The private sector in Kosovo is collaborating closely with key government stakeholders to assume a greater leadership role in driving workforce development policy reforms. Sector-based Policy Working Groups, empowered by USAID's Private Sector-Led Workforce Development Activity, are at the forefront of championing reforms in three critical sectors: Agribusiness, Wood Processing, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Comprising private sector firms, public and private technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and government officials, these working groups provide valuable insights into workforce policy interventions. These insights are then addressed through policy dialogue with the government.
Zenel Bunjaku, Chair of the Agribusiness Policy Working Group, attests to the transformative change facilitated by USAID. "The USAID initiative has helped us identify workforce challenges and provided models of solutions. Now, we have a platform where we collectively offer our perspective and engage in policy dialogue with the government. The Policy Working Group is not just about proposing policies; it's about creating a narrative for the future of the workforce."
By combining policy review and the workforce needs of the private sector, these working groups have collaborated to identify barriers in workforce development and propose policy actions to the government. These efforts have led to several policy proposals, including the incorporation of education and training measures into the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Rural Development's (MAFRD) 2024 Rural Development Program. Additionally, such measures have been suggested as an advantageous criterion for grant and subsidy programs, along with proposals related to social assistance schemes and youth business support to enter the sector.
In the ICT sector, the working group is specifically exploring policies that would enable private sector funding towards education related initiatives. Meanwhile, in the Wood Processing sector, the group is examining policy interventions to enhance integrated education that combines apprenticeship and vocational education at schools in Kosovo.
USAID remains committed to supporting transformational behaviors that contribute to advancing policy reform and inclusive workforce development solutions.
IREX for USAIDKosovo