First informal Filantropy Forum in Kosovo held

The first informal Filantropy Forum is held today in Pristina, with the goal of opening the road for a systematic discussion of issues and actions aimed at a more favourable legal and practical ecosystem for local philanthropy.

A media communiqué shows that today's forum brought together representatives from business associations, private companies, civil society networks, philanthropists and relevant public institutions that want to guide change and increase the impact on building a better society.

The forum was from KCSF Executive Director Taulant Hoxha, who spoke of the role of the Filantropy Forum, as well as the achievements of civil society in democratisation and development of society through donor support.

Although civil society and businesses in Kosovo have often addressed interrelated issues with the community, they have done so in parallel form and in a split way and without real communication between themselves. The model we are aiming at is a model that is based on trust and the creation of a legal and practical framework guaranteeing an ecosystem for the country's Filantropy, which will be strategic and developmental of the country”, he said.

Director of the U MissionAID in Kosovo, Zeinah Salahi, addressed forum participants, saying that the “Forum of Philanthropy, the first of its kind in Kosovo, is an important milestone in the private sector's engagement in conscious social investment”.

While the director of the Catalyst organisation, Nathan Koesall, at the same time one of the implementing partners in the Citizen Action Programme, introduced the framework with regional prospects and data on Filanthropy.

What we know from available data from the region is that local Philanthropy is on the rise and is growing steadily in Kosovo and throughout the region since 2015. This means there is a greater potential for companies and nonprofit organisations and governments to build partnerships, small and large that can affect social change, with a medium- and long-term outlook. And that's something that generates emotion and reason to celebrate all of”, he said.