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The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 3 (ReLOaD3)

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 3 (ReLOaD3) is a regional initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The programme aims to strengthen civic engagement and partnerships between local governments (LGs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to create more open, inclusive, and resilient communities.

ReLOaD3 builds upon the success of its previous phases (ReLOaD1 and ReLOaD2), implemented from 2017 to 2024 across the Western Balkans.

ReLOaD3 (February 2025 – January 2029) aims to:

  • Strengthen local self-governance and civil society engagement in Kosovo and the Western Balkans region.

  • Enhance capacities of local governments and CSOs to form effective partnerships, improve service delivery, and align with local development priorities.

  • Improve dialogue and cooperation between LGs and CSOs by promoting transparent CSO funding practices.

  • Support CSO sustainability through capacity development.

  • Encourage local governments to adopt and maintain high standards of transparency and accountability.

  • Foster result-oriented dialogue between CSOs, residents, and authorities, leading to more inclusive local governance and sustainable municipal development.

Expected Results:

  • Policy Environment: Establish an enabling policy environment and stakeholder network to facilitate the scaling up of transparent funding mechanisms for CSOs.

  • Capacity Building: Enhance the capacities of local governments and CSOs for effective dialogue and implementation of local grant schemes.

  • Civic Engagement: Support local authorities, civil society, and residents to spur greater civic engagement in local policy design, delivery, and monitoring.

  • Partnerships: Strengthen partnerships among authorities and civil society and increase civil oversight of public policies across Kosovo through regional networking and the introduction of digital tools.

The overall budget for ReLOaD3 is USD 13.4 million, with approximately USD 1.4 million dedicated to Kosovo’s component, funded by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance III (IPA III) and co-funded by UNDP and local governments.

Contacts for Kosovo:
Project Manager: Vlora Elshani (vlora.elshani@undp.org)
Portfolio Manager: Enisa Serhati (enisa.serhati@undp.org)

Status: Ongoing

Time Frame: February 2025 – January 2029

Where: Kosovo-wide

Budget

USD 1.4 million

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