Continue advocating for the environmental issues at all levels in Kosovo. Importance of this work depends on UNDP’s capacities to create support

a) within the local civil society organizations, and

b) among the donor community

Raise an issue and advocate for creating a business environment that respects the environment. Engage IMF49 and WB in dialogue to find entry point(s) affordable for the current development priorities and needs. Became an advocate of such economic growth that is achieved hand-in-hand with efficient use of resources and sustainable environmental protection. Towards this end, show-case this approach first through UNDP’s interventions – partner up with relevant UNPD projects on local economic development to showcase environmentally sound development. Share lessons learned.

Continue exploring the nexus of development-health-environment in Kosovo potentially linking it with human security: building an evidence base on the linkages, advocating for immediate response when necessary, and creating capacities of national and local stakeholders to effectively address associated risks

Explore possibilities for targeted funding from the UN Trust Fund on Human security to address development-health-environment-human security nexus.

Explore innovative modalities in promoting energy efficiency measures at the local level - Green Municipality Model. Herewith, an indicative suggestion based on three recommendations:

1. Explore economic instruments for environmental protection also as suggested in the KES; and

2. Create a visible impact at the local level by generating ‘critical mass of intervention’ at the local level. This implies, moving away from piloting energy efficiency measures at the local level and investing in micro-projects on street lighting and ensuring the scale of investment

Explore non-traditional modalities in promoting environmentally sound business models: work with the young generation. Partner up with UNICEF to set up and replicate a ‘Young Environmental Entrepreneurs Academy’ whereby students would learn the basics of environment protection and would be able to practice those skills in small-scale interventions

Continue local level DRR interventions to address specific disaster risks (retrofitting of schools, retaining wall, etc.). This projects always creates necessary traction from the local community and local authorities stimulating follow-up measures. Ensure that the implementation of such interventions is being granted to the full charge and responsibility of the target municipalities and not UNDP staff to avoid creating parallel structures and strengthening public administration system at the local level.

Importantly, follow-up on Strategies developed within the programme (Climate Change Strategy and the DRR Strategy) through supporting their realization, monitoring, and regular review. To strengthen the ties with the neighborhood countries, initiate a peer-review process of the implementation of these Strategies with Macedonia, Albania, and other countries as deemed relevant and feasible. Peer review is a strong governance mechanism as well as a learning tool to strengthen the capacities of the parties engaged.

Invest in developing and updated (when relevant) the local level risk assessment and the local contingency plans. This can be a valuable source for the national level risk assessment and the national level contingency planning. Create at the local level the model how DRR can be mainstreamed in budget allocations for municipalities.

Continue developing capacities of local stakeholders in at least two ways:

1. While facilitating or funding any analytical work, organize it in such a way that it is a product of local experts working under the direction of international experts when relevant. This goes beyond simple consultations with national experts and required their engagement in data collection, analysis, and writing. In this way, the process itself will be highly valuable in terms of building capacities and creating necessary ownership. This could potentially facilitate the effective realization of the analytical recommendations when produced. This will also require adequate fund allocation for such work, whereby national experts get paid, and specific time allocated for such process.

2. Identify capacity gap for the effective implementation of the Strategies UNDP supported to design and follow up on bridging those gaps.

Introduce necessary flexibility in its programming to allow addressing emerging needs. Ensure non-ear-market budget allocations (at least through UNDP core funding) to explore new opportunities and ensure necessary responsiveness of the project or programme.

Further, strengthen gender equality and gender mainstreaming in Environment/DRR/CC programme through:

a) ensure gender-specific indicators are built into a programme and supporting projects design at the level of outcomes and outputs respectively. Partner up with UN Women to discuss how best this could be done taking into account the UN Women global flagship initiative on Gender Inequality of Risk;

b) building capacities of the national and local partners to mainstream gender in Environment/DRR/CC activities; c) engage actively the municipal Gender Focal points into the realization of the programme.

Process-wise, it is strongly recommended to carry out a relevance check of the ToC on regular basis (regularity should be decided by the programme team to fit the purpose).