In broad terms, the objective of this project was to enhance economic and social stabilisation in Kosovo through support for the development of an employment strategy responsive to economic, democratic and social needs at local, regional and central levels.

Specifically, the specific objectives were:

• Capacity building in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in order to: provide effective and appropriate employment support services to jobseekers and employers; ensure the proper organisation and management of a well-functioning Employment Service; ensure the balance between supply and demand in the labour market;
• The promotion of social dialogue to facilitate the development and approval of a National Strategy on Employment, including the financial, legislative and organisational framework, with a focus on economic growth and employment generation at the local level. Simultaneous piloting of at least three types of the employment generative measures was undertaken through the ‘Pilot Project Fund’, including: short-term employment subsidies to introduce young people to workplaces where labour force is in demand; training; and labour intensive work.

The project was carried out in three regions of Kosovo (Giljan, Mitrovica and Pristina) covering unemployed groups most affected by long-term unemployment, ie young persons under 25 years of age, women, retrenched persons from privatisation processes, the long-term unemployed and minorities.

Lessons learned through the implementation of this fund were incorporated into the recommendations for the Employment Strategy.

In addition, two Municipal Employment Offices were selected for renovation/construction and refurbished to a standard applicable as a best practice model for the other employment offices (total 22). One mobile office unit was set up in order to offer a more flexible and mobile service to the newly retrenched persons in remote areas as well as provision of services to ethnic minority communities and vulnerable unemployed groups.