Kosovo

Economy:
Kosovo's is one of the poorest economies in Europe, with a per capita income estimated at $1,500-$2,000. It was traditionally the poorest province of Yugoslavia. Unemployment impacts 49 percent of the population; 60 percent of the employed work in agriculture. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common.

A World Bank study found poverty increasing in Kosovo, with 15 percent of the population living on 0.93 euros a day-under the limit of extreme poverty-and 37 percent living on 1.42 euro per day. The majority of the population lives in rural towns outside the largest city, Pristina.

Climate for microfinance:
• MFIs started operating in Kosovo immediately after the war and function in all 30 municipalities, including some of the most rural and marginalized communities.
• Small/micro enterprises account for the majority of economic activity in Kosovo.

FINCA originally established its headquarters in Prizren, the second largest city in Kosovo, and gradually expanded its operations over the past seven years to other provinces, including Serbian and other ethnic minority populated areas. Today, FINCA operates in all of Kosovo's provinces, with the exception of the North-Mitrovica region.

FINCA Kosovo serves poor entrepreneurs of all ethnic nationalities in Kosovo. FINCA also is the only microfinance institution in Kosovo offering business start up loans for female and male entrepreneurs. In addition, FINCA is currently piloting a rural product targeting the rural areas of Kosovo, where poverty is more widespread. We have significantly improved our successful outreach to women over the last several years.