UNICEF Kosovo and EBRD sign Memorandum of Understanding

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and UNICEF Kosovo are joining forces to support youth engagement in energy efficiency, skills development, and evidence-driven policymaking to leverage results for children and young people.

Drawing on the global partnership between UNICEF and the EBRD, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today in Prishtina marks the beginning of a coordinated effort in Kosovo in establishing a framework for collaboration aimed at  engaging young people as active agents of change in the green transition; strengthening youth skills, entrepreneurship, and transitioning to green jobs as well as drawing on both parties expertise to enhance evidence generation through quality data and analysis, driving impactful results that boost human capital investments. This collaboration aims to set a replicable model that unites government, private sector, civil society, and youth in a shared framework for sustainable development.

Kosovo stands at a unique juncture with an emerging youth population, a strategy advancing climate and energy-efficiency goals, and growing momentum for youth empowerment in the labour market and civic life. Through this partnership, Kosovo becomes a pioneer in the Western Balkans, demonstrating how youth-centered, evidence-based initiatives aligned with green investment frameworks can accelerate progress.

The MoU combines UNICEF’s mandate to promote the rights and well-being of children and young people with EBRD’s expertise and financial instruments in green economy, energy efficiency, and sustainable investment.

Under this MoU, UNICEF Kosovo and the EBRD will cooperate on a non-exclusive basis, across three key areas:

1. Youth engagement for green transition: engaging young people in the implementation of energy-efficiency and environmental-sustainability measures supported by the EBRD, including through its loan to the Government of Kosovo to be implemented by the Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund (KEEF). UNICEF’s and Green Rising movement activities, in line with its Kosovo programme, will include youth-led and volunteer-based energy-efficiency awareness campaigns, and advocacy initiatives led by young people to promote investments in energy-efficiency measures.
2. Skills development and entrepreneurship: strengthening professional readiness and entrepreneurial skills of young people for green careers. This will include alignment and collaboration with existing youth initiatives such as UPSHIFT, PONDER, PODIUM, Kosovo Generation Unlimited, and potential EBRD programmes.
3. Evidence generation: cooperating on data collection and analysis to support investment decisions and policy dialogue, including through data exchange for surveys such as the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), and using evidence to inform programming and advocacy.

The EBRD and UNICEF Kosovo will jointly monitor progress, engage partners, and share results with the goal of scaling successful models across the Western Balkans region.