Labour migration and economic interaction with the
Kosovan Diaspora abroad have a profound impact
on the economic opportunities and livelihoods of
many individuals in Kosovo. This is not just limited
to the household level. Economic interactions with
the Kosovan Diaspora are so pervasive that they
strongly influence Kosovo’s macroeconomic development
and, hence, all Kosovans.
In this 2014 Kosovo Human Development Report,
we take a close look at how labour migration and
interactions with the Diaspora affect human development
in Kosovo. While human development has
many different dimensions, this report concentrates
on opportunities for productive employment (whether
in Kosovo or abroad), material wellbeing and
poverty reduction. Focus is also placed on access
to education and healthcare (through higher income
or access to services abroad), the circumstances of
women migrants and women-headed households,
and the impact of international mobility on social
involvement and political participation. On this basis,
we draw out the implications for policy interventions
that seek to promote human development
and especially to engage the Diaspora in Kosovo’s
future