Prishtina, February 26, 2026 – The YMCA hosted the LINK – Investing in Civil Society Sustainability Conference, convening representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, and public institutions to discuss sustainable models of cooperation and long-term impact. The conference featured two panel discussions focused on strengthening partnerships between businesses and civil society as a driver of socio-economic development.
AmCham Executive Director Arian Zeka spoke at the second panel, titled “Beyond Philanthropy: Why Private Sector Investment in Civil Society is a Strategic Investment?”, which explored the evolution from traditional corporate social responsibility toward more structured and strategic engagement. In his remarks, Zeka shared the perspective of AmCham members on what motivates companies to move beyond philanthropy and view investment in civil society as a strategic priority. He emphasized that collaboration with CSOs can play a critical role in strengthening workforce development, enhancing private sector competitiveness, and supporting long-term economic resilience. He also underlined the importance of policy and ecosystem improvements that would encourage more structured and impactful business–CSO partnerships.