Private sector helping youth get closer to employment

The private sector in Kosovo is taking the lead in exploring innovative and market-based solutions to providing professional opportunities for Kosovo’s youth. With USAID’s support, six businesses and a public school have identified ways to bridge skills gaps and transform Kosovo’s youth into a competitive asset for its economy. 

Specifically, USAID’s Private Sector-led Workforce Development Activity is working to achieve transformative change at three levels – through people, through skill-building institutions, and through an ecosystem that supports a diverse workforce. Through its Workforce Innovation Grant, the Activity is investing  $400,000 dollars into Agribusiness, ICT, and Wood Processing.  USAIDs partnership will initiate 17 new and enhanced programs, and train over 1,200 individuals. 

This initiative is not just about economic growth - it’s also about inclusivity. USAID, through grants to private businesses, intends to reach the unemployed by prioritizing opportunities for skill enhancement and employability for diverse individuals. With a commitment to inclusivity, the grant pool specifically targets unemployed youth, women, and marginalized groups from Pristina, Gllogovc and Vushtrri. 

As the grants are implemented, the private sector will actively contribute to reshaping Kosovo’s workforce, setting the stage for a brighter and more prosperous future that is driven by innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to inclusive development.