Promoting Active Labor Market Measure for Youth at Risk of Social Exclusion, with particular focus on Urban Youth Erasmus Project

Project Title

Promoting Active Labor Market Measure for Youth at Risk of Social Exclusion, with particular focus on Urban Youth

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building for youth in neighbouring and enlargement countries

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment

Project Summary

The high rate of youth unemployment remains a ubiquitous problem in the countries of Western Balkans (WB), amounting to more than double of the EU average. The skills mismatch enhanced by the low adaptability of the education system to the needs of the labor market, slow introduction of entrepreneurial education, and lack of systematic support of young people in entering the job market results in a situation where young people are faced with high risk of poverty, deskilling and social exclusion.It is very common that policy models, including the introduction of active labor market measures as a mechanisms (ALMMs) for reduction of the unemployment, are merely transferred from the from the EU countries, often not taking in consideration the specific conditions that need to be addressed in these countries. The lack of cooperation between government institutions (mandated to implement the ALMMs), youth workers, and young people themselves, results in a situation where effectiveness and impact of the implementation of the ALMMs is lacking. Many of the measures also contain restrictive provisions, which act as disincentives for young people to apply for support. Many young people, have little knowledge on the ALMMs as a supportive mechanism for entering the labor market, and a lack of knowledge on the procedures for participating in the program is prevalent among this group.The project is aimed at strengthening the capacities of youth workers who work with young people under risk of marginalization, particularly suburban youth, for enhancing their employability and therefore, contributing to their social inclusion and improvement of their overall living prospects. The project aims to strengthen to cooperation between youth workers and national employment agencies in creating innovative approaches and adapting ALMMs to the needs of vulnerable young people. The project foresees several capacity-building components that are aimed at strengthening the capacities of youth workers in the field of employment of vulnerable youth and enhancing their participation in ALMM programs. Youth unemployment has been recognized as an important issue and one of the priorities at EU level. The partner organizations’ previous experiences in this field indicate that the problems of unemployment among marginalized/suburban youth are similar, and the solutions are of regional relevance. In many segments, the issues the project aims to address go beyond the local and national level of action. Through a regional approach in providing training for youth workers, and developing mechanisms for brining ALMMs closer to young people under the risk of marginalization, the project aims to contribute to the exchange of positive experiences and practices between the stakeholders, support the development of innovative and adaptable approaches in ALMMs of interest to young people at risk of social exclusion in the countries of the WB.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 87067,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIJACIJA ZA DEMOKRATSKI PROSPERITET- ZID UDRUZENJE & Country: ME

Project Partners

• ASSOCIATION FOR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS SKOPJE
• GRADANSKA CITAONICA LIBERGRAF