At The World NGO Day, organized by the EU Office in Kosovo, the EU announced its new grantees, including KCSF, which will continue its critical work in supporting civil society. Addressing representatives of civil society and the media, EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, said: “You are an invaluable partner in Kosovo’s EU accession process, no less because you have an incredible ability to feel the society’s pulse and needs at all times. Kosovo is lucky to have you.” In 2024 alone, the EU awarded 16 grants through the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme, providing EUR 4.83 million to strengthen independent voices and democratic engagement across Kosovo. In the past two decades, the EU has supported a myriad of civil society and media organizations driving social change.

As one of the EUOK grantees, KCSF will continue to support organizations through the Resource Center, helping them grow, build resilience, and sustain their impact. Over the next three years, in partnership with Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) this will include:

• School for Activism – strengthening civic engagement and active citizenship
• Training on NGO digitalization – enhancing resilience and operational effectiveness
• Women Leadership Training Program – empowering future leaders in civil society
• Small grants for civic activism – fostering community-driven initiatives and engagement

Following the event, KCSF’s Research and Advocacy Director, Dren Puka, joined a panel discussion where he addressed the urgent challenges facing civil society, particularly in the wake of increased attacks on civil society around the world, and the USAID Stop Work Order.  Moreover, he added that donor dependency remains a structural challenge. The forthcoming Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society (2025-2029) must deliver on its promise to create an enabling legal environment where CSOs can grow and remain sustainable. This includes establishing legal frameworks for alternative funding, improving tax incentives for donations, ensuring CSOs have equal access to banking services, providing stronger public financial support for CSOs, and proactively fostering an environment that promotes democracy, solidarity, and inclusion—values essential for building a fair, equitable, and sustainable socio-economic development.

Dren Puka added that the EU has long been a vital supporter of civil society in Kosovo, playing a key role in strengthening democratic values and fostering inclusion. He emphasized that this support must continue, not just as financial assistance, but through a strategic partnership that empowers civil society to drive democratic progress.

There must be a continued focus on ensuring that Kosovo’s civil society remains actively engaged in both national-level mechanisms and EU-level structures as part of the broader European integration process. Unlike the lengthy and bureaucratic state accession process, this integration can be facilitated more effectively by involving civil society from the outset, ensuring direct representation at both levels. This approach nurtures solidarity among citizens and ensures that diverse voices are heard, reinforcing the democratic foundations of both Kosovo and Europe.