Resmije Rahmani, an advocate for people with disabilities, comes from Prizren, a city in Kosovo known for its cultural heritage and beautiful surroundings. However, many of the public spaces in Prizren lack accessible sanitation facilities, which makes navigating the city challenging for people with disabilities.
Through USAID’s Social Contract activity, which addresses the barriers citizens face to meaningful participation in local government, Resmije engaged with municipal officials on the co-design of a social contract focused on making public sanitation facilities more accessible.
For Resmije, the social contract agenda isn’t just an opportunity to address the challenges that the lack of accessible public sanitation facilities presents for people with disabilities, but also a chance to highlight the difference that accessible public spaces would make for the lives of those often not considered in urban planning discussions. Inclusive decision-making is fundamental to building happier, healthier communities.
By creating opportunities for citizens like Resmije to actively participate in local government decision-making, USAID is working directly with often underrepresented citizens to ensure that government institutions are truly listening to the voices of all citizens and serving all constituents.
Democracy International for USAIDKosovo