Good Governance

Amplifying citizens’ voices in decision-making, supporting transparent, accountable, and responsive institutions to the people they serve. Strengthening this foundation means ensuring that citizens are not only heard but actively shape decisions that affect their lives.

Helvetas in Kosovo supports local actors in achieving sustainable systemic change that:

  • Builds transparent and accountable institutions at central and municipal levels.
  • Ensures citizens actively participate in decision-making and have equal access to public services.
  • Promotes financial transparency, integrity, and constructive cooperation between institutions and civil society.

Over the years, Helvetas in Kosovo has supported good governance through projects such as DEMOS and LOGOS, which have strengthened municipal transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, laying the foundation for more responsive and inclusive local institutions.

Our Edge 

Expertise
With decades of experience and a team of highly skilled professionals, Helvetas brings solid knowledge and extensive experience to every project. The Good Governance team consists of gender-balanced, highly professional, committed, and multilingual advisors with solid experience working in international development cooperation across the globe.

Innovation
We are at the forefront of inclusive and sustainable development with cutting-edge approaches and methodologies. Our innovative methods and development approaches are designed to address contemporary democratic challenges and drive institutional change, setting new standards for sustainability and efficiency.

Commitment
Helvetas nourishes long-term partnerships with development actors, which builds a strong track record in the on-system work, inclusion and sustainability. We are dedicated to equitable and impactful initiatives that benefit both people and their livelihoods

© Helvetas
Training with municipal officials in Kosovo © Helvetas

Key Strengths and Value Propositions

Our Good Governance portfolio focuses on:

  • Governance & Civic Space: Our aim is to ensure that communities and civil society can claim their rights and meaningfully engage in development and policy processes. To achieve this, we develop the capacity of civil society to wield influence, and for local governments to manage resources and efficiently and transparently deliver public services.

  • Urban engagement: We encourage urbanization that is sustainable and inclusive by advancing the capacities of public institutions and facilitating citizen engagement in urban planning.

  • Conflict transformation: We build cohesive societies where people can live in dignity by fostering peaceful relationships and creating spaces to exchange ideas, prevent radicalization of youth, and constructively resolve conflicts by tackling their root causes and potential drivers.

Our cross-cutting topics:

  • Gender & Social Equity (GSE): GSE focuses on people centred approaches. It addresses inequality, discrimination, and exclusion based on gender and social factors. Good Governance projects focus on systemic and transformative change by addressing policies, governance systems, culture and values, with affirmative actions which promote women’s representation, leadership, decision-making and public and/or political participation.

  • Advocacy & Human Rights: Advocacy is a transversal theme in all our work, enabling systemic change by strengthening local partners and improving policy frameworks. We utilize our Advocacy toolbox broadly and consistently. We also follow a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) aiming to protect, defend, and promote political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural rights. HRBA reinforces accountability, participation, transparency, and non-discrimination by aligning our work with international human rights frameworks and mechanisms. See our guidelines for using the UN and EU human rights mechanisms.

«This newly built canal is extremely important to us because we faced problems every year. We used the dry creek as a road, and during heavy rains, large holes would form, causing tractors and cultivators to get stuck. It was a hassle, and this investment has been incredibly valuable.»

Nehat Canziba, citizen from Rahovec municipality that benefited directly from good governance projects

Interested to see how Helvetas works globally on Good Governance?
Visit our global website here

Selected Projects from Eastern Europe: Good Governance 

Kosovo Education and Vocational Skills

Enhancing Youth Employment (EYE)

© DLDP
Albania Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Building Confidence in Local Government

© Helvetas / Patrick Rohr
Bosnia-Herzegovina Private Sector Development

Making Markets and Jobs

© Helvetas / Armand Habazaj
Albania, Serbia Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

Social Sciences for a Better Society

Albania Private Sector Development

Making Markets Work for the Youth

Serbia Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

ACT for a Stronger Civil Society

Ukraine Private Sector Development

Fair Opportunities for a Fresh Start in Business

© Polina Cupcea
Moldova Skills, Jobs and Income

Work for Refugees and Locals in Moldova