USAID’s Property Rights Program (PRP) aims to improve the legal framework and institutional practices and procedures governing property rights, in order to make it easy and straightforward to acquire, register, use and transfer property in Kosovo. The program is working in close partnership with the Government of Kosovo, selected municipalities, and other relevant local and international stakeholders.

The program has supported the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in the development of a National Strategy on Property Rights (National Strategy), which will address the principal property issues impeding economic growth.  The program is also working closely with courts to improve the management and adjudication of property cases. In addition, the program is addressing the legal and social factors impeding the ability to women and minorities to exercise their property rights.  The program is taking a leading role in coordinating the work of international donors, Kosovo governmental institutions and civil society actors that bears on property rights, to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize positive results.

Goals:

• Better coordination with relevant stakeholders in setting policy priorities and conducting initiatives affecting property rights
• Improved court processes for adjudicating property claims
• Enhanced ability of women and minorities to exercise their property rights in practice
• Greater access to information and understanding of property rights

Results to date:

• The Government of Kosovo (GoK) approved the National Strategy on Property Rights in January 2017. PRP is supporting the GoK to implement the National Strategy.
• PRP is introducing modern caseflow management practices in courts, to reduce the unduly lengthy adjudication of property rights cases.
• Extensive analyses completed of legal and practical issues related to women and inheritance, outdated land records, and the ability of minorities to exercise their property rights.  These analyses will inform further policy and legislative initiatives.   
• PRP’s media campaign, “For Our Common Good,” has led to increases in the level of the Kosovo public’s general knowledge of property rights and support for women’s property rights; and increases in the numbers of women inheriting, registering and owning property.

Project Duration: May 2014- 2018

USAID Contact: Zana Berisha 

Partner: Tetra Tech ARD

Geographic Target: Kosovo