Enhancing Youth Employment (EYE)

After 12 years of dedicated efforts (2013-2024), the EYE Project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas and Managing Development Associates (MDA) has successfully concluded, leaving a lasting impact on youth employment in Kosovo. Through innovative initiatives and partnerships, we enabled thousands of young people to acquire skills, access opportunities, and build sustainable careers. Through EYE’s interventions, by the end of 2024:

• 37,000 young people had access to new/improved labour market information and services
• 3,000 people have new or better employment 
• 2,000 jobs matched
• 1,000 youth gained employment or self-employment because of better skills
• 50 companies contributing to skills development 

EYE focused on strengthening multiple interconnected areas to drive sustainable impact. In skills development by improving the training market and supporting initiatives that were both effective and long-lasting. In job intermediation, EYE enhanced the quality of career guidance services while expanding their availability across more VET schools. Its approach to gender and social inclusion went beyond simply achieving equal representation of men and women, emphasizing deeper, more meaningful inclusion. At the same time, knowledge management and learning were treated as central drivers of success, ensuring that insights were continuously captured and applied. Finally, the project was supported by a robust Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) system, enabling effective tracking of progress and outcomes.

EYE Exit Phase 

The overall goal of EYE phase III was to increase the employability of young women and men in Kosovo. It was achieved in a socially inclusive and sustainable way through systemic interventions in TWO interrelated areas: (1) Young women and men in Kosovo increase their employability by enhanced market demanded skills through improved access to training through industry-led training providers and non-formal training institutions (2) Young women and men can make better-informed career choices due to a more demand-driven career guidance system, while at the same time benefitting from a more efficient labour market information system. 

EYE took a systems approach to analysing and solving problems as well as an adaptive approach to management. The labour market system was seen with the need to evolve quickly and productively to survive in a globalized economy, and the system was supported to produce a more relevant, productive and promising workforce. 

The EYE project combined a clear strategic direction with a proactive, opportunity-driven approach. While remaining focused on its long-term goal of fostering a dynamic and inclusive labour market system, it continuously identified emerging ideas and high-potential opportunities. By strategically mobilising its resources and partnerships, the project was able to respond with agility and translate these opportunities into tangible, sustainable change.

Skills Development

EYE has worked to improve the training market through supporting sustainable initiatives, related to vocational skills development, and industry needs. 
EYE focused on its interventions in achieving systemic changes in two dimensions: 

• Stronger engagement of the non-formal training providers with the private sector on orienting outcomes of the non-formal training system to respond toward the labour market needs, 

• Stronger engagement of the industry leaders, associations and representatives with local stakeholders in providing delivery solutions to cover their immediate and future skills needs; 

EYE project supported initiatives of public and private training providers that contributed to: (1) improved quality of the training/offers, (2) increased outreach of training providers, (3) better positioning in the market, and (4) addressing industry-specific needs.   
Who do we worked with? 

• Public training providers  

• Private training providers 

• Business Associations 

• Industry leaders  

• NGO’s active in vocational skills development  

Job Intermediation

Outcome 2 addressed the inefficient (in terms of required costs, time and networks to find a job) and ineffective (in terms of a mismatch between what skills candidates offer and what employers need) matching of supply and demand in the labour market. It attempted to steer the supply of workforce and their acquired skills into subsectors and respective professions where the demand for decent labour is highest.  

In the working area of the job intermediation EYE focused on: 

• Improve the quality of career guidance service and availability of services into more VET schools and more municipalities. 

• Support labour market integration services and information platforms/networks. 

EYE worked in supporting existing career centres in 9 VET schools developing new services, expanding career centres in other municipalities, ensuring sustainable delivery of training for career counsellors, and developing career services at Public Employment Offices.  

EYE worked with: MES, AVETAE, Competence Centre Prizren, municipalities, Association of Municipalities, VET schools, Kosovo Career Development Foundation, EARK/PES offices and private sector. 

The goal was to increase the use of job platforms, and public employment services by employers and job seekers. EYE worked with private job matching service providers (online portals, recruitment agencies, head-hunters, temp agencies), organizations offering targeting matching services to women and minorities, and Public Employment Services (PES) under the Agency of Employment of the Republic of Kosovo. 

Gender and Social Inclusion

Throughout its implementation, the EYE project approached gender and social inclusion as more than achieving equal representation across interventions. Rather than treating all groups uniformly, the project focused on identifying and addressing key institutional barriers to inclusion. It designed targeted solutions aimed at fostering transformative change in behaviours, relationships, policies, and practices across individuals, communities, organisations, and institutions.

To sharpen inclusiveness, EYE prioritised specific groups and applied tailored measures. These included young women who face higher unemployment rates due to persistent stereotypes and limited access to support services with a target of at least 40% participation. The project also focused on lesser-skilled youth (NEET – Not in Employment, Education or Training) by improving their access to information on job opportunities, required skills, and relevant training providers. In addition, dedicated efforts were made to increase outreach and inclusion of non-majority communities, including Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Serb, and other communities in Kosovo.

Knowledge Management and Learning

Knowledge management and learning were central to the project’s effectiveness and overall success. Closely linked with its Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) system, EYE applied a combination of digital tools, communication channels, and participatory approaches to facilitate dialogue, raise awareness, and strengthen engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and partners. This ensured that lessons learned were continuously captured and informed ongoing and future interventions.

Monitoring and Results Measurement

The Enhancing Youth Employment (EYE) project implemented a robust Monitoring and Results Measurement (MRM) system, which guided the planning, design, management, adaptation, and evaluation of its interventions. The system was aligned with the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach and informed by the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard for results measurement.

Through consistent monitoring, the project was able to mitigate risks, maintain strategic focus, and effectively manage stakeholder expectations. The MRM system enabled systematic tracking, capturing, and reporting of results in line with international best practices, contributing to accountability and learning throughout the project lifecycle.

Our partners

Public institutions: 

• Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 
• Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo
• Agency for Vocational Education and Training
• National Qualifications Authority
• Local government: 
• Municipality of Ferizaj
• Municipality of Gjakova
• Municipality of Kaçanik
• Municipality of Viti
• Municipality of Peja
• Municipality of Vushtrri
   

VET schools:

•  “Feriz Guri dhe Vëllezërit Çaka” school
• Secondary Vocational School “Bahri Haxha”
• Upper Secondary Technical School “Zenel Hajdini”
• Upper Secondary Technical School “11 Marsi” (Prizren)
• “Jonuz Zejnullahu” School (Vitia)
• Upper Secondary Technical School “Shtjefen Gjeçovi” (Prishtina)
• Upper Secondary Technical School “Shaban Spahija” (Peja)
• Upper Secondary Technical School “Nexhmedin Nixha” (Gjakova)
• Upper Secondary Technical School “Lutfi Musiqi” (Vushtrri)
• Competence Centre Malisheva
• Competence Centre Prizren
• Competence Centre Skenderaj
• Competence Centre Ferizaj

Training providers: 

• Jungle
• SHEHU Training Center
• United Pixels Academy
• KosovaLive
• Dekoriti
• Nukleus
• European College of Kosovo (ECK)
• Cacttus Education
• SPEEEX Education
• Digital School
• Gračanica Innovation Center (GIC)
• BaffWorks
• Beetroot Academy
• ITCAD
• Bit Academy
• AUK
• Bone Vet
• Meister
• J Coders Academy
• Korabi.
• Business organisations: 
• American Chamber of Kosovo
• Kosovo Manufacturing Club
• Business Consultants Council
• Retailers Network of Kosovo
• KIMERK

Other organisations: 

• Kosovo Career Development Foundation 
• Roma Versitas Kosovo
• FOL Movement
• D4D
• RECURA
• IPKO Foundation
• Elite_CS
• Ciaoberto
• KIVO
• Hirano Mushroom
• Aztech
• Bambus
• Formon
• Scooler
• SHPDK
• NGO Voice of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians
• Finacco
• PECB
• Macedonia Export
• Melita & Partners
• Lens
• Kaleidoscope Futures
• Women Farmers Association
• Kosovo Ideas
• Job-matching providers: 
• Kosova Job 
• Portal Pune
• Humanpower
• Prishtina Consulting Group
• POSLOVI

Young future

55% of the Kosovar population are under 30. Kosovo’s abundance of youth is an asset and an opportunity for its future. But this fledgling republic is still far from making the most of it. The economy is growing very slowly. The job market is plagued by nepotism. And the situation hits young people hardest. Three out of five 15 to 24-year-olds are out of work, and every year another 36,000 young people enter the job market. So many of them migrate because they see no prospects for themselves in Kosovo. More than one fifth of Kosovo’s original population now live abroad.

Through our EYE (Enhancing Youth Employment) project, we have enabled nearly 12,000 young people to land a job so far. The focus in the first phase was on furnishing information about the employment market, career counseling and job placement. And on entertainingly presenting serious information about the labor market and job applications using the vehicle of a popular reality TV game show – with a job for first prize.

Past experience has shown that bigger companies tend to be particularly keen on integrating young people into the economic process. But these companies bemoan the fact that so few applicants possess the skills that are really in demand in the job market: although many young people nowadays have a high school and even college education, far too few have any occupational training, and there are not enough tradespeople and technicians. In order to adapt vocational training to market demands, Helvetas promotes ongoing exchange between entrepreneurs, education centers and the competent government agencies. The training should be provided not only by formal vocational schools, but also by informal training centers and companies that offer on-the-job training. As an organization with a great deal of experience in vocational training, Helvetas helps draw up learning modules and curricula for companies and vocational schools.  20,000 young people are going to receive training. At least 40% of them are women, 20% are young people with no prior training or employment, and 10% are members of ethnic minorities in Kosovo, such as Serbs or Roma. This project enables young people to contribute their capacities to their own country.

EYE is a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) mandate implemented by Helvetas in consortium with the local firm Management Development Associates (MDA).