Every morning, Lendita Beka, a mother of two, prepares breakfast, tidies the house, and plans the countless errands and tasks that fill her day.
But she wants more: “I would like to find a job that not only lets me care for my children, but also where I can prosper."
Lendita has not had a paid job for more than five years, but not because she did not want to. With no affordable childcare options and two youngsters depending on her, finding and keeping a job has remained out of reach.
Lendita’s experience is common across Kosovo, with only one in four women active in the labor market.
Limited access to childcare remains one of the main barriers to women’s employment in the country. Kosovo has the lowest early childhood education and care enrollment rate in the Western Balkans — only one-fifth of children ages 0 to 6 across the country are attending kindergarten or pre-school, with those from low-income families the least likely to be registered. And more than half of women outside the labor force cite personal or family responsibilities as the reason they do not work outside the home.
This reflects limited availability and affordability of childcare, especially in rural areas and outside the capital Pristina, rather than weak demand. A shortage of centers and their uneven distribution across the country continue to restrict access, impacting children’s foundational skills like literacy and numeracy, as well as their long-term career potential, while also limiting mothers’ ability to look for work or hold a job.
With support from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s fund for countries in need, and Invest in Childcare through the Early Learning Partnership (ELP), Kosovo is now expanding access to affordable childcare through a pilot voucher program, helping create new opportunities for families.
Implemented as part of the Early Childhood Education and Care for Kosovo’s Human Capital Project, vouchers issued through this program cover childcare costs for 313 children ages 3 to 5 from families receiving social assistance and provide transportation support for those living far from kindergartens.
“The program commenced last year as a pilot in three municipalities and has since expanded to 15,” explains Përparim Kryeziu, Kosovo's Deputy Minister for Education and Science. “Parents—mothers and fathers alike—have shown strong commitment by ensuring their children attend kindergarten regularly and supporting their overall development.”
Beyond improving access to early learning for children enrolled in the program, these vouchers are creating opportunities for mothers like Lendita to explore paid employment, build their skills, and contribute to household income.
“Thanks to the voucher program, I’ve gained more personal time to look for a job and take care of my family,” says Lendita. “My son is growing and learning. He’s calmer and understands things better. Taking him to kindergarten has been very helpful. I can do housework and search for work with a schedule that accommodates having a young child, allowing me to pick him up and take him to the doctor when needed.”
By enabling parents like Lendita to actively look for work or training, the childcare vouchers provided through the pilot program are not only helping families improve their well-being and financial security, but also reducing poverty across Kosovo.
This initiative is Kosovo’s first-ever voucher-based approach to childcare services and incorporates an innovative performance-based financing model, linking payments to increased enrollment and attendance among children from vulnerable families.
Importantly, the program expands service delivery by engaging private and community-based providers, broadening access, and promoting equity across different types of childcare institutions. “Our work in the field shows that cooperation with the private sector, including private kindergartens enrolling these children, has been mutually beneficial,” adds Mjellma Vula, a consultant with the Ministry of Education and Science.
One such provider is Mama Kids Academy in Lipjan, which participates in the voucher program and cares for about 50 children, including those from low-income families.
“Upon learning about this support, I promptly applied, believing it could greatly benefit families receiving social assistance,” reflects Valmire Retkoceri, the academy’s principal.
The broader Early Childhood Education and Care project is strengthening the regulatory framework and institutional capacity for early childhood education and care across Kosovo, while also training teachers and healthcare professionals. The project is also expanding access to services by creating additional spaces, providing essential equipment, and supporting teaching and learning materials.
By project completion, these efforts are expected to benefit 3,800 children, 1,500 teachers and education professionals, and 1,500 healthcare professionals.
The impact of these investments in expanding and improving childcare access and quality is already making a difference for families like Lendita’s, laying the groundwork for a stronger future. By investing in early childhood education, this project is helping boost Kosovo’s labor market and shape the country’s long-term human capital potential.
