Austrian Development Agency partners with UNDP to strengthen local climate action

The Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kosovo signed a third-party cost-sharing agreement to support Kosovo municipalities in their transition towards carbon neutral development pathway.

Ms. Sandra Horina, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation´s Coordination Office  in Pristina  and Ms. Maria Suokko, UNDP Resident Representative, in presence of the H.E. Christoph Weidinger, Ambassador of Republic of Austria in Kosovo,  signed the agreement building on the results of the successful project “Urban NAMAs” in Prizren while extending the approach to the neighboring Municipality of Suharekë/Suva Reka. This agreement marks the continued cooperation with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to green transition in Kosovo.

H.E. Mr. Christoph Weidinger, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Kosovo, expressed his satisfaction that the project “Strengthening Local Climate Action” is a continuation of Austria’s contribution to the green transition of Kosovo.  Ambassador Weidinger emphasized the importance of acting together globally and in close cooperation with the private sector in order to address climate change effectively.  Austria continues to play its part.”  

Maria Suokko, UNDP Resident Representative said on this occasion: “We are pleased to continue our excellent cooperation with ADA and the Municipality of Prizren and look forward to expanding the partnership to the Municipality of Suharekë/Suva Reka. While this new project allows us to build on the great results achieved so far, it is also an opportunity to look into the rural-urban dynamics, social innovation and new ways of mobilizing financing for climate action. The long-term partnership with ADA has allowed us to develop evidence-based planning and pilot new approaches for climate action in Kosovo – and we look forward to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders as we move forward with this initiative”.

Sandra Horina, Head of the Austrian Development Cooperation´s Coordination Office  in Pristina highlighted that ADA is very happy to support Kosovo municipalities in their transition towards zero emission development by building on the results of the previous project “Supporting for Sustainable Prizren – Initiating Urban NAMAs”. “We are currently following the news about the conference of Climate action COP26 and I believe that we all must act now on behalf of this and future generations. With this project we aim at reducing greenhouse emissions and contributing to carbon neutral development through an integrated and gender-sensitive approach with a special focus on the rural areas. We will be targeting at least 620 direct beneficiaries from the public institutions and private sector with capacity development and awareness raising activities, of which at least 340 will be women”, said Ms. Horina.

Along with the ADA contribution of 1 million Euros for the “Strengthening Local Climate Action” project, additional 100,000 Euros from Prizren municipality and 50,000 Euros from Suharekë/Suva Reka municipality is a testimony and commitment to work together in promoting rural development and fighting climate change.