Through a request addressed to Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Minister of Finance Hekuran Murati, KOMF has requested from the Government of Kosovo, the creation of a temporary Measure for the functionalization of social services within the Economic Revival Package, as a transitional measure until the regulation of the financing of sustainable for social services.

The Ministry of Justice, in 2024, has allocated 1.5 million Euros for subsidizing the services of 40 non-governmental organizations licensed to provide social services. However, this fund is not sufficient to operationalize the provision of social services for vulnerable children and their families.

The providers of social services in 2024 are in the most difficult situation regarding the financing of social services compared to the last years. This is because in December 2023, for the most part, the programs and projects of international donors in support of social services have ended, leaving large gaps in the financing of social services.

Considering that the vast majority of providers from the non-governmental sector that provide social services are financed to the greatest extent by international donors, who have closed the programs for several months, the current situation is on the verge of collapse.

Specifically, according to the data of KOMF member organizations, the current support from the Ministry of Justice, on average, covers residential services with about 66% and daily social services with about 21%.

On the other hand, despite the decentralization of social services, the mechanism of sustainable financing of social services has not yet been regulated. Municipalities generally do not allocate a budget for the provision of social services, except for a very small number of them.
In these circumstances, despite the support from the Ministry of Justice and the will of social service providers, it is impossible to continue providing services at full capacity for the most vulnerable groups of children and their families.

This situation can lead to the closure of services, or a massive reduction of beneficiaries, which directly affects their well-being. Based on this, KOMF has asked the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance to increase support in the provision of social services for vulnerable groups through the creation of a temporary Measure for the functionalization of social services, within the Economic Revival Package.

Denial to ensure the child’s necessary protection and care for their well-being, integration, and full development constitutes a violation of the basic principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.