Boosting Economic Growth in Kosovo by Unlocking $1.2 billion of Dormant Capital in Unpermitted Buildings

In Kosovo, far too many people are living in homes that are not registered with the government. This comes at a great economic cost as individuals lack the registration documents needed to secure loans to start businesses or otherwise sell, transfer, or inherit property. Since 2019, USAID has been working to change this by partnering with the public sector to expand and simplify property ownership. 

As part of this work, USAID’s Economic Governance Activity has coordinated extensively with government partners at the national and local levels to streamline and digitize administrative procedures related to property registration. USAID has also enlisted the help of partners in government, civil society, and the private sector to spread awareness of new policies and resources that make registration easier for citizens. These efforts have paid particular attention to reaching women, minorities, and other marginalized groups.  

The results of this activity speak for themselves. Over the past five years, this activity has enabled over 340,000 Kosovan citizens and businesses to secure formal rights to their property. Experts estimate that expanded ownership has unlocked an estimated €1.2 billion in capital that is now free to drive economic growth and investment.  

Work to expand property ownership is far from finished, and USAID continues to coordinate with partners to find new opportunities to utilize even larger amounts of dormant capital. These efforts will go a long way in boosting economic growth and enabling communities in Kosovo to thrive using resources that are already at their disposal.