The absence of an effective property rights framework in Kosovo weakens democratic governance, impacts human rights, disempowers women and impedes sustainable economic growth. The Property Rights Program helps the Government of Kosovo (GoK) develop and implement its National Strategy on Property Rights and strengthen property rights legislation; supports the development of improved court procedures to efficiently adjudicate property claims and disputes; conducts public outreach campaigns to prompt changes in social attitudes and behavior; and improves service delivery in municipalities to make it easier for citizens to exercise their property rights.

Better coordination and policy priorities

With the GoK adoption of the National Strategy on Property Rights (NSPR) in January 2017, USAID is working closely with all relevant GoK bodies to support the development of legislation to help the GoK to strengthen the property rights legal framework by ensuring it is harmonized and well-integrated. Regulating property rights has become one of the major priorities for the GoK and is included in all high level government plans and strategies. The NSPR Action Plan calls for over 60 legislative and institutional reforms involving 11 stakeholder institutions. The GoK begun implementation of 66 percent of all measures in NSPR.

Improved court procedures related to property claims

USAID has been working closely with the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) and four Courts of Merit (CoMs) to develop and pilot improved court procedures related to property claims; the pilot initiative has produced significant and demonstrable improvements in the CoM’s efficiency and effectiveness in adjudicating property rights cases and offers a roadmap for institutionalizing these reforms throughout the judicial system. This initiative has produced a proven model that all courts in Kosovo can adopt to improve their case management and overall performance.

Enhanced women’s rights to use property in practice

The most recent National Survey on Property Rights demonstrates that the USAID-supported media campaign has sparked debate and discussion in Kosovo concerning women’s property rights (which was reportedly a taboo subject previously) and is producing positive changes in social attitudes and behaviors. The national media campaign and grassroots public outreach activities on women’s property rights will continue to reinforce these trends. USAID’s Property Rights Program also provides technical assistance to USAID’s Engagement for Equity implementing partner and its sub-grantees (civil society organizations) to develop and implement activities aimed at supporting women’s property rights and to complement the public outreach activities.

Improved communication, access to information and understanding of property rights

At the municipal level, USAID is working with local administrations to improve their own practices and procedures related to property rights and property information management; provide useful legal information to their citizens to enable them to more efficiently transact their rights to property; and engage more effectively with their communities on property rights issues.

KEY RESULTS 

• NSPR implementation is ahead of schedule; the GoK has taken action on 66 percent of recommendations in the first year since adoption. 
• Piloted caseflow management reforms have already decreased the disposition time of existing property cases by 33 percent (from 1220 days to 815 days) and the processing time for a case to reach its first action by 67 percent (from 1790 days to 590 days).
• The number of women who initiated inheritance claims has risen tenfold since 2015, from 0.3 percent in 2015 to 3.0 percent in 2017; and the number of women who reported inheriting property has doubled, increasing from 3.8 percent in 2015 to 7.5 percent in 2017.

Project Duration:                 May 2014- May 2019

Partner:                                    Tetra Tech ARD

Contact:                                   Zana Berisha