As Europe’s newest country, Kosovo is building its own future. Less than 15 years after independence, citizens are engaging to ensure a strong democracy and thriving economy. New opportunities to develop multi-cultural relationships and create trust between diverse communities represent a bridge from the region’s past to its future.
Still, economic and political challenges threaten both stability and prosperity. Young people face an unemployment rate of more than 50%, significantly higher than their older counterparts. Youth are urgently seeking jobs to support themselves and their families, and without work, are vulnerable to risky behaviors and irregular migration.
Training in soft and workforce skills and entrepreneurship increases youth's community engagement, enhances stability, and reduces bullying and gender-based violence.
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 global health crisis did not leave Kosovo untouched, but young people stepped forward to lead the response, joining community Emergency Response Teams to ensure social distancing and other measures to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, as well as delivering food to vulnerable families with limited transportation and economic means.
Up to Youth
Global Communities is implementing a five-year Up to Youth Activity in Kosovo, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), committed to improving the capacities and enabling the aspirations of youth so that they can contribute to and benefit from more stable, democratic, and prosperous communities. Global Communities works with young people in nine municipalities in Kosovo as they become sources of positive change, develop new life skills and build resilience. Young people ages 15-24, including those often marginalized or excluded, come together for leadership opportunities, developing advocacy and awareness campaigns, and launching social ventures. Up to Youth utilizes a Positive Youth Development lens, ensuring that the key principles of assets, agency, contribution and enabling environment are integrated across activities, as well as an evidence-based approach to youth learning.
Over 2,900
youth and parents participated in Up to Youth’s community outreach activities
Mobilized 630+
youth throughout nine partner municipalities to improve their capacities and skills to contribute to and benefit from better communities and livelihoods
133
youth completed the entrepreneurship and rapid market assessment workshops to assess their municipalities’ potential for future private sector engagement opportunities
Our work in Kosovo
Positive Youth Development
Equipping Young People for Leadership and Success
Economic Opportunity
Advancing Job Training and Market Linkages for Sustainable Livelihoods
Sustainable Development
Standing with Communities as They Shape Their Own Future
Water Security
Expanding Safe, Sustainable Water Access
Resources
Briefs & Case Studies
Integrating CLA to Support Cooperative Development in Kenya
The Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, and Research (CLEAR) Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Global Communities, supports worker cooperatives to build their business identity and improve their performance to remain competitive in the ever-changing, Kenyan business environment. Since 2015, CLEAR has supported 20 cooperatives in Kenya (ten…
Capacity Materials
Advancing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN)
Global Communities has worked to save mothers’ and children’s lives and improve their health and well-being since 1961. We implement integrated maternal, newborn, child health and nutrition (MNCHN) programs at the individual, family, community and institutional levels. On the supply side, we partner with governments, civil society, and frontline health workers to strengthen health systems,…
Briefs & Case Studies
Global Communities CLEAR Program Midterm Evaluation Research and Learning Brief
This learning brief provides a snapshot of The Cooperative Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Research (CLEAR) Program’s successes and challenges based on findings from the Mid-term Evaluation (MTE) that draws on interviews and surveys from program partners and stakeholders in Kenya. The MTE examined how stakeholders perceive CLEAR’s success in achieving its objectives – specifically how…
Capacity Materials
Community-Led Emergency Action and Response: CLEAR Program
CLEAR is an 18-month, $15 million program implemented by Global Communities and funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). CLEAR is addressing the urgent protection, shelter & settlements (S&S), and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs for 22,580 people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine.…
Capacity Materials
Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency: DOBRE Program
DOBRE provides technical and material assistance to consolidated communities to help them govern openly and provide accountability in meeting the needs of their citizens. The program also supports citizens’ active engagement in decision-making and policy making. DOBRE’s support encompasses strategic planning, spatial planning, financial management, public service delivery, local economic development, capacity building, good governance…
Capacity Materials
Beyond Technology – Strengthening Ghana’s Rural Sanitation Market
Through the Enhancing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program, USAID Ghana is helping to increase access to sustainable and affordable sanitation in six regions of Northern Ghana by addressing the barriers for a poor-inclusive rural sanitation market.
NEWS
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