Private Sector-Led Workforce Development

Private Sector-Led Workforce Development is a five-year activity that provides young people with the necessary skills to meet the needs of Kosovo’s growth industries, in particular wood processing, ICT and agribusiness sectors. The activity promotes market-driven and inclusive workforce efforts by engaging a wide variety of stakeholders, including learners, educators, vocational institutions, private sector companies, the diaspora, civil society, policy makers, and donors – all vital members of the workforce development ecosystem. By fostering innovative workforce solutions, the activity better prepares young people to enter the workforce, and strengthens the competitiveness of Kosovo’s economy.  This activity contributes to USAID’s overall goal of increasing opportunities for inclusive democratic and economic participation.

Activities  

• Establish private sector-led Workforce Councils that collaboratively identify workforce needs, while providing feedback to training providers and government institutions about innovative workforce solutions.  
• Strengthen workforce training providers to ensure their training programs are inclusive, relevant, and responsive to private sector needs.
• Develop a more supportive workforce ecosystem that encourages inclusive employment solutions, with a focus on non-majority groups.

Expected Results  

• Develop tools for data-informed decision-making, including assessments, surveys, or special studies focused on targeted growth sectors.
• Create and strengthen sector specific Workforce Councils that are financially sustainable.
• Strengthen at least 45 institutions to deliver financially sustainable, private sector-led workforce solutions.
• A minimum of 11,500 individuals participate in USAID-assisted workforce development programs.
• Secure new or improved employment for 4,800 people. 
• Establish mechanisms to incentivize, recognize, and learn from workforce solutions. 
• Develop policies that improve workforce development.
• Cultivate at least 50 peer-to-peer relationships between diaspora and Kosovo’s workforce ecosystem actors.

Additional Information 

PROJECT FUNDING 
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Kosovo) 

PROJECT DURATION 
May 2022 – May 2027 

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
IREX

TOTAL FUNDING 
$10,000,000

KEY COUNTERPARTS
IREX, Crimson Capital Corp. (Crimson), Germin, Open Data Kosovo (ODK),  Development Gateway (DG), private and public institutions, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Economic Development. Ministry of Finance

WHERE WE WORK 
Nationwide

CONTACT 
Antigona Mustafa, Project Management Specialist