Core support to Cultural Heritage without Borders Kosovo 2023-2027

Sida received a narrative annual report 2023 presenting all activities implemented during the year, since CHwB Kosovo receives a core support by Sida. During year 2023 CHwB Kosovo signed new agreements with the EU and US Embassy: 1. Protecting Cultural Landscapes in North Albania and West Kosovo with the objective to close the knowledge gap, involve local stakeholders, and produce a scalable effect for the region's cultural landscapes. During implementation the focus will be given to the gender equality and community engagement for cultural heritage preservation and sustainable tourism growth. 2. Mirdita-Junik Tourism Promotion Project with the objective to improve local tourism infrastructure, create employment opportunities, and preserve cultural and natural heritage. This project will increase the cross-border cooperation by exchanging of the knowledge and best practices between two municipalities, one in Albania and the other one in Kosovo. 3. Dresnik Archaeological Site supported by the US Ambassador Fund, aims to document the site with the advanced technology, develop a management plan, and create a master plan for preservation and local development. EU support is received for the cross-border projects with Albania that started during 2023, while the other one with Montenegro continued with its implementation. In collaborating with the Municipality of Bar (Montenegro), CHwB Kosovo started with implementation of the C.L.O.S.E.R. initiative aiming to establish a sustainable platform for the Creative Hub West, fostering economic and social development of the west region in Kosovo. New collaborations that started during 2023 are with the Institute of Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo. In paralel to strengthen programmatic collaborations with local cultural institutions, CHwB Kosovo initiated a partnership with PAKT-Platforma për Art, Kulturë dhe Trashëgimi, a coalition for co-creation space among independent cultural organizations. During 2023 a comprehensive assessment was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo, the Faculty of Architecture, and the private university AAB, Architectural Department, to identify specific skill gaps and educational needs in the sector and develop specific training programs that will contribute to cultural heritage preservation, restoration and create conditions for the sustainable use. Through the partnership with University of Pristina, seventy-two students, comprising 55 women and 17 men, were equipped with the necessary skills to map, collect, and generate documentation for specific protected monuments situated in the cities of Ferizaj and Gjilan. By actively engaging in the process of data collection and documentation, these students gained practical insights into heritage preservation and management practices while contributing to the ongoing efforts to safeguard cultural heritage assets. The Kosovo Open Heritage Platform as every year since 2016 is still serving as a vital tool for promoting civic engagement though different information, performances and awareness raising regarding reach cultural heritage of Kosovo. CHwB Kosovo as a local organization have created and updated the database of their assessment and registration work in the field. During 2023 the staff of CHwB Kosovo held many meetings and workshops, to define the internal needs for advancing the existing CHwB Database. Several platforms were exploited for identifying the best 28 possible tools that will enable the utmost efficiency in using the data. Through continuous staff training and strategic partnerships, CHwB Kosovo aims to remain at the forefront of cultural heritage management, enriching the sector with innovative approaches and guiding documents/strategies. Overall, CHwB Kosovo's engagement in 2023 shows a comprehensive approach to promoting inclusiveness, gender equality, and accessibility in cultural heritage, emphasizing the organization's commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and representation for all individuals, regardless of gender, ability, or community. Initiatives such as the Creative Hub West Management Plan and preservation projects led by CHwB Kosovo in collaboration with the UNDP demonstrate tangible efforts to conserve historical assets while fostering social cohesion and community empowerment. Under the project 'There is no Cultural Heritage without us' the objective was to develop the accessibility guideline in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. After many discussions and site visits, the community of people with disabilities (Handikos) identified the National Library building, as the monument to intervene and make it accessible for everyone. CHwB organized a three-day Youth Camp, hosting around 50 participants from different communities, including Serbs, Bosniaks, Roma, and Albanians. The camp aimed to provide equal opportunities for all to engage and benefit from cultural activities, regardless of their cultural or ethnic identity. Through the dialogue, and education on human rights and intercultural learning, young participants were encouraged to explore the significance of their shared cultural heritage. CHwB collaborated with the NGO Durmish Asllano representing the Roma community in Kosovo, to document the folk music of the Roma people in Prizren. The project's primary objective is to preserve the rich musical history of the Roma community through documentation. Subsequently, based on the research findings, the organization submitted a nomination file to the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo for the official recognition and legal protection of this cultural heritage.

The mission of CHwB Kosovo is to promote cultural heritage as both a right and a resource. CHwB works with civil society and institutions at all levels to strengthen peace building, sustainable socio-economic and democratic development and the realisation of human rights. CHwB Kosovo is dedicated to promoting the preservation of cultural heritage in areas where the significant cultural heritage is endangered because of economic, social, or political factors. The focus of the new strategy is related to the irreplaceable role of cultural heritage to face the new challenges in training, creation of sustainable networks of cultural organizations, supporting creative activities, strengthening territorial cultural identities and promoting equal rights for all social groups. 'Everyone has the right to enjoy, access and benefit from cultural heritage' is the impact of the Strategic Plan 2023-2027 of CHwB Kosovo. This is intended to be achieved through five outcomes'. OUTCOME 1: Strengthening of regional cultural identities while increasing the partnership between institutions and civil society and mobilising communities in the identification, evaluation and preservation of cultural heritage. OUTCOME 2: Enabling a bottom-up, critical and creative reflection on intangible heritage by engaging diverse communities and cultural practitioners in research, education and the production of new works and discourses. OUTCOME 3: Strengthening capacities in the area of built heritage documentation by introducing and adopting advanced technologies. CROSSCUTTING OUTCOME 4: Creating equal opportunities for everyone to enjoy and benefit from culture. OUTCOME 5: Integration of culture heritage in the discourse of environment and energy efficiency.