As part of the Tri-Partite Review Meeting (TPR), technical meetings were held on November 13 to 15, 2012, between UN-Habitat's Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP) in Kosovo, the delegation of the Swedish Development and Cooperation Agency (Sida) and local partners. The representatives from Sida visited the Municipalities of Mamusha, Gračanica and Prizren. Ms. Elizabeth Narrowe and other representatives of the Sida Office in Sweden and Kosovo were accompanied by Mrs. Krystyna Galezia, Head of UN-Habitat Office in Kosovo, MuSPP management staff and MuSPP National Planning Officers.

The delegation visited Prizren Municipality to discuss the projects in the Municipality and visit the previous Capital Investment Project (CIP) and the area for the new selected CIP. The group met with the Mayor of Prizren, Dr. Ramadan Muja, the director of Urbanism and Spatial Planning, Mr. Sadik Paqarizi, the director of Public Services, Mr. Hasan Hasani and architect Ms. Laura Ukimeri.

The Mayor referred to the implementation of the CIP for the Revitalization of Farkatareve road and expressed his willingness to continue the cooperation with UN-Habitat/MuSPP. Mr. Hasani added that this project had an impact in the historic zone and that the lessons learned during the process will be applied in the next CIP.

The visit continued with a field visit to the Farkatareve road where the group had the opportunity to be informed about the aim and objectives of the Project, materials used, difficulties in maintenance, etc. From Farkatareve road the visit continued in Lidhja e Prizrenit Square where the new project was presented - concept and materials that will be used, activities in the area, zones, etc.

The delegation also visited Mamusha Municipality in order to discuss the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) progress and spatial and urban planning issues. The visit started with a meeting with the Mayor of Mamusha, Mr. Arif Butuc, the director of the Department of Development, Planning, and Urbanism, Geodesy and Cadastre, Mr. Cavit Mazrek, and the Mrs. Esra Osi. The Mayor welcomed the participants and thanked the support given by UN-Habitat in the field of spatial and urban planning. He emphasized that, with the support of UN-Habitat, the recently established Municipality has advanced and developed the knowledge related to spatial and urban planning. He expressed his commitment to continue the cooperation in the future in order to finalize the MDP. A short presentation on the progress of the MDP was held during the visit. 

The delegation had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Bojan Stojanovic, the Mayor of Gračanica, Ms. Nada Brkljac, the Director of the Urbanism, Cadastre, Planning and Environment Department and with other municipal officials from the municipality of Gračanica who directly cooperate with MuSPP in drafting the MDP and on other urban and spatial planning issues. The Mayor has expressed his gratitude towards UN-Habitat/MuSPP and Sida for the visit and support that is being given to the municipality in drafting the Municipal Development Plan and Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA). He stressed that not only the plan itself is important but also the process of drafting it, where capacity building is taking place. This meeting was also an occasion for sharing with representatives from the Swedish Development and Cooperation Agency the views of the municipal authorities on the cooperation with MuSPP during this phase of the programme. The Urbanism Director emphasized that during the last year the Municipal Planning Team with support of UN-Habitat's MuSSP programme has intensively worked in drafting the Municipal Development Plan and Strategic Environmental Assessment and by now has finished the chapters of Profile, Vision and for the moment is finalizing the Development Scenarios and Strategies chapter, all this in parallel with the SEA. The meeting was followed by a site visit to the mine tailing in Gračanica; the visitors had an opportunity to witness the great negative impact it has on air, through the rivers and soil in all municipality area. The visit ended with a guided tour to the Monastery of Gracanica, which is under UNESCO protection.

UN-Habitat and Sida representatives have also met with the Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Mr. Shpëtim Rudi, who acknowledged UN-Habitat's work and the excellent cooperation established with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP). The meeting, held on the 15th November, discussed the challenges and way forward in the cooperation between UN-Habitat's Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme in Kosovo and MESP. The Director of the Institute of Spatial Planning (ISP), Mr. Agim Radoniqi, discussed the structural issue of the changes in Kosovo spatial planning and construction legislation, which will require a transition period to adjust the ongoing municipal planning processes to the new legal framework. Mr. Radoniqi also referred to the challenges in plan implementation. Future areas of cooperation identified are informal settlements and the need for integrated conservation for historic zones in Kosovo. Informal settlements in Kosovo have been identified by MESP and there is ongoing effort to develop work in this sector, providing these neighbourhoods with infrastructure and fundamental public services such as education, aiming at fully integrating these communities in the "formal society", to quote Mr. Radoniqi.

The TPR meeting was an opportunity for the donor and UN-Habitat/MuSPP to exchange ideas and review the progress to this point. The next TPR will take place in April 2013.