Summary

Project aims to foster socio-economic empowerment and development of young women and men through efficient and high-quality youth services and programs. Cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial cooperation for the implementation of gender-responsive youth policies and programs at the local and national levels will be improved, together with the efficiency and coverage of gender-responsive services and programs for youth empowerment at the local level.

Background

In order to improve the youth work provision at the local level, based on the Law on Youth, a total of 11 youth services (youth clubs and youth centers) were established in 11 municipalities. However, certain challenges remain in the functioning of the services, mostly related to the management arrangements ad provision of programmes for youth. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the capacity and coverage of local youth services to improve the implementation of programs relevant to youth development at the local level. 

In order to successfully continue youth policy implementation at the national and local levels, further improvement of cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination is needed primarily to synchronize efforts to strengthen the position of youth in Montenegro.

Project Outcome

Cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial cooperation for the implementation of gender-responsive youth policies and programs at the local and national levels will be improved, together with the efficiency and coverage of gender-responsive services and programs for youth empowerment at the local level. 

Result 1: Improved cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial cooperation for the implementation of youth policies and programs at the local and national levels. 

Result 2: Improved efficiency and coverage of gender-responsive services and programs for the empowerment of young girls and boys at the local level.

Key Results:

• Inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral cooperation improved through the process of drafting the Youth Strategy 2023–2027, with the participation of 23 working group members from 21 institutions and organizations. Additionally, more than 50 stakeholders were consulted, including 16 NGOs, 7 municipalities, 8 international organizations, and 10 institutions.
• The Report on the Implementation of the Youth Strategy 2017–2021 prepared, based on an analysis of results and recommendations for the 2023–2027 Strategy.
• Youth Strategy 2023–2027 and the Action Plan for 2023–2024 prepared and adopted.
• The Youth Strategy translated into English and Albanian.
• Communication products, including a website for the promotion of the Youth Strategy created – www.strategijazamlade.me.
• Representatives of 17 local governments supported in developing local youth action plans.
• The report on the implementation of the Youth Action Plan 2023–2024 prepared.
• Youth Action Plan 2025–2026 prepared.
• The evaluation of the European Youth Card (EYCA) development program for the period 2022–2024 conducted, with the aim of analyzing the program’s effectiveness.
• A new three-year EYCA development program 2025–2027 developed, aimed at further improving the EYCA program in Montenegro.
• In partnership with the organizations Forum MNE, Prazan Prostor, and Business Center, over 1,400 young people in 11 youth services empowered in the areas of participation, health, culture, information, employment, prevention of violence, and hate speech.
• The capacities of youth administrators boosted for delivering youth work and managing youth services.