A new IOM programme, in partnership with the Danish Refugee
Council, is underway in Kosovo to help tackle the continuing high
levels of unemployment and poverty there.

Despite substantial assistance from the international community
including the European Commission to support economic recovery,
Kosovo continues to face major economic challenges. Unemployment
rates in Kosovo are the highest in Europe with figures from 2009
putting the jobless at 45 per cent of the working age population.
With a very young population too – 20 per cent are aged
between 15-24 years – the labour market in Kosovo faces
renewed strain each year with the entrance of thousands more people
searching for work.

With 5 million Euros funding from the European Commission
Liaison Office in Kosovo and coordinated with the Ministry of
Labour and Social Welfare, the Beautiful Kosovo programme aims to
promote job opportunities linked to public regeneration schemes.
Jobs would be identified within local companies and small and
medium sized enterprises.

Long-term unemployed, with a particular focus on vulnerable
groups such as ethnic minorities, women, youth and people with
limited abilities, will be given vocational education and training
to enhance labour skills useful in the renovation of urban and
social infrastructures such as museums, monuments, tourist sites,
sports facilities and the creation of green spaces.

Each municipality in Kosovo is being asked to put forward
proposals for three public works projects which would compete for
selection with other municipalities.

"Migration is driven by pull factors that draw people to new
places with the promise of a better life and by push factors that
make them leave their homes because of lack of opportunities.
Beautiful Kosovo aims to both create jobs and to make Kosovo a more
comfortable and inspiring place to live and work. It can also pave
the way home for those that sought refuge abroad in difficult
times," said IOM Kosovo Chief of Mission Jorge Baca.

For further information, please contact:

Bekim Ajdini

IOM Kosovo

Tel: + 381.38.249.058/59

E-mail: "mailto:bajdini@iom.int">bajdini@iom.int