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WESTERN BALKANS

KOSOVO

Kosovo became a GCERF partner country in 2017. GCERF began its work in Kosovo by supporting efforts to strengthen prevention and responses to violent extremism, with a particular focus on rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) of returnees from foreign conflict zones. Kosovo has since emerged as a regional leader in this area, successfully repatriating a significant number of its citizens and developing structured support systems that include psycho-social support, community-based reintegration, and economic inclusion initiatives to promote long-term recovery and social cohesion.
  • locationCreated with Sketch Beta.
  • Kosovska Mitrovica District
  • Peja
  • Gjakova
  • Prizreni
  • Ferizaji
  • Gjilani
  • Prishtina
Background and Context
Country Snapshot
Key Results
Investment Strategy
Story of Change
Background & Context

Understanding Violent
 Extremism in Kosovo

The background of violent extremism (VE) in Kosovo is shaped by a combination of post-conflict social dynamics, structural vulnerabilities, and the challenges associated with the rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) of returnees from foreign conflict zones.

Kosovo has repatriated a significant number of its citizens who travelled to foreign conflict zones, making rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) a central pillar of its response to violent extremism (VE) risks. These reintegration efforts are closely linked to broader prevention challenges, particularly among young people, who are considered highly vulnerable. This vulnerability is shaped by structural factors such as high unemployment, difficult labour market conditions, identity-related tensions, and a polarised education system. These pressures are further reinforced by widespread access to technology, which increases exposure to online content that can facilitate radicalisation and the spread of extremist narratives.

GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL

Country
 Support Mechanism

GCERF pioneers a unique model of investment designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programmes. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).

In Kosovo, CSM is chaired by the Director of The Department of Public Safety in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo and brings together relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and donor representatives to provide strategic direction for the programmes, ensure results, and progressively inherit ownership of funding community-level efforts to prevent violent extremism.

Download Country Snapshot
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
Institutional mistrust and fragmented governance relations

Lack of trust in institutions, as well as limited dialogue between central and local government, creates space for extremist actors to exploit dissatisfaction and present themselves as alternative sources of authority or support.

Ethnonationalist tensions

Ethnonationalist tensions can contribute to violent extremism by deepening divisions between communities and reinforcing narratives of “us versus them”, creating fertile ground for extremist messaging.

Political unrest and mis/disinformation

Political unrest and mis/disinformation can contribute to VE by weakening trust in institutions and distorting public perceptions of political and social issues. This creates an environment where extremist narratives spread more easily and gain credibility among dissatisfied groups.

Results at a Glance

Key Results

Total amount invested (USD)
$ 0 M
Grants
0
Civil society organisations
0
Women and children returning from Iraq and Syria received comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration support
0
Frontline workers trained to facilitate effective rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees
0 +
Youth at-risk of radicalisation and returnees trained in vocational skills and provided with entrepreneurship support to strengthen their economic resilience against violent extremism
0 +
High school students, young people, parents, teachers and village council members engaged through initiatives aimed at increasing awareness on preventing violent extremism
0 +

Investment & grant figures updated May 2026 · Programme results updated December 2025

Our Approach

Investment Strategy
 in Kosovo

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Strengthen the capacity of relevant actors working at the local level on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R)
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Reinforce local mechanisms and institutions to mitigate polarisation of children and youth
Design sans titre
Monitor the implementation of the Kosovo National Strategy and Action Plan for P/CVE and R&R, assessing progress, identifying gaps, and providing recommendations
Our IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Active Grants
 in Kosovo

Current Grants 3 Active
01 Advocacy Training and Resource Centre
▼
Grant Overview
Amount
USD 1,450,000
Duration
Jan 2023 – Jun 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Advocacy Training and Resource Centre (ATRC)
Sub-Recipients
Community Building Mitrovica
Balkans Investigative Reporting Network
Rin’On
Programme Objectives
1
Build capacity of governmental and non-governmental actors in R&R and PVE.
2
Support the implementation and monitoring of the national strategy for PCVE and CT.
3
Coordination of PVE and R&R relevant stakeholders.
4
Improvement of media coverage on PVE and R&R.
Areas of Implementation
Municipality of Mitrovica North Municipality of Mitrovica South Mitrovica region Prishtina Region Ferizaj region Gjilan region
02 Community Development Fund
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Grant Overview
Amount
USD 700,000
Duration
Mar 2024 – Aug 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Community Development Fund
Sub-Recipients
Integra
Atifete Jahjaga Foundation
Institute of Psychology
Programme Objectives
1
Comprehensive training for municipality teams to proficiently identify and address VE vulnerabilities related to violent extremism.
2
Education support within schools and capacity building of frontline workers and partners.
3
Improve the personal capacities and socio-emotional development of RFTF and vulnerable children and their parents/caretakers.
Areas of Implementation
Prishtina Fushe Kosova Podujeva Viti Gjilan Mitrovica Peja Han i Elezit
03 Syri I Vizionit
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Grant Overview
Amount
USD 750,000
Duration
Oct 2023 – Sep 2026
Implementing Partners
Principal Recipient
Syri I Vizionit
Sub-Recipients
NGO Aktiv
Edutask Institute
Programme Objectives
1
Strengthen community mechanisms to address PVE and community safety and security.
2
Strengthen existing multi-stakeholder actors (local leaders/councils, religious/village leaders).
3
Facilitate inter ethnic and inter religious dialogue.
Areas of Implementation
North Mitrovica Zubin Potok Zvecan Leposavic South Mitrovica Vitia Peja
Impact in Action

Story of Change

Featured Story
Story of Change · Kosovo
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