Kosovo Launches HoReCa Project to Boost Youth Employment and Hospitality Sector

A groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming Kosovo’s hospitality sector and advancing youth employment was officially launched this month. The project, titled "Ho(spitable) Re(silient) Ca(pable): Support to the Labour Market Integration of Young People in the Hospitality Industry," brings together national institutions, international development partners, education providers, and business leaders under a common mission to modernize vocational training, foster decent employment, and strengthen entrepreneurial capacity in the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) industry.

A Three-Pillar Strategy for Transformation

The HoReCa project targets systemic challenges in Kosovo’s tourism and hospitality industry by focusing on three core objectives:

1. Modernizing Vocational Education and Training (VET): Upgrades will include refurbishing training infrastructure, aligning curricula with current market demands, and developing interactive and inclusive learning materials. The goal is to make training more practical, appealing, and job-relevant for young learners entering the hospitality field.

2. Enhancing Youth Employability and Labour Protection: By integrating structured work-based learning, tailored career counseling, and robust protections for young workers, the project seeks to remove barriers to sustainable employment. Particular emphasis is placed on inclusion and gender equality to ensure that marginalized groups, especially young women, can benefit from fair opportunities.

3. Empowering SMEs and Entrepreneurs in the HoReCa Sector: With small and medium-sized enterprises forming the backbone of Kosovo’s hospitality landscape, the project will provide business development services that enhance innovation, resilience, and job creation. This includes mentorship, access to finance, digital skills training, and networking platforms.

A Multi-Stakeholder, Participatory Approach

Speaking at the launch event, Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Maurizio Antonini, stressed the importance of building economic bridges:

“The project aims to train and professionally integrate hundreds of young people, building bridges between labour market demand and the new generations. In Kosovo, where the population is young, this means no less than building the future, which is the main objective of our partnership.”

The project is jointly supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), and builds on a strong collaborative model. Stefania Vizzaccaro, Head of AICS Tirana, praised the inclusive design:

“We welcome the participatory approach that characterizes the HoReCa project—the involvement of public institutions, training centres, businesses, and local communities in co-designing everything from curricula to business support ensures long-term effectiveness and sustainability.”

Insights from the Inception Phase

During the event, ILO specialists shared early findings from the project’s inception phase. These revealed both persistent challenges and considerable opportunities in Kosovo’s hospitality sector, including:

• A mismatch between current VET programs and employer expectations.

• Underutilized potential for young women in the sector.

• Limited support structures for start-ups and small businesses.

• A pressing need for job quality improvement and social protection compliance.

The data highlighted a strong foundation for the project to influence policies, stimulate local economies, and provide young Kosovars with viable career paths in a high-growth industry.

Toward a Sustainable Employment Future

This initiative is being launched at a time when Kosovo’s youth unemployment rate remains among the highest in Europe, with many young people facing limited prospects in both urban and rural areas. The HoReCa project is aligned with national goals on youth inclusion, tourism development, and social cohesion.

The collaboration also represents an important step toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and Goal 5 (Gender Equality).

By 2027, the project aims to directly benefit hundreds of young people through improved training and employment, and to indirectly impact thousands through its systemic reforms and institutional capacity-building.

As Kosovo works toward European integration and broader regional cooperation, this initiative signals a meaningful investment in the next generation—preparing young people not only to find work, but to thrive in the ever-evolving hospitality landscape.