Kosovo
 |
Embassy |
|---|---|
 |
Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation |
 |
Consulate general |
 |
Honorary representation |
 |
Cooperation office |
 |
Contribution Office |
 |
Embassy with Cooperation Office |
 |
Embassy with Regional consular center |
 |
Swiss Business Hub |
 |
Swissnex |
 |
City |
 |
Capital |
 |
Disputed border |
 |
River |
 |
Lake |
In 2008, the Kosovar parliament declared the independence of the province under UN administration. As a new nation-state, it still faces many challenges, which delay its accession to the EU. While the institutions for a democratic framework are now in place, they are not yet used systematically. The economy remains weak and unemployment high, contributing to the country’s growing social disparities. Moreover, relations between the Albanian majority and the Serb minority are still strained, although the representation of the latter in the government is guaranteed.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 * |
|---|---|---|---|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) |
|||
Cooperation with Eastern Europe and CIS |
13.65 |
14.32 |
13.50 |
Humanitarian aid |
– |
– |
– |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) |
|||
Economic Cooperation and Development |
2.87 |
0.79 |
1.78 |
Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) |
|||
Conflict transformation and human rights |
1.11 |
1.09 |
1.27 |
Total SDC/SECO/PHRD |
17.63 |
16.20 |
16.55 |
Other Federal Offices |
|||
Network of FDFA representations abroad |
1.15 |
1.29 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
0.29 |
0.45 |
.. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) |
0.03 |
0.06 |
.. |
Total other Federal Offices |
1.47 |
1.80 |
– |
Cantons and municipalities |
0.45 |
.. |
.. |
Total |
19.55 |
18.00 |
16.55 |
Swiss government spending for development and cooperation for the current year and the past two years, broken down by institution.
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Democratic governance and human security
Political and administrative decentralisation is a key to peaceful co-existence in Kosovo. Switzerland supports the development of local administrations that provide high-quality services in regard to transparency, reliability and efficiency. It also encourages active citizen and civil society engagement in policy-making processes. At the national level, the focus is on inclusive institutions as key enablers of social cohesion, especially in relation to dealing with the past and the dialogue with Serbia.
Economy and employment
Switzerland’s main cooperation objectives in Kosovo include a dynamic private sector that can offer attractive career prospects and good working conditions. This means developing work skills and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people. To help achieve this, Switzerland invests in vocational training that is geared to the labour market. Career guidance and job placement programmes also increase the likelihood of jobseekers finding work and of companies finding the staff they need. Furthermore, Switzerland supports Kosovo in improving its business regulations and investment framework in order to foster a more attractive investment climate. Switzerland is currently considering additional support aimed at reducing the amount of non-performing loans in Kosovo’s banking system, with the view to free blocked assets and allow their reassignment to more productive use and thus contribute to job creation.
Water and climate change
The main objective is to ensure access to high-quality and affordable water and sanitation services that improve livelihoods. Switzerland works towards this by fostering policy dialogue, by strengthening the institutions managing and governing the water sector, and by investing in drinking water networks, sanitation systems and wastewater treatment facilities. It also raises general awareness about responsible water usage. In addition, public services are encouraged to participate in efforts to protect the environment and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Health
Switzerland contributes to modernising Kosovo’s health services by supporting the introduction of a mandatory basic healthcare insurance scheme. At the local level, the programme aims to improve healthcare by fostering capacity building among medical staff and encouraging citizens to access the services available. Particular attention is placed on the needs of disadvantaged or excluded groups. Other focus areas are the prevention of non-communicable diseases and awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours among the population.
Migration
Switzerland has had a migration partnership with Kosovo since 2010. The programme aims to build capacities among Kosovo’s migration authorities with a set of targeted measures in migration policy and management. It also seeks to counter migratory flows by improving the social inclusion of marginalised groups, who are among those more inclined to migrate. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s diaspora contributes to the country’s social and economic development.
Organisation and partners
The 2017-2020 cooperation strategy is implemented jointly by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the FDFA’s Human Security Division (HSD).
Switzerland's main partners in Kosovo:
National partners: ministries and local governments, local civil society organisations, e.g. Community Development Initiatives, Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians
Swiss NGOs, e.g. Helvetas/Swiss Intercooperation, Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER), Swisscontact
International companies and NGOs
Multilateral organisations, e.g. World Bank, IMF, UNDP
- Private sector and think tanks
Links
Documents
Current projects
Selection
Strengthening regional cooperation on migration in the Western Balkans
01.06.2025
- 31.12.2027
In light of diversifying migration patterns and challenges with increasing regional dimensions, the migration policy priorities of Western Balkan governments are changing and the relevance of regional dialogue, coordination and cooperation is growing. This proposal seeks to promote coherent and effective regional governance of migration in all its multifaceted dimensions contributing to greater social cohesion and regional integration in the Western Balkans.
Planned project
Support to Integrated Water Resource Management in Kosovo
01.05.2024
- 30.04.2031
The water resources in Kosovo are increasingly under threat from pollution and rising demand for water for farming, industry and growing urban centers. Climate change is projected to exacerbate the impact on the availability of water resources as well as increase the risk for flood related disasters. The program supports different stakeholders in Kosovo at the national, regional and local level to tackle these complex pressures in establishing an integrated water resources management approach.
Social Justice for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians (SORAE)
15.07.2020
- 31.12.2022
In order to improve the social inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) in Kosovo, this project will develop their livelihoods through ensuring better access to educational opportunities, enhanced children rights and protection, upgraded housing conditions and more income generation prospects. These multi-sectorial interventions will be complemented with antigypsyism policy interventions that counter discrimination against RAE and foster equality in Kosovo.
Combating corruption in Kosovo
01.07.2020
- 30.06.2024
The purpose of this project is to address key challenges in the policy and legislative frameworks, strengthen capacities of anticorruption institutions and foster public demand for accountability through civic engagement. This will be done through concluding the framework for preventive and suppressive anti-corruption processes that lead to asset confiscation.
Housing solutions for displaced persons
01.03.2019
- 31.12.2022
As a consequence of the war in the 1990s, over three million people were displaced both within and beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. Twenty-five years after the Dayton Accords, the Western Balkans are still host to almost half a million vulnerable persons displaced by conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The Regional Housing Programme (RHP) aims to provide durable housing solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in need.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Western Balkans |
Migration
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
|
01.03.2019 - 31.12.2022 |
CHF 1'555'000 |
lntegrated Water Resource Management in Kosovo
01.10.2018
- 30.04.2024
The Integrated Water Resource Management project supports different stakeholders in Kosovo at the national, regional and local level for establishing an integrated water resources management approach. This approach will address issues such as pollution, rising demand for water for farming, industry and growing urban areas, and will help mitigate the impact of climate change.
Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme in Kosovo
01.01.2018
- 31.12.2022
Since 2005, the Swiss Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme has provided better access to safe drinking water and sanitation to 474’000 people living in rural areas. By further strengthening the capacities of the water companies and their oversight bodies and with targeted infrastructure investments, the RWSSP exit phase will contribute to a sustainable and socially inclusive provision of high-quality water and sanitation services. For the first time the program will include the Northern municipalities of Kosovo.
Decentralization and Municipal Support in Kosovo (DEMOS)
01.01.2018
- 31.12.2021
Since the declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo has been engaged in the reform and decentralisation of its public authorities with the aim of strengthening autonomy and local democracy in its 38 municipalities. The SDC's “Decentralisation and Municipal Support” project (DEMOS) aims to help municipalities enhance democratic governance and municipal management and provide better public services, thereby supporting Kosovo in its transition to a democratic and decentralised state.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kosovo |
Governance
Decentralisation
Democratic participation and civil society
|
01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021 |
CHF 12'800'000 |
Reducing youth unemployment in Kosovo with the help of the private sector
16.11.2017
- 15.11.2021
The Promoting Private Sector Employment (PPSE) project is strengthening companies in the food and tourism sectors and spurring job creation in Kosovo.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kosovo |
Employment & economic development
SME development
|
16.11.2017 - 15.11.2021 |
CHF 7'320'000 |
Contribution to the Roma Education Fund (REF)
01.12.2015
- 31.12.2021
REF is the lead organization for Roma education. SDC is supporting REF from its inception, contributing in a relevant way to the Roma decade. REF recently defined a strategy (2015-20) and is strengthening its results orientation. By continuing the partnership with REF, with a focus on pro-inclusion policy dialogue, SDC ensures coherence and consistence of its position in the Roma inclusion agenda. REF's focus on children from early childhood is crucial for the social inclusion of the next generation of Roma.
Kosovo: Corporate Development Support for Wastewater Sector
01.08.2019
- 31.12.2022
On its path to achieving EU candidate status, Kosovo aims to comply with EU standards. Only 2% of its wastewater is currently treated, which results in contaminated rivers and groundwater. SECO can capitalize on previous Swiss achievements for supporting the capacity and corporate development in Kosovo?s wastewater sector.
Swiss Entrepreneurship Program, Phase II
01.07.2019
- 30.06.2023
The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program supports entrepreneurs in developing their growth-oriented businesses. They are the key drivers of innovation, economic growth and job creation.
