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 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.” For more information please visit our homepage www.care.org

CARE International has been operational in Kosovo 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 the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the European Union and other International Community Lead Agencies and works closely with the Kosovo Albanian, 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.

CARE International is a registered non-governmental organization with UNMIK and works 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) and of the Child Rights Forum. CARE Kosovo is part of CARE International's regional program in the Balkans which also includes Serbia , Montenegro , Macedonia , and Bosnia-Herzegovina. CARE Kosovo 's head office based in Pristina/Prishtinë provides oversight and support to the three sub-offices. CARE's staff represents the diversity of Kosovo's society and, as such, the organization is well placed to build linkages among ethnic communities. Staffing of CARE International Kosovo is currently as follows:

By Profile	Total	International Staff	National Staff
Administration	11	0	11
Programs and Projects	32	0	32
Total	43	0	43

Being part of the CARE International network, CARE Kosovo is able to draw upon the experience and technical resources from other CARE offices in the Balkans and worldwide with extensive experience in reconciliation, returns and re-integration, reconstruction, education, governance and economic development.