TİKA Strengthens the Ties of Friendship Between Turkey and Kosovo Through Hundreds of Projects

Since its inception in 2004, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has been strengthening the existing ties of friendship between Turkey and Kosovo through hundreds of projects it has carried out in Kosovo.

TİKA carried out more than 650 projects in Kosovo between 2005 and 2020 in fields such as health, education, restoration of common historical and cultural heritage, agriculture and animal husbandry.

Starting its operations in Kosovo at its resident office in Prizren in 2004, TİKA has been continuing its operations in Pristina Program Coordination Office since 2008.

In demand-driven projects; targeting the whole Kosovo without any discrimination, in cooperation with the relevant ministries, local administrations and NGOs, especially public institutions, TİKA produces and implements projects and activities in order to strengthen and develop the existing friendship ties between Turkey and Kosovo.

– Health

TİKA carried out nearly 100 projects in the field of health, which are mainly hospital and health center renovation, equipment support and establishment of medical analysis laboratories, and training of health personnel. One of the most important projects in this field is the establishment of Central Intensive Care Unit in Kosovo Central University Hospital.

As of August 2020, the unit was transformed into a pandemic control center and became a critical treatment base where severe cases, people infected with the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) were treated.

– Education

In the field of education, by renovating and constructing many schools, TİKA has implemented more than 250 educational projects by supplying hardware materials.

TİKA carried out renovations, provided equipment and built sensory perception rooms in the "Prizren Lef Nosi Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children" and "Pristina Perparimi Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children", which provide free special education under the Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo and are among the 4 schools for the mentally disabled there.

Construction of Pristina Special Education and Rehabilitation Center has also started.

– Restoration of the common historical and cultural heritage

TİKA also carried out various restoration projects in Kosovo in order to preserve the common historical and cultural heritage, which is one of the important features of the country, and to transfer this cultural heritage to future generations.

The Restoration and Landscaping of Prizren Sinan Pasha Mosque, Pristina Great (Mehmet the Conqueror) Mosque, Prizren Emin Pasha Mosque, Yanova Murat Bey Mosque, Suşitsa Mehmet Akif Ersoy Mosque are the important projects carried out by TİKA. This year, it is planned to start the restoration of the Pristina Bazaar (Sultan Murad) Mosque as well.

– Agriculture and animal husbandry

TİKA, carrying out various programs and projects in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry, has implemented approximately 40 projects in this field, in addition to the Agricultural Development Program and the Food and Life Security Support Program.

In this context, TİKA has implemented various establishment and equipment support projects for pregnant heifers, sheep and beehives distribution, and milk collection centers; also supported greenhouse agricultural production with cold stores, juice production centers, curative and aromatic plant drying centers projects, and various agricultural machinery support projects.

Especially in recent years, TİKA has implemented important projects to contribute to the empowerment of women in rural areas and the family and national economy; established a Milk Collection and Processing Center and a Curative-Aromatic Herb Drying Center with the Little Krusha Women's Association and Graçanicada Dardania Eagles Women's Association.

– Other projects

Implementing 81 capacity building programs to develop cooperation between the two countries and provide efficient public services, TİKA also provides training support to more than 2000 Kosovo civil servants, experts and academics through institutions in Turkey. Besides, in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic, 32 tons of staple foods were provided to 7 thousand people who need economic support, such as day laborers, especially the elderly and chronic patients.