South Eastern Europe

Swiss peace-building activities

Swiss state and non-state actors have been strongly engaged in the region since the break-up of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Peacebuilding activities have concentrated on humanitarian challenges posed by violent conflict and the post-war reconstruction period. Whereas refugee relief and humanitarian aid was the primary concern during war-time, post-conflict programs have focused on the reintegration of refugees, the re-building of infrastructure, measures of good governance on national and local levels, and Dealing with the Past. In addition, certain programs have addressed the needs of specific interest groups - the psychosocial accompaniment of women and children survivors, inter-ethnic dialogue among youth, and the development of independent media.

KOFF activities

KOFF is supporting its member organizations active in the region by providing information on its website, conducting regular roundtable events on the West Balkans, and offering consultancy and training for programming and evaluation. KOFF established a South Eastern Europe Roundtable in spring 2002, which took the place of the Swiss NGO platform on former Yugoslavia. In 2006, KOFF conducted a series of consultations on the challenges of Dealing with the Past in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Guatemala ten years after the peace agreements in the two countries. The consultations culminated in the swisspeace annual conference which was held on that same theme in November 2006. KOFF has also conducted "Do no Harm" trainings in collaboration with its member organizations for their local partners in Kosovo.