Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) transferred nearly all of its remaining rule of law functions to the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) on December 9, 2008. While Kosovo’s government and institutions have sole responsibility for administration of the state, international presences remain active, including police and military peacekeeping forces. The country has an active MFI sector with a strong association.

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KosInvest

World Vision Kosovo (WVK) engaged in IDP crisis in 1998 then in a large relief response following the war in 1999. In the years that followed it has moved to a development phase and started an MED program named KosInvest. In June 2001 WV Kosovo registered KosInvest as a micro finance program with the Banking and Payment Authority of Kosovo – (BPK), now called the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK). Its goal was to rebuild the agricultural sector and move towards a market-based economy; to support Kosovo’s communities in rural areas; to increase economic self-sufficiency; to create income and employment, and to improve access to loans for all economically active low-income ethnic groups living in rural communities of Kosovo. KosInvest thus began operating in Kosovo in October 2001. It was registered as a separate MFI by World Vision in January 2007.  

Number of borrowers (12/10): 2,617