Property rights are fundamental to private enterprise, individual independence, economic development, and security. The informality of Kosovo’s property sector, including the lack of clarity in legislation and the inconsistent enforcement of rights makes all of these goals nearly impossible to attain for many, especially women. USAID’s five-year Property Governance Activity is designed to reduce corruption, advance women’s empowerment, and improve formal property rights and investments in real property.
USAID will work with local governments to address long-standing challenges related to informal land transactions, inheritance processes, and gender discrimination while empowering civil society, citizens, as well as the private sector to advance locally-led development. Stakeholders will work closely to strengthen the property rights system by improving the process for surveying the extent, value, and ownership of land, standardizing procedures, and removing the burdensome registration requirements to formalize the rights of current property owners.
USAID’s commitment to help Kosovo transform its property rights system is also anchored in the Agency’s commitment to advance women’s economic independence, equality, and individual rights. Women in Kosovo own a disproportionately small share of property. Reasons include lack of employment, tradition, or lack of awareness of rights - including the necessity to formally register property in their name. Through this activity, which builds on years of USAID efforts to raise awareness of women’s property rights, USAID will facilitate citizens’ access to cadastral data, address constraints to formalizing rights in newly constructed buildings, and raise public awareness on the importance of women's economic empowerment through inheriting property.
TetraTech for USAIDKosovo