This lasted until Slobodan Milošević came into power in 1988, when he changed the legal status of the province and started a campaign to purge Albanians from the government and education system.
The response was the creation of parallel societies in Kosovo, one controlled from Belgrade and one created by the local Albanian population.
This period is characterized by the increased effectiveness of NGOs due to changes in the legal and security situation in Kosovo.
Directly after the war, there was a large surge in international NGOs and money donated into the post-conflict area.
After the NATO-led intervention and the signing of Regulation 1999/22 [4] on May 9, 2000, the legal and security situation surrounding NGOs vastly improved.
As Kosovo has moved past the initial reconstruction phase, there has also been a decrease in the amount of available funds and number of donors.
It is estimated that there are only approximately 500 "active" NGOs, from the 4882 registered;[5] the others have been deemed either dormant or do not have the capacity to have any sort of meaningful effect on the country.
Since the declaration of independence, the focus has been on the legal system, especially the judiciary and rule of law, community development, and good governance.
Both organizations can apply for Public Beneficiary Status, though both types are still responsible for VAT, with minor exceptions.
This latter aspect is seen more with other minorities and seen least among Kosovar-Serbs, the report states; however it does mention that Kosovar Serbs answered "don't know" when surveyed, so there could be confusion about the benefits and if they are receiving more than they know.
The report also states that assistance with housing is the most common form of benefit, followed by infrastructure, education, and health care respectively.
It also states that while democratization and transparency are emphasized in internal documents and memorandums, it does not consistently translate into practice.
Since 2002, the international community has been reducing the amount of money flowing into Kosovo to ensure that the PISG and NGOs would be forced to work together.
Only with international pressure does the PISG really consult with NGOs on the formation of new laws and regulations, with the notable exception of the National Action Plan for Gender Equality between politicians and women's civil society organizations.