UNICEF marks 30 years in Kosovo

In November 2025, UNICEF celebrates 30 years of making a difference for children in Kosovo. What began in 1995 as an emergency response has grown into a joint effort and partnership with Kosovo’s children, families, and institutions. Together, we have worked to improve health, education, and child protection services, created opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive, and empowered young people to speak up, and lead change.

To mark this milestone, UNICEF Kosovo has launched a campaign that reflects on our journey, the progress achieved so far, and our shared commitment to shaping a brighter future for every child.

UNICEF Kosovo: A 30-year journey for every child

UNICEF began its work in Kosovo in 1995, launching its first programme dedicated to improving the lives of children. After the conflict, in 2001, more than 140 damaged schools were rebuilt, allowing 100,000 students to return to classrooms.

By 2002, polio had been eradicated through mass immunization campaigns, which was a major victory for child health. In 2004, Kosovo became the first in the Balkans to introduce Restorative Justice, giving children in conflict with the law a second chance through community service.

In 2009, young people helped draft and pass the Law on Youth Empowerment and Participation, ensuring their voices were heard in shaping the country’s future.

By 2014, 19 maternities were certified as Baby-Friendly Hospitals, helping babies survive and thrive through better care and breastfeeding support. The collection of key data on children’s health, education, and well-being began in 2015, allowing Kosovo to monitor the situation of children for the first time.

In 2014, UNICEF introduced new skills-building programmes for young people such as PONDER, PODIUM, and UPSHIFT. To date, more than 40,000 young people have benefited directly and 200,000 indirectly. Through the UPSHIFT social entrepreneurship programme, young people identify challenges in their communities and design innovative solutions, a model that has since expanded to 60 countries worldwide.

In the same year, UNICEF introduced the model of community-based early childhood education centers, a model that provides a diverse, short-duration early learning opportunity to children aged 3 and 4 years, in rural areas. With 30 centers opened to date, the model is sustainably integrated in municipal budgets and replicated by other donors.

In 2018, UNICEF and the Ministry of Justice established an open educational correctional facility to support the reintegration of children in conflict with the law. That same year, global artist Rita Ora visited UNICEF Kosovo to advocate for children’s rights

Whereas this year also the Prevention and Response Teams were formed to keep all children in school and reduce dropouts.

When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and 2021, UNICEF led the response by delivering 21 tons of protective equipment for health workers and supporting the delivery of nearly 740,000 vaccine doses. To keep learning alive, UNICEF launched shkollat.org, Kosovo’s version of the Learning Passport developed with Microsoft and Cambridge University, later named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2021. Through Generation Unlimited, more than 4,000 young people gained valuable internships and employment opportunities.

UNICEF, in partnership with the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, conducted the 2020 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) with the general population and Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities, delivering high-quality, internationally comparable data that informed the development of the Kosovo’s Development Strategy 2030, other sectoral strategies and policies advancing reforms for children.  A new round of MICS, currently underway in 2025, will reveal how far we have come and what progress has been made for every child in Kosovo. 

In 2023, UNICEF’s advocacy led to the formal establishment of teacher assistant positions, with 330 assistants now supporting inclusive education for children with disabilities.

In 2024, three new vaccines, HPV, PCV, and Rota, were added to Kosovo’s immunization calendar, reaching 85 percent of 12-year-old girls with the HPV vaccine. That same year, UNICEF published Kosovo’s first CLACK Report on climate and environmental risks to children.

What started as a pilot in 2013 is implemented in all 38 municipalities across Kosovo, today. Led by the Ministry of Health, the Home Visiting Programme supports parents by providing essential health and nutrition services, offering guidance on child development, and ensuring that every child receives timely vaccinations and care. Each year, the programme reaches 70 percent of newborns and their families.

In 2025, with instrumental support from UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, approved the new curriculum for early childhood education, setting a foundation for quality and inclusive, play-based and child-led learning for life-long well-being and productivity.

Child Rights Teams have also been formed in 34 municipalities to strengthen local accountability for children’s rights. In 20 of these municipalities, the Action Plans have been endorsed by the municipal assemblies and are currently under implementation.

Over the years, UNICEF’s advocacy has contributed to major legal and policy milestones, including the Law on Child Protection, the Law on Early Childhood Education, the Law on Social and Family Services, and laws and frameworks supporting youth empowerment, volunteerism, and early childhood development.

Looking ahead to 2030, UNICEF continues to envision a future where every child in Kosovo can survive, thrive, and realize their dreams, and calls on everyone to help make that vision a reality.