Austrian region supports Kosovo women in agriculture
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The Vorarlberg region of Austria, working with CARE Österreich, is helping over 50,000 people in Kosovo, primarily women and young people, through projects focused on strengthening their participation in agriculture.
Kosovo faces high poverty rates and low employment, especially in rural areas where agriculture has untapped potential. The AKWA project, funded by Vorarlberg, aims to integrate women and youth economically, socially, and politically into the agricultural sector in the Podujeva and Obiliq regions.
CARE Österreich provides practical training to participants, teaching modern farming techniques, business fundamentals, and digital marketing. Select entrepreneurs receive financial aid for equipment and branding. Lendita Krasniqi, a participant, now grows and sells produce on her own land after years working on other farms, aided by a CARE-funded greenhouse. The project also addresses societal barriers, hosting women’s clubs for discussion of economic rights and gender equality, and engaging male family members to promote understanding.
Women learn to advocate for their interests politically, and the program introduces young people to careers in agriculture. Landeshauptmann Markus Wallner of Vorarlberg stated his region feels a responsibility to support improvements in partner regions like Kosovo.
