CLIENT: United Nations Development Programme Kosovo •
CHALLENGE: Empowering civil servants to unlock Kosovo’s creative industries potential •
MY CONTRIBUTION: I designed a training program and recommended tools to address challenges in the CCI sector.
Kosovo’s youthful population, rich craft traditions, pride in local creativity, and supportive diaspora provide a strong foundation for unlocking the potential of its cultural and creative industries (CCI). However, the UNDP reports that Kosovo’s CCI sector growth is hindered by limited access to expertise, financial resources, collaborative platforms, and inclusive, evidence-based policies.
To address these challenges, I designed an interactive training program for civil servants, focusing on stakeholder engagement in policy development and the creation of collaborative platforms such as hubs and accelerators. With Kosovo in the process of drafting its creative economy strategy, the training included exercises to foster cross-government collaboration. It was designed to empower civil servants by emphasizing their essential role as key connectors to practitioners and contributors to the development of insightful, impactful public policies and strategies.
Given the political instability that may hinder the implementation of long-term plans, I recommended investing in smaller, cost-effective pilot initiatives. These would be tailored to site-specific resources and engage multiple government agencies at both local and national levels. The pilots would support the application of shared strategic goals, allow for early testing of ideas, ensure alignment with user needs, and enhance the transparency and sustainability of public investments.