About us
A Kosovar organisation working with women who are looking for work.
The Women for Women International programme in Kosovo began in 1999. In 2017 it became an independent local organisation: Kosova — Women 4 Women. More than 35,000 women have passed through its social and economic programmes.
Mission and vision
Our mission is to support marginalised women in Kosovo to earn and save money, to improve their health and well-being, to influence decisions within their family and community, and to build networks of support. By drawing on their skills and knowledge, and with access to resources, women are able to create lasting change for themselves, for their families and for their community.
KW4W envisions a world in which no woman is abused, poor, illiterate or marginalised, in which members of every community take part in society equally and fully, and in which each person is free to determine and shape their own future and to show their full potential.
Values
01 · Sustainable development
02 · Equality and the fair distribution of income
03 · Individual and collective rights
04 · Democracy and active citizenship
05 · Cooperation and partnership
06 · The rule of law
07 · Personal integrity and dignity
08 · Accountability
Director and team
Dr. Iliriana Jaka Gashi
Dr Iliriana Jaka Gashi is the Executive Director of Kosova — Women 4 Women (K-W4W), where she manages programmes that have served more than 35,000 women since 1999.
From 2011 she spent almost six years as country director for Women for Women International in Kosovo. In 2017 she led the transition of the programme into an independent local NGO — Kosova — Women 4 Women — and became its executive director.
Before joining Women for Women International she worked for the Canadian International Development Agency, World Vision, the French Embassy in Kosovo, the World Bank and the American International Health Alliance (AIHA). She was also a member of the Policy and Planning Committee at Kosovo’s Ministry of Health.
She is a medical doctor with a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration Management from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. She serves on the board of the Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Women’s Organisations of Kosovo, on the board of the CiviKos Platform, and is a member of the Soroptimist International Club in Prishtina.
History year by year
KW4W’s work over the years, ordered by year. Each entry links to the document or the news item behind it where one exists.
The work begins in Kosovo
The Women for Women International programme begins working with marginalised women in Kosovo. More than 35,000 women have passed through its social and economic programmes since.
Country leadership
Dr Iliriana Jaka Gashi takes over as country director of Women for Women International in Kosovo, a post she holds for almost six years.
An independent local organisation
The programme becomes an independent local non-governmental organisation: Kosova — Women 4 Women. Dr Gashi becomes its executive director.
The business incubator for women
On 16 December 2019 the first business incubator for women in Kosovo is launched, with representatives of institutions, embassies and donors.
Women in agribusiness
Under the project «IWKA — Women’s inclusion in Kosovo’s agribusiness», grant contracts are signed with 20 beneficiaries from Ferizaj, Junik, Prishtina and Graçanica.