Action plan – Pristina, Kosovo, 2024 – 2025

At-a-Glance

Duration

Dec 2025

Date Submitted

21st November 2024

Foreword(s)

The introduction to this plan highlights a shared commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... between local government and civil society to foster a more open, transparent, and accountable governance for the citizens of Pristina. This approach stems from both parties’ dedication to establishing a more accessible public administration, where citizens not only have full access to public information but also the opportunity to actively contribute to decision-making processes that impact their daily lives. Through this collaboration, a robust platform for transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More and accountability will be built, ensuring that municipal institutions remain open and accessible to all.

This plan emphasizes enhancing citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More and empowering civil society within local government processes. Key areas of focus include implementing mechanisms for participatory budgeting, improving access to public information, and enabling independent monitoring of municipal projects and policies. Representatives from local government and civil society will work together to create an environment where citizens are actively engaged in shaping and executing policies that affect their communities. This collaboration aims to facilitate more effective and inclusive decision-making, ensuring that the needs and interests of citizens are at the heart of municipal policies.

Furthermore, this partnership will establish continuous and independent monitoring of the plan’s implementation to guarantee transparency at every stage. Through open and participatory governance, citizens will have the opportunity to track the progress of initiatives and contribute their opinions and suggestions. This inclusive vision seeks to strengthen the bond between local government and citizens, positioning Pristina as a model for open, innovative governance that serves the entire community effectively.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

Pristina aims to establish a transparent, open, and inclusive governance model that enhances citizen participation, promotes accountability, and improves public services. Through OGP Local, the city seeks to empower citizens, leverage technology, and implement governance practices that make Pristina more sustainable and democratic. By providing online platforms for data access and monitoring public administration, Pristina ensures transparency, safeguards democratic rights and prevents misuse of resources.

Citizen involvement is prioritized through events discussing local budgets and community needs, fostering accountability and inclusive decision-making. The city is also committed to environmental sustainability, envisioning cleaner air, reduced pollution, and expanded green spaces. Collaborative planning with citizens ensures resources are directed toward impactful projects, such as expanding the central heating network and promoting public transport. Policies to prevent pollution and address environmental challenges are key to creating a greener, more sustainable Pristina.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

Pristina has made significant strides in open government by implementing reforms that promote transparency, citizen participation, and sustainability. A key achievement is participatory budgeting, enabling citizens to engage directly in decision-making for community projects through public consultations and voting. The “Digital Bikes” project, aims to develop an e-bike rental system to reduce pollution, ease mobility, and promote healthier lifestyles. This process also led to the expansion of free WiFi services across the city, improving internet accessibility for all.  

The digitization of public service subsidies is another milestone, allowing citizens to monitor public fund usage via online platforms while reducing bureaucracy. Additionally, platforms for real-time air quality monitoring provide citizens with up-to-date environmental data and ongoing improvement measures.  

Pristina has also prioritized environmental sustainability through the expansion of the district heating network. This project enhances energyEnsuring universal access to sustainable, dependable, and affordable energy is critical to every aspect of prosperity. Increasing public oversight and transparency in the energy sector can help to ens... efficiency, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and lowers heating costs, gradually extending its benefits to more areas.  Through its Green Action Plan, the city promotes green practices and awareness campaigns to reduce pollution and encourage sustainable living. 

Recognized with awards such as the ICT Awards and Transparency International, Pristina is a leading example of open and accountable governance, fostering citizen inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... and sustainable development.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

The current challenges for open governance that the Municipality of Pristina aims to address include the decentralization of services to local communities, ensuring that administrative services are more accessible to citizens while enabling their digitalization for greater efficiency. Another priority is investing in the capacity buildingEnhancing the skills, abilities, and processes of public servants, civil society, and citizens is essential to achieving long-lasting results in opening government. Technical specifications: Set of ac... of municipal staff who lack sufficient digital skills, improving their ability to deliver quality and timely services. 

Additionally, the municipality seeks to enhance the functionality of the eKiosku system by expanding its offerings, such as adding the option to issue property ownership certificates. Efforts are also being made to streamline the collection of documents by establishing 4-6 strategic collection points to simplify processes for citizens.

Addressing air pollution is another critical challenge, with measures focused on monitoring and reducing pollution to improve the overall quality of life. By tackling these issues, the municipality aims to create a more transparent, efficient, and sustainable governance system that better serves its citizens.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

Pristina aims to strengthen open governance through active citizen engagement, environmental improvements, and enhanced transparency. Citizen participation will be facilitated via interactive platforms and consultative forums, focusing on urban development and protecting public interests, particularly for marginalized communities.

Environmental improvements include expanding the Termokos district heating network and increasing public transport lines to reduce pollution and create a more sustainable system. This transformation involves investments in additional buses and integrating private buses into a unified ticketing system to promote sustainable development.

In terms of transparency, regular publication of data on budgets and expenditures is planned, alongside the expansion of digital services. Online platforms will make it easier for citizens to access information and services, increasing accountability and reducing bureaucracy. This approach aims to build trust and foster stronger collaboration between citizens and local governance.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

The Municipality of Pristina is dedicated to enhancing open governance through several key medium-term objectives. Central to this is the expansion of financial transparency platforms, ensuring the real-time publication of municipal budget expenditures, signed contracts, and capital investment reports. To strengthen citizen participation, the municipality is broadening participatory budgeting, creating mechanisms that allow citizens to propose and vote on community projects that directly impact their lives.

Another significant goal is the development of an advanced and efficient system for managing public information requests and improving citizen access to public data and documents with faster and more transparent services. Equally important is the effort to strengthen civil society organizations, equipping them with tools to monitor and audit the implementation of local government policies and projects.

The municipality is also deeply committed to social inclusion and genderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... equality, ensuring fair representation and equal access for all groups, including women, youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ..., minorities, and people with disabilitiesA government is not open unless it is accessible to all, and governments are working to ensure people with disabilities are afforded equitable services and opportunities to participate. Technical spec..., in municipal decision-making processes. These objectives aim to create inclusive public policies that address the diverse needs of all citizens, promoting transparency, accountability, and equity.

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

The open government strategic vision aligns with the administration’s policy goals by fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. By improving access to public information, citizens become informed and engaged, building trust in institutions and reducing corruption. Timely publication of financial data and contracts ensures ethical and efficient resource management, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to transparency.  

Citizen participation, enabled through participatory budgeting and digital platforms, strengthens decision-making by addressing real community needs while fostering a sense of shared responsibility. Civil society oversight enhances transparency and accountability, ensuring that municipal policies are implemented effectively and irregularities are addressed.  

The focus on social inclusion and gender equality ensures fair representation and access for all, particularly marginalized groups, promoting equitable development and balanced growth. This vision strengthens collaboration between citizens and government, supporting policy goals and improving the quality of life for all residents of Pristina.

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• Mayor
• Municipal Directorates
• Sectoral Units

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

The Municipal Transparency Forum is in place to serve as a vital bridge between the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in coordinating and implementing Pristina’s OGP Action Plan. This institutional arrangement brings together representatives from the municipality’s executive and legislative branches, alongside local civil society organizations with diverse areas of expertise, to ensure transparent and inclusive governance.

Key functions of the forum include:

• Developing the Action Plan: Collaboratively setting key commitments and priorities for the municipality in alignment with OGP principles.
• Regular Meetings: Providing a structured platform for consistent dialogue and discussion on the progress and challenges of Action Plan implementation.
• Facilitating Collaboration: Bridging municipal departments and NGOs while engaging local communities and other stakeholders to foster cooperation and shared ownership of initiatives.

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

To enable collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of the OGP Action Plan, we used diverse spaces to adapt to the needs of each phase. Meetings were often held inside municipal offices, providing direct access to government representatives and fostering shared responsibility. For more intensive discussions, we organized full-day working sessions outside the city, creating a focused environment that encouraged open dialogue and deeper collaboration. At times, we worked remotely using shared digital documents and platforms that allowed participants to contribute, edit, and provide feedback in real time, ensuring seamless interaction despite physical distance. This combination of in-person and remote collaboration ensured inclusivity, flexibility, and continuous progress throughout the process while fostering a strong partnership between government and civil society.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

To ensure diversity of representation, we invited a wide range of stakeholders, including organizations representing women, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities. Efforts were made to include grassroots groups and underrepresented communities in both in-person and online spaces. Accessible venues and simple, user-friendly platforms were used to encourage participation, and sessions were structured to give all voices an opportunity to contribute. These measures helped ensure the process was inclusive and reflective of the community’s diversity.

Who participated in these spaces?

The co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... involved diverse participants from various sectors and organizations to ensure inclusivity and comprehensive input. Key participants included the Head of the Gender Equality and Communities Sector in the Municipality of Pristina, representatives from the IT Office, Public Relations Office, and Human Resources Office, Assembly Representatives as well as NGOs working on diverse issues such as gender equality, youth empowerment, minority rights, and environmental advocacy. This broad representation ensured that the action plan addressed a wide range of perspectives and community needs, fostering a more inclusive and effective approach to open governance.

How many groups participated in these spaces?

6

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation process?

8

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

The collaboration between government and non-governmental stakeholders will continue through the existing structures established during the co-creation of the OGP Action Plan. The Municipal Transparency Forum, which includes representatives from the local government and civil society, will remain a key platform for ongoing dialogue and collaboration. This forum will facilitate regular meetings to discuss progress, address challenges, and ensure that commitments are implemented effectively. Additionally, the Independent Monitoring Body, created specifically to oversee the implementation of the OGP Local Action Plan, will play a crucial role in tracking progress, providing accountability, and ensuring that the plan remains aligned with its goals. These established mechanisms will sustain the partnership and ensure transparency and inclusiveness throughout the implementation process.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

The Independent Monitoring Body established for this plan is primarily composed of representatives from civil society organizations, ensuring that the monitoring process is inclusive, transparent, and reflective of diverse community perspectives. This body also includes one representative from the municipality’s Audit Unit, providing an institutional link to ensure alignment with municipal policies and internal processes. The composition of this body enables it to act as an impartial entity that tracks the progress of the OGP Action Plan implementation, identifies potential challenges, and provides constructive recommendations to enhance accountability and transparency throughout the process.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Osman Bllaca, Head of Audit Unit, osman.bllaca@rks-gov.net
• Egzon Pacolli, Head of Local Community Units
• Dafina Olluri, Deputy Director, dafina@opendatakosovo.org
• Kenan Beqiri, Project Coordinator, Integrity Watch, kbeqiri@kdi-kosova.org

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

To discuss progress on commitments, we will hold bi-monthly meetings with stakeholders, including representatives from the Municipal Transparency Forum, civil society organizations, and the Independent Monitoring Body. These meetings will provide a structured space to review the implementation of the OGP Local Action Plan, address challenges, share updates, and gather feedback. This regular check-in ensures ongoing collaboration, accountability, and transparency throughout the implementation process, fostering a shared commitment to achieving the plan’s goals.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

To measure progress, we will establish performance indicators aligned with the objectives of the OGP Action Plan. These indicators will evaluate transparency, citizen participation, inclusivity, and accountability. Regular monitoring and reporting will ensure the effective implementation of activities and allow for adjustments as needed to achieve the plan’s goals. Progress will be reviewed collaboratively with stakeholders to maintain accountability and foster continuous improvement.

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

The results of our monitoring efforts will be shared with the public through regular updates on the Municipality’s official website and social media channels, ensuring broad accessibility and transparency. Progress reports, key achievements, and identified challenges will be published in a clear and concise format to keep citizens informed about the implementation of the OGP Action Plan. Additionally, these platforms will be used to invite feedback and encourage citizen engagement, fostering a two-way dialogue to strengthen trust and accountability. This approach ensures that monitoring results are not only accessible but also serve as a tool to involve the public in the governance process.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Ferid Murseli, Program Manager, D4D
• Burbuqe Kastrati, Project Manager, FOL Movement
• Diana Metushi, Project Manager, KDI

Commitments

• Enhancing Access to Municipal Services for Citizens through E-Governance.
• Enhancing public participation through citizen-government collaboration, participatory budgeting, and the development of a mobile app.
• Realizing green Pristina through district heating expansion, green space development, and sustainable transportation.