OSCE Mission completes its induction programme for new municipal assembly members in Kosovo

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded a series of 23 workshops for new municipal assembly members, elected for the first time in the October 2021 local elections. The trainings focused on assembly members' role in representing all members of their constituencies and in enhancing the functioning of their respective municipal assemblies.

Over a month and a half, 310 new municipal assembly members from all 38 Kosovo municipalities participated in the workshops and discussed their legislative mandate, as well as their representative and oversight roles. Tailor-made training sessions were also delivered to municipal assembly chairpersons who are serving in their positions for the first time, with these workshops focused on public relations and communication with the media.

The workshops also covered compliance with legal framework and good governance principles, legal requirements on municipal budgeting and gender equality considerations, and community participatory and representation mechanisms.

"Over 60% of municipal assemblies members are new and hold an elected seat for the first time, therefore diving together into their oversight role and responsibilities - and as early into their mandate as possible - is of particular importance. Understanding the specificities of their role will make the functioning of municipal assemblies more effective, ensure checks and balances and will better enable them to hold the municipal administration accountable," said Fatmir Zylfijaj, National Programme Officer from the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the manager overseeing the planning, content, and roll-out of the induction trainings.

Discussions during these workshops unearthed numerous shared priorities and needs across municipal assemblies, including updating assemblies' respective rules of procedure and learning to lead assembly meetings that abide by these rules. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will be rolling out further support on these topics in select municipalities in the months ahead, tailored to the specificities of each municipality.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, as well as with democratization and public safety sector development. It supports municipalities towards providing better municipal services through developing municipal management capacity, promoting public engagement, strengthening checks and balances, inter-municipal co-operation and enhancing intergovernmental co-ordination.