IOM Mission in Kosovo

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading international organisation working with migrants and governments to provide a humane response to migration challenges.

Established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organisation to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world. While not part of the United Nations (UN) system, IOM maintains close working relations with UN bodies and operational agencies. IOM has partnership with a wide range of international and non-governmental organisations.

IOM Kosovo has been among the three largest Missions worldwide since its inception in June 1999. IOM Kosovo joined the efforts of the international community to invest in a durable peace process and assist the population in rebuilding their lives and working for the future. IOM’s strategy, consistent with that of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), had to go beyond short-term reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, which were an indispensable part of the initial response to the crisis. This required a broader and far-reaching vision and implied a responsibility to support longer-term development programmes as the return and reintegration process cannot be separated from decisive socio-economic factors such as social services, employment opportunities, civil society development and the rule of law.

From the emergency of 1999 to date, IOM has not only followed the events on the ground, but also has proactively worked with donor governments and other partners to ensure that the needs of the people of Kosovo have been met and will continue to be. This is possible thanks to the donor community, the UNMIK administration, the UN agencies, the European Union and its Agency as well as the NGO community, but particularly to the people of Kosovo and its institutions’ trust in IOM.

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EU-Funded Programmes Support Minority Groups

The IOM office in Prishtina has signed an agreement with the European Commission Liaison Office to initiate an ambitious programme to improve the socio-economic circumstances of vulnerable minority groups, including ethnic Serbs and members of Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE) communities.

This 18-month, 1, 9 million euro initiative is part of the EU Community Stabilisation Programme. It will also seek to address the needs of the Albanian community living in those municipalities with a predominantly Serbian population.

This initiative will be carried out in 27 of the 38 municipalities, including the most recently formed municipalities of Gracanica, Kllokot and Ranilug, where minority groups are particularly affected by unemployment and poverty.

With unemployment rates among minority communities fluctuating between 60 to 80 per cent, their socio-economic needs, especially among the young, remain considerable.

Working closely with municipal officials and local partners as well as with the Ministry of Community and Returns and the Ministry Labour and Social Welfare, the programme will seek to offer financial and technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs and support on-going or start-up ventures.

Financial and technical support will also be granted to local associations, both business and agricultural, and community driven projects such as rehabilitating water supply networks, renovating schools and cultural centres.

Current programme activities build upon previous efforts of the IOM, the EC and the Government of Kosovo to improve the social and economic conditions of vulnerable minority groups in Kosovo.

Between 2002 and 2008, a total of 1,110 projects were completed, creating some 2,900 full-time and 1,315 part-time jobs.

International Organization for Migration

Ismail Qemali str.9, Arbëria II
10000 Pristina, Kosovo

tel: +381 38 249 040/ 041/ 042

years in KOSOVO