The most comprehensive of all UN-HABITAT's development planning projects in Kosovo has been the Urban Planning and Management Programme (UPMP), which initiated operations in January 2002 and under which the current set of publications is being drafted. Funded by the Government of Netherlands, the Programme works closely with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. The development objective of the Programme is to improve living conditions and promote development investment in urban areas of Kosovo through the introduction of modern inclusive planning practices and strategies. The Programme has played a key role in the development of the new Planning law for Kosovo and is also supporting the establishment of a central-level institute for strategic and spatial planning.

One of the most significant components of the programme has been its engagement with all 30 municipalities of Kosovo. The Programme has imparted comprehensive training to over 90 municipal planners in an inclusive, action-oriented planning approach (the “Urban Planning and Management Framework”, or UPMF), which is expected to lead to the preparation of strategic urban development plans at the municipal level, as foreseen by the new draft law on spatial planning. This focus on municipal level capacity for urban planning and management will contribute towards the development of longer term approaches to post conflict recovery.