The Department for International Development (DFID) works as part of the overall British Government effort to encourage community and inter-communal development in Kosovo through implementation of the UN-sponsored plan for Kosovo’s supervised independence (the Ahtisaari Plan). Principles of protection and promotion of the rights of members of communities are now enshrined in Kosovo’s constitution.
DFID’s activities help the Government of Kosovo establish effective state institutions as well as develop and implement policies for sustainable growth and employment. These activities complement those under the FCO-MoD-DFID Conflict Prevention Pool for the resolution of war-related property disputes, help in establishing a communities consultative council to strengthen ethnic communities’ voice in policy making, and outreach to Serb communities to explain the benefits of the Ahtisaari plan.
DFID co-ordinates closely with international partners—the European Commission, World Bank, other bilateral donors—in order to improve the effectiveness of assistance to the Government of Kosovo and communities. Conflict Prevention Pool funding has been used to help UNDP start a programme for civic development in the divided town of Mitrovice and fund a UNDP led programme to support returns of Serb refugees.