Inclusive Growth

Programme overview

UNDP's Inclusive Growth Programme focuses on the development of analytical and operational TOOLS that support Kosovo's journey towards broad-based economic and human development.

Social inclusion, productive employment, and sustainable development are not straightforward by-products of economic growth policies. On the contrary, policy makers need to intentionally shape and channel market forces into context-specific interventions that may lead to large positive welfare impacts for those who are mostly affected by inequality and exclusion. 

Job-rich Inclusive Sustainable growth

The UNDP's Inclusive Growth Programme proposes an integrated approach that looks at the pace and patterns of growth as well as its implications in terms of equity and equality. It reaffirms the primacy of productive employment as the main vehicle for job-rich growth that ensures decent work opportunities for broad portions of individuals, households, and entrepreneurs in Kosovo. It emphasizes the need to coherently prioritise objectives related to low-emission development and climate resilience, as certain processes may be irreversible and prevent the realization of gains from green growth. The emphasis is on an integrated manner/approach, rather than a piecemeal way

Identifying the risk factors - developing the right tools

The divide between inclusion and exclusion can be drawn in many ways. The compounded effect of several risk factors - low level of education, residence in rural or urban areas, environmental degradation, lack of vocational skills, for instance- may lead individuals to exclusion. On the other hand, ascription to a certain ethnic or social group does not necessarily mean social exclusion. The UNDP's Inclusive Growth Programme designs projects and interventions to promote economic opportunities, access to services, and participation for all people - paying special attention to vulnerable individuals and groups who are faced with multiple human insecurity challenges.

In order to better achieve job-rich, inclusive, and sustainable growth, UNDP Kosovo uses several tools. TOOLS are approaches, methodologies and techniques (both analytical and operational) that were developed and tested by UNDP through the implementation of one or multiple projects, and which can be adapted, combined, scaled-up, and transferred to other interventions.

New tools for future challenges

Unequal distribution of resources, integration of people with labour market disadvantages onto the Kosovo labour market, and incidence of informal employment are some of the biggest challenges to the achievement of job-rich growth. Tools currently under development will contribute to fostering social entrepreneurship, the creation of green jobs, and territorial employment pacts.  

Geographic inequalities, the lack of protection for vulnerable groups, and poorly targeted services at the local level can be overcome through interventions that support the decentralized delivery of integrated services and the creation of safety nets. 

In order to achieve sustainable growth, creative solutions to the challenges of environmental degradation, waste management, air pollution and climate change can be fostered through investments in low-emission development (mitigation) and climate resilience (adaptation).