First Local MDG Project Launched in Kosovo

UNDP

28 March 2006

Gjakova/Djakovica Municipality and UNDP Kosovo launched a new project that will include the Millennium Development Goals in the Municipal development strategy, in an event that took place in Gjakova/Djakovica, on Monday, 27 March 2006.

The launch was organized with high level guests from the Central Government, UNDP, Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS), and representatives of Kukes region of Albania.

The UN Development Coordinator, Mr. Frode Mauring in his speech at the opening said that this event shows there is will to implement the Millennium Development Goals. However he added the real challenge is to actually make it happen.

"We in UN Agencies believe that these goals, the MDG's, can not be achieved "by doing business as usual". I believe this will be reflected here at the municipality too", Mauring said.

Mr. Hajdar Grezda the CEO of the Mnicipality of G jakova/Djakovica said the Municipality is entering a very important process - the process of Millennium Development Goals.

He added that the Municipality won two strong partners in their development process, UNDP and KFOS.

"During implementation of this project the main element will be implementation and empowerment of the Local Development Agency, an institution that will work in development of the Municipality", Mr. Grezda said.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals agreed by all world leaders and aim at poverty reduction, gender equality, health for children, mothers and, a reverse to infectious diseases all of this through sustainable development.

The project in Gjakova/Djakovica, the Inclusion of MDG's in local development Plans is the first of this kind in Kosovo. It is a pilot project implemented by UNDP and funded by Kosovo Foundation for Open Society and Norwegian Government.