The importance of social policies at the local level, the role of municipal assembly members in representing citizens’ needs, and the opportunities to advance more inclusive policies based on the real needs of the community were the main topics discussed during the initial meeting with the assembly members from the NISMA–Albanian Alliance in the Municipal Assembly of the Municipality of Gračanica.
During the meeting, Donika Marku Gashi, Project Coordinator and Researcher, together with Visar Ymeri, Executive Director, presented the importance of the project and the activities that will be implemented within its framework.
The assembly members emphasized that Gračanica requires special attention with regard to social policies at the local level due to its multi-community composition and the social context that characterizes the municipality. Based on this, it was assessed that Gračanica is particularly relevant for discussions on equal access to social services and the inclusion of all communities in local decision-making.
The meeting also addressed the role of the Group of Municipal Assembly Members for Social Policies in the Municipality of Gračanica. Through this group, assembly members will have the opportunity to better identify social challenges within the municipality, engage in discussions with citizens and various community groups, participate in thematic activities and training sessions, and contribute to the formulation of concrete recommendations for the Municipal Assembly.
The assembly members highlighted the importance of training in the field of social policies and social services, which they considered highly necessary for strengthening their representative and oversight roles at the local level.
The participants expressed their willingness to cooperate and to remain actively engaged in the upcoming project activities.
As the next step, the next meeting of the Group of Municipal Assembly Members for Social Policies will be organized, bringing together all political groups represented in the Municipal Assembly to discuss in greater detail the identified social issues, the needs of citizens, and the opportunities to incorporate them into recommendations and municipal planning.
This activity is part of the efforts of the Musine Kokalari Institute for Social Policy to strengthen local dialogue, citizen representation, and the role of municipal assemblies in advancing social welfare and social services.
This activity is supported by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) program ‘EJA Kosovo’, co- financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Sweden