The Institute for Social Policy “Musine Kokalari” held a meeting of the Thematic Group of Assembly Members on Social Policies and Services in the Municipality of Gračanica.
The meeting aimed to identify the main social issues in the municipality, discuss the most vulnerable groups, and examine citizens’ access to social services.
At the beginning of the meeting, data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics on Gračanica’s demographic profile and key social well-being indicators were presented and discussed. The data served as a starting point for discussions on citizens’ social needs, the coverage of support schemes, and the functioning of existing services in the municipality.
During the discussion, the assembly members identified families with children with disabilities and communities facing more challenging socio-economic conditions as groups requiring greater institutional attention. The participants also discussed possibilities for additional municipal support for families caring for children with special needs, as well as existing criteria and forms of financial assistance.
Participants also discussed social assistance schemes and one-off support provided at the municipal level. The need for better information on eligibility criteria, the number of beneficiaries, and how different forms of support are connected was highlighted.
A separate part of the discussion focused on community homes and residential services operating in Gračanica. The discussion highlighted that assembly members have limited information about the functioning, capacities, and needs of these services, particularly services for persons with disabilities. This was identified as an area requiring better communication and information-sharing between the responsible institutions and the Municipal Assembly.
The link between families’ socio-economic conditions and access to education and healthcare was also addressed, including student transportation, preschool services, and access to healthcare services.
The discussion highlighted the need for a more comprehensive overview of the social services available in Gračanica, their capacities, and the needs that remain unmet.
The meeting served as a first step in identifying the priority issues that the Thematic Group will address in the coming period, with a focus on improving access to services, supporting vulnerable groups, and strengthening the role of assembly members in addressing social policies at the local level.
The next step will be to organize a joint meeting with organizations providing social services, activists, and citizens of Gračanica, with the aim of broadening the discussion and gaining a clearer understanding of the social needs and priorities in the municipality.
This activity is supported by the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) through the EJA Kosovo programme, co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Sweden.
