CARE International in Kosovo & Macedonia implements projects in 3 programmatic areas:

* Strengthening Inter – Ethnic Dialogue & Relations (Civil Society Development)

* Education, Psycho-Social, and Health

* Economic Development

Founded in 1945 in response to the humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Second World War, CARE International is one of the world's largest, non-sectarian relief and development agencies. CARE International is a federation of eleven national members all of whom support the organization's global mission, “to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world.�

CARE International has been operational in Kosovo and Macedonia since 1997, during which time it focused primarily on humanitarian assistance projects for the internally displaced and refugees from the various conflicts in the Balkans. At the time of the NATO bombings, CARE responded to the Kosovo refugee crisis by managing eight refugee camps, housing more than 120,000 people. CARE also established community service and health programs, including youth centers, information centers, mother and child health centers, trauma counseling and mine-awareness programs.

Today, CARE International's programs in Kosovo support efforts of UNMIK and other Lead Agencies and works closely with the Kosovo ethnic Albanian, ethnic Serbian, Roma and other minority communities throughout Kosovo. CARE's sub-offices in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Peje/Pec and Prizren are supported by the head office based in Pristina/Prishtine.

The CARE office in Macedonia was transformed into a Sub-Office in Skopje , which oversees a multi-sectoral program that promotes inter-ethnic relations, agricultural development, and civil society development.

CARE International is a registered non-governmental organization with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and work closely with the Provisional Institutions of Self Governance PISG, supporting the implementation of the Kosovo Standard Plan. In addition, CARE is a member of the NRCG (NGO Returns Committee Group).

Below is a brief description of CARE International's current program portfolio in Kosovo. It starts with a description of projects that support community dialogue, conflict management and capacity building to reduce/avoid conflicts. This has developed from a single project into a cross-cutting theme, which is currently being mainstreamed into the education and health projects implemented by CARE Kosovo and to some extend by CARE Macedonia. Currently, no economic development projects are being implemented as stand alone projects, but as integral part of the return/peace building interventions.