil society consultations in the public policy process in Kosovo was supported.