Contracted as a casual worker by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forestry program along with dozens of other workers, he is contributing in planting 33,000 beech and spruce seedlings in surrounding areas of his village in Dragash/s. “We are planting these trees for the future of our kids. Afforestation is very important to have cleaner air and to further develop tourism in this area”, he said. Looking after the forests is one of Çengaj’s biggest concerns. His family uses wood for heating, as many of other families in the rural areas do. But Çengaj and his fellow villagers are struggling to protect forests from illegal logging. They are fully aware on benefits that forests provide. “Forests provides three major functions: social, economic and ecological, so we must all be committed to conserving this resource that the Earth has given us”, said Muhamet Sofi, who is supervising the casual workers contracted by FAO for afforestation activities in Dragash/s area. “Here many areas are bare and it is important to reforest them”, he added. Forests covers 44% of the total area of Kosovo, which is higher than in neighboring countries. Through a programme co-funded by SIDA and EU, FAO is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and the Kosovo Forest Agency to strengthen their capacities for sustainable and multipurpose forest management to improve rural livelihoods and address climate change in Kosovo. The programme aims to increase the forestry sector’s contribution to the national economy through participatory and multi-purpose forest management. In this regard, FAO is supporting also implementation of the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme, as a major Kosovo programme to restore the forest cover and improve productivity. The aim of this programme is to use natively grown species in line with measures to reduce effects of climate change.  Currently the afforestation and reforestation activities are implemented in Dragash/s area and Shterpce/Strpce through community engagement contracted as casual workers, including women and youth, which ultimately benefits entire communities in terms of income generation through forest activities. Last year activities were conducted in Mitrovica and Suhareka. A total of 50 hectares with about 140 thousand seedlings will be planted by FAO by beginning of May 2022, in addition to afforestation and reforestation activities implemented by MAFRD and KFA. Special attention was given in selection of areas for this activity through stakeholder and community consultation avoiding generation of conflict for land use, ensure positive impact of afforestation to the community through selection of proper species and preventing natural hazards, by providing income generation to the local communities and contribute to prevent the biodiversity loss and fight climate change. On the occasion of the Earth Day, FAO donated 10,000 trees for a voluntary action of planting in the village of Kacandoll in Mitrovica, organized by the Local Climate Action Forum (LoCAF), in partnership with UN-Habitat Kosovo, FAO, Sustainability Leadership Kosovo (SLK), Municipality of Mitrovica South, and in cooperation with the Office of the President of Kosovo, the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, and the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Food, Agriculture, Planning and Development. The UN Development Coordinator, Ulrika Richardson welcomed the initiative for tree planting by volunteers, emphasizing that forests regulate ecosystems, sustain economies, and make people healthy and happy. “Of course, this is a small grain, but we know that the ocean is made of small drops, and forest is made up by seedlings, so if we don’t start, we will never get to rebuild our forests. We are not very proud of the legacy that we are leaving for younger generation, children and grandchildren, and I think it is time to change this legacy”, stated Richardson during the action of tree planting in Kaçandoll. Planting areas in Dragash/s and Kaçandoll were visited also by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Faton Peci. “We have no other planet so we must protect our planet from any damages that may be caused and contribute to improving the situation. With small actions, we can address climate changes and address them either through policies that protect biodiversity, or through regular afforestation actions," said Minister Peci.

She is a single mother of three children, the youngest is only two years old. Her husband passed away two years ago. “Then we were hit by the pandemic,” she explains. “But we found salvation in good people who were willing to help us. I’m telling you, there is something when you’re a good soul.”, started Arieta our interview. Every day, Arieta must think about how to secure food and clothes for her children. Their house has been renovated, so that her children can have decent living conditions, especially her two young daughters. "I didn't go to school. My father thought it was unnecessary. I'm ashamed when they ask me to put the signature somewhere. My daughter will learn to write and read, and I will do my best to make it possible for her." Arieta says being a single mother is very difficult for her. She also has a mother-in-law, of whom she must also take care. She says she would love to go back to the old days, when she was smiling, happy and care-free. "Such was our childhood, barefoot, muddy... but happy. Now I have children who are not equally happy and that hurts me," says Arieta. She says it has been a little easier since the beginning of this year because there are not as many casualties of the Covid-19 virus. “Also, people move and work more and that is good”. Arieta likes to crochet and tie.  "I'm not an artist,” she says laughing “but I try.” From time to time, Arieta receives orders for handcraft items. “It is nice to earn money, but it also takes a lot of work! I apply for seamstress courses wherever I can. It's hard because I don't have an education," says Arieta. During the conversation, Arieta constantly reminds us that her children will attend school. "I want my daughters to be ladies who know how to talk, walk, write and read well, I don't want them to be like me! We, Roma, are hard to change. We are!" she says angrily.     She has been very emotional since her husband’s sudden passing.  “He was a great person,” she says as she looks at old pictures of him. “God took him away because of his greatness. And now, I have to move on for the sake of my children.” We noticed that many neighbors approached us during the interview, encouraging us to help Arieta more. Apparently, this special “soul” is known for her kindness and her life story.    For Arieta, it is challenging to have to explain to someone that you need everything, and that anything could help. "The biggest help is when they don't forget you, when we are a part of everything that is going on. I am not educated, but I would also like to work and become literate! Not to be a simple soul," explains Arieta.   But what is it about this “soul” - as she calls it - that is so important to Arieta? “Everything is in the soul. It shows what kind of a person you are. That is why it matters,” she explains. “Good souls have helped me get through a difficult period of my life. I was left without a husband, and with three children to raise all on my own, when the pandemic started. But I want to get back up. I want to be able to earn money from my work; I can do everything from sowing to knitting, but I need a machine. I can also read cards and coffee cups too,” she says laughing. “How do you do “coffee cup”?” “I read someone’s future!” “OK. Can you see yours? What does it say?” “Happiness and friendships,” she says with a beaming smile. Arieta is one of the many single-mother-headed households that have benefitted from the Voucher Scheme initiated by the “Response to Covid-19 Emergency and Early Recovery Support” project, funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo and implemented jointly by UNDP Kosovo and the Department for Social and Family Planning of the Ministry of Finance, Labor, and Transfers. The aim has been to provide immediate support to families and communities most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, primarily targeting people living in extreme poverty or those struggling to make ends meet. The support has been targeted particularly on single-parent-headed households, non-majority communities, victims of gender-based violence, and people living in remote rural areas with limited access to social services.   The project is at the heart of UNDP’s Covid-19 recovery efforts and is based on the United Nations’ ‘leave no one behind’ principle. The disbursement of vouchers for those living on social assistance; the deployment of the UN Community Volunteers to Centers for Social Work through Kosovo; the interventions at the Centers and residential shelters, and the project’s other activities aim to provide relief to the most vulnerable groups, by providing temporary financial support and strengthening capacities in social work.   The article is originally published at the UNDP Kosovo site. https://undpkosovo.exposure.co/a-good-soul-the-story-of-a-resilient-roma-woman Story by Danijela Mitic, photos by Arben Llapashtinca for UNDP Kosovo

One of UNFPA’s strategic objectives in recent years has been to promote and facilitate gender-responsive family-friendly policies across the board, with a particular focus on the business community. Under this notion, in 2020 UNFPA launched the project Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies, which is being implemented in Kosovo, Albania and Moldova, financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation. The project – set to continue throughout 2022 – works with key stakeholders to broaden opportunities and options for women and men as they balance their careers with family life, and fulfil both their career and fertility aspirations. Through a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of over 25 private companies operating in Kosovo, UNFPA has identified seven business organizations that have demonstrated the drive and passion to further advance the company rules, policies, and practices conducive to a family friendly workplace. Leading by example, the Champion Companies will demonstrate how family friendly policies do not just expand choices for women and men in the labor market, but also broaden company capacities, agility and ultimately position in the market. To ensure mainstreaming of gender responsive family friendly policies throughout private and public sector in Kosovo, UNFPA has teamed up with Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Kosovo Women’s Network, both of them actively involved in mentoring the Champion Companies in advancing as family-friendly workplaces. The centrepiece of this collaboration was the introduction of  The Best of Kosovo 2021 award in the category of Family Friendly Workplaces, presented by the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce in Pristina on 18 February 2022. Along with other awards for companies with outstanding performance in different sectors, Cacttus Sh.A., Gjirafa and KIVO Kosova, all of them  Champion Companies, received the acknowledgement of the Chamber of Commerce and business community for their commitment and achievements  to promoting work-life balance through gender-responsive family-friendly policies and practices. According to Ariel Shaban, Quality and Development Manager at KIVO Kosova, the award was “… a testament to seven years of creating a welcoming environment for our employees and their families… [The award] strengthens our reputation as a premium employer and is an invaluable tool for employee retention and recruitment in the future. We will therefore continue to streamline and develop our efforts to expand KIVO’s benefits for our employees and their families.” “Through this award we got a recognition for the company’s policies which are designed to be suitable for a family–friendly work place,” expressed her satisfaction Loreta Tahiri from the Human Resource Department of Cacttus Sh.A. ”We will continue to work towards providing the best possible policies for our employees, thus implementing the recommendations of our partners: the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, UNFPA and Kosovo Women's Network," she added. Greta Kamberi, Head of People and Culture for Gjirafa, reacted by saying that “We at Gjirafa are committed to nurturing a unique environment of shared purpose, which fosters innovation and collaboration; and we know that embracing a balance between life and work is key. We are honoured to be part of this project and thus able to learn, implement and contribute to further promote family-friendly workplace best practices.” UNFPA and Kosovo Chamber of Commerce will continue to contribute towards creating more family-friendly workplaces in Kosovo. We are all looking forward to celebrating the family-friendly businesses every year and encourage all Kosovo companies to embrace this concept.

As its effects continue to worsen, the tourism industry – like all livelihoods and industries - is constantly being forced to adapt. Being a significant economic sector, tourism contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through services related to travel, accommodation, and gastronomy. According to UNWTO/ITF 2019 research, carbon dioxide emissions emitted by tourism endeavors could rise 25% or more by 2030. This is why the Glasgow Declaration called for urgent action to reduce tourism-related emissions. The Decade of Climate Action in Tourism includes a commitment to cut tourism-related emissions by 50% in 2030. Tourism is well positioned to address climate change, but for this to happen, a new industry-wide vision and approach must be taken. This is particularly relevant for Kosovo’s tourism sector, which halted in progress in 2020 with a turnover decline of 50% and millions lost in revenues due to the COVID pandemic.   As Kosovo rethinks tourism development through the lens of sustainability, we are led to ecotourism - a way of doing tourism through low-impact behaviour vis-a-vis ecosystems and livelihoods, while providing economic opportunities for local populations. This poses a great momentum for tourism businesses interested in leveraging eco-innovation to increase their economic benefits, while positively giving back to their host communities. UNDP Kosovo has come together with Sustainable Leadership Kosova and Venture UP, to contribute to the development of ecotourism in Kosovo through The Green Hub Programme. This joint endeavor supports existing tourism MSMEs in Kosovo to recover from the pandemic by learning to employ environmentally sustainable practices.   But the Programme’s spectrum does not end there. The Green Hub’s drivers are the passionate and innovation-oriented young women and men, who are working within the Youth Incubator to design new ecotourism initiatives. Under the 8-week mentorship of Venture UP, 13 youth teams have managed to successfully pitch their entrepreneurial ideas and present their prototypes in front of leading experts in the field. Results from this incubation phase have unveiled that the future of ecotourism in Kosovo is in their hands. Three promising teams have been awarded seed funding to launch their innovative initiatives.  Bee Park Kosovo is the first winning start-up of young beekeepers developing a self-sustainable Bee Park at a time when the decline of these species is endangering our ecosystems and impoverishing populations. Thanks to Petar Djordjevic and Lidija Masic, Kosovo’s tourists and local visitors will be able to go glamping, try bee products, learn about the fascinating world of bees and the practice of beekeeping, as well as do apitherapy – the use of bee products - for enhanced health benefits.   Two mechatronic enthusiasts, Fitim Halimi and Ermira Thaqi, took home the second prize by presenting an immersive audio guide device to enhance the museum experience and attract tourists to the city of Prizren. “In discussion with museologists, we realized there’s an urgent need to revisit the way we design museum experiences for the sake of our historical and cultural values. The technology we’re developing will provide a coherent narrative on museum’s artefacts in multiple languages for tourists and local visitors,” said Fitim.   The third winning team, Baton Isniqi and Betine Baleci, are striving to redirect the local mindset towards eco-friendly choices through their start-up Frymë. They’ve come up with a biodegradable, handmade and washable food wrapper named UMMA. The latter has potential to minimize waste in natural areas and is expected to be the go-to item for all the passionate climbers, hikers, and trail runners that visit Kosovo’s idyllic mountains all-year-round.   As an extension to the Programme, qualified youth teams will be matched with Green Hub’s MSME grantees to help them go digital. Almost half of tourism MSMEs, part of the Green Hub’s needs assessment analysis conducted by SLK Kosova, declared that they do not engage in promotional and marketing activities due to high costs. Moreover, several of them lack the necessary digital skills. This is where the importance of matchmaking comes in. Green Hub’s youth participants will introduce digital marketing strategies and tactics for increased customer reach and much more.   Ecotourism in Kosovo is set to bloom with the visionary young women and men, who keep on demonstrating strong skills and abilities for bringing to life new solutions that contribute to Kosovo’s green transition. Thanks to youth’s knowledge and passion, we are proudly looking into Kosovo’s more sustainable future of (eco)tourism.