Internal Evaluation of WHO Response in Kosovo from June to December 1999

During the latter half of April 2001 a team of two evaluators examined WHO’s role and strategy in Kosovo in the period June to December 1999. This period covers the initial phase of a huge effort of the international community to assist Kosovo in recovering from a period of internal strive, the NATO bombardments and exodus of over a million refugees, and the return of most of these refugees to their often destroyed an looted homes.

Kosovo has many unique features, most notably its ambiguous political status with an interim UN administration. Nevertheless, WHO can learn some key lessons that will be applicable in other ‘early post-conflict situations’. Such situations are often characterised by a still weak government and many uncertainties, but with a clear sense of growing stability and need for reconstruction and development.