18 April 2024, Vlore, Albania – The European Union, in partnership with UNDP Albania and UNICEF Albania, launched today the ‘EU for Youth’ (EU4Youth) project. Funded by the European Union with a budget of EUR 2.0 million, the project will be implemented across three municipalities: Tirana, Vlore, and Shkoder.
“EU for Youth” project aims to support the harmonization of Albania's youth employment policies with European Council recommendations on Youth Guarantee, ensuring universal accessibility for young individuals not in education, employment, or training (NEET). 

With the focus on enhancing employability among youth, the project integrates Youth Guarantee ‘s goal to ensure that every young person under 30 receives a quality job offer, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

EU4Youth aims to support the implementation of Albania’s Youth Guarantee at three levels: Enhance inter-institutional capabilities to ensure effective governance and coordination; establish local partnerships to identify and support vulnerable NEET through tailored and dynamic interventions and support Albania’s vocational education and training system to produce a skilled workforce through increased engagement with the private sector.

EU4Youth will target young people registered with public Employment Offices, who will benefit from strengthened employment services; youth NEETs in Tirana, Vlore, and Shkoder, who will engage through tailored Youth Guarantee schemes; students across VET providers, set to experience improved educational settings that support successful school-to-work transitions.

Funded under EU’s Annual Action Plan 2022 through IPA III, focusing on competitiveness and inclusive growth, EU4Youth aligns with the thematic priority of education policies, employment, social protection, inclusive policies, and health.

“Development of human capital is one of the cornerstones of the European Union’s Growth Plan and Albania’s Reform Agenda. The EU4Youth programme offers new opportunities for youth employment, education and traineeship. It helps young people fulfil their professional aspirations and it enables them to contribute to the modernisation and progress of their country.  We stand by the side of Albanian youth and value their contribution to boosting Albania’s economic growth and its socio-economic convergence with the EU,” said EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato.

Monica Merino, the UNDP Resident Representative, underscored, “UNDP has provided long-term support to the government of Albania in fostering policy reforms and effecting systematic change within the employment and skills sector. Through EU4Youth, we are actively translating policy into tangible actions, thereby enhancing inclusive skills development and expanding employment prospects for the youth of Albania”. 

“The employment, youth and education sector, civil society, and all partners will work together to maximize the impact of the Youth Guarantee on young people. Under the ‘’EU for Youth’’ project, we have a unique opportunity to re-imagine delivery of services to young people and led by young people so that we have more youth in training, education and employment. A successful delivery of youth guarantee will bring Albania one step closer to EU policies and practices”– stated Murat Sahin, UNICEF Representative in Albania. 

The project will be implemented by UNDP and UNICEF Offices in Albania in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation.