Capacity Building in the field of Youth in Western Balkans

The expected impact focuses on improving the capacity of youth organisations, particularly in eligible third countries not associated to the Programme in Region 1 (Western Balkans) to:

• improve the involvement of young people in democratic life, in terms of active citizenship and engagement with decision-makers (empowerment, new skills, involvement of young people in project design, etc.;
• improve the entrepreneurial and innovative capacities of young people;
• work transnationally while ensuring inclusiveness, solidarity and sustainability;
• promote and contribute to transnational learning and cooperation between young people and decision makers;
• upscale existing practices and outreach beyond the partnership, including making good use of digital means to stay connected under all circumstances even in situations of remoteness, isolation or confinement;
• link their results to local communities, creating job opportunities and nurturing innovative ideas that could be replicated and scaled up;
• demonstrate inclusion and accessibility of target groups with fewer opportunities and individuals.

Capacity-building in the field of youth projects are international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of youth in the EU and countries associated to the Programme, on the one hand, and in third countries not associated to the Programme, on the other hand. For the latter, this topic targets exclusively countries in Region 1 (Western Balkans).

Projects shall aim at supporting international cooperation in the field of youth and non-formal learning, as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development and well-being among youth organisations and young people. In specific, projects shall:

• Raise the capacity of organisations working with young people outside formal learning;
• Promote non-formal learning in the eligible third countries not associated to the Programme, especially in organisations that target young people with fewer opportunities (through the development, testing and launching of schemes and programmes of non-formal learning mobility in Partner countries);
• Support the development of youth work in the eligible third countries not associated to the Programme;
• Contribute to the promotion and implementation of the ‘Engage-Connect-Empower’ priorities of the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2027) including the 11 European Youth goals and the European Youth Work Agenda;
• Foster interregional cooperation;
• Enhance synergies and complementarities with formal education systems.