Participatory settlement development and affordable housing for minorities
Nearly two decades of collaboration to improve housing, services, and opportunities for marginalised communities.
Since the end of the Yugoslav wars, the Swiss NGO HEKS/EPER, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and local partner organisations have been working to improve housing conditions and social inclusion for ethnic minorities in the Balkans, particularly Roma communities. While the initiative initially covered several countries, it currently focuses on informal settlements in Kosovo, where housing conditions, access to services, and secure land tenure remain critical challenges.
The project improves living conditions for low‑income families through inclusive settlement upgrading, adequate social and affordable housing solutions, and the desegregation of marginalised neighbourhoods. Beyond housing, the project aims to facilitate access to public services, infrastructure, formal land titles, and employment opportunities as part of a broader approach to social inclusion.
SKAT has supported the initiative since 2008, contributing its expertise in participatory settlement development and affordable housing. SKAT provides strategic and technical advice to municipalities, project partners, and civil society actors on designing inclusive, participatory approaches to settlement transformation. Together with local authorities, architects, and community representatives, SKAT develops practical tools, housing designs, and upgrading solutions that are rooted in local realities.
Another element of SKAT’s approach is skills development: builders from the target communities are trained and involved in construction and upgrading, strengthening local capacities, improving livelihoods, and ensuring cost‑effective, sustainable results. Through this integrated approach, the project creates lasting impact by embedding inclusion, participation, and ownership at every level.
