Kosovo

Kosovo labour force grows by some 30,000 new entrants annually, but economic trends fall short to generate the jobs needed. Youth, women, and minorities are the most excluded. Lack of SME innovation and of relevant, affordable market support services limit SME growth. As sustainable sector growth has the highest potential to create SMEs and jobs, the private sector development and job creation remain the main goals of the Kosovo Government.
About Kosovo

Country Facts

  • Area in km2: 10,908
  • Population: 1,782,115
  • Capital: Prishtina

Swisscontact in Kosovo

  • since 2001
  • 4 running projects

Projects

Kosovo
Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Sustainable tourism
Promoting Private Sector Employment
Kosovo has grown moderately at an average rate of 4% in the last few years (pre-COVID 19) and is constantly facing growing labour force, while the labour market falls short of generating the jobs needed to absorb the new entrants (around 30,000 annually). Formal employment makes around 75% of the overall employment, with public sector accounting for 25% of formal jobs. Youth, women, and minorities (particularly the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian) remain the most excluded groups. The COVID-19 pandemic did not spare Kosovo’s economy from its devastating impact.
Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Peru, Serbia, Vietnam
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Swiss Entrepreneurship Program
The heart of any entrepreneurial ecosystem is the community of entrepreneurs themselves. The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) has incorporated this belief and supports building local startup communities bottom up by working with ecosystem leaders and builders since 2015. We do this by working with selected startup support organizations...
Albania, Kosovo
Labour market insertion
Boost Employment: Continued efforts for labour market inclusion in Albania and Kosovo
After the successful 10-year intervention for the employability and economic integration of marginalized and youth groups - based on the “Coaching for Employment” methodology - Boost Employment Project brings Swisscontact’s support to labour market in Albania and Kosovo to another level.
Kosovo
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Fostering Employment and Growth Opportunities (FEGO)
The FEGO project aims to generate employment and income for women, men, and youth, presently living in poverty and socio-economic marginalization. The project seeks to reach sustainable and scalable growth of micro/small (family) business and start-ups, in three main sectors where the project is focused: apparel, furniture and rural tourism. 
Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kosovo, Laos, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Senior Expert Contact
Promoting entrepreneurship through expertise - Imparting technical skills through volunteer work Through their services, Senior Expert Contact (SEC) experts provide hands-on, direct support to companies and institutions in their efforts to grow.
Website

News

Kosovo
06.11.2023
Continuous Support for Women Entrepreneurs in Kosovo
Kosovo officially became part of the Swiss Entrepreneurship Program in 2019. With a mission to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country, our team began exploring different ways and methods to facilitate local economic development. Four years later, we can say that working with women entrepreneurs is where the program has the most impact.
Kosovo
Upskilling and Reskilling
26.10.2023
Sweet dreams and ambitions of a Kosovo dessert chef
Professional trainings in the confectionary industry equip women and girls in Kosovo with the latest techniques and best practices in the field. These trainings aim to empower them to start their own businesses, gain employment and improve their economic situation.
Kosovo
Sustainable tourism
26.06.2023
Modernizing vegetable seedling nurseries to empower farmers in Kosovo
In the quest for sustainable agricultural development, empowering farmers with modern equipment, techniques and resources is essential. One significant aspect of this effort is the modernization of vegetable seedling nurseries. These nurseries play a vital role in providing high-quality seedlings to farmers, which in turn leads to increased productivity and improved crop yields. In Kosovo, the support provided by the Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE), implemented by Swisscontact and Instituti Riinvest, is revolutionizing the agricultural landscape by supporting six seedling producers in different regions, modernize their vegetable seedling nurseries.
Country Director Kosovo
Argjentina Grazhdani

Swisscontact in Kosovo

Swisscontact’s key objective in Kosovo is to strengthen the private sector, improve business conditions and create a dynamic labour market that offers job and business opportunities to all. The focus is on the unemployed youth, women, and minorities.  

In Kosovo, Swisscontact works across several segments of economic life in the country, from supporting job creation in the food and natural ingredients and tourism sectors to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, Swisscontact trains coaches, enabling them to guide young people into the world of work.

This is done in collaboration with a broad spectrum of local partners from the government institutions, private sector, education institutions and business organizations.  

Swisscontact’s work in these sectors is an essential part of Switzerland’s development strategy in the country. 

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Contact

Swisscontact in Kosovo
Rr. Lorenc Antoni Nr. 36, Pejton  
10000 Pr­ishtina, Kosovo