The initiative will support innovative, replicable projects that foster skills development and employability among young people in vulnerable situations, living in the Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas, the Algarve, and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.

Funding Information

• Up to 20 projects will be selected, each eligible for a grant of up to €100,000, covering a maximum of 60% of total project costs, for a duration of up to 18 months.

Activities

• Depending on local needs, projects may include activities such as:
• Development of basic skills (e.g. language, digital and financial literacy);
• Support for self-employment initiatives;
• Development of social, emotional, and technical skills;
• Upskilling and recognition of prior learning;
• Internships, career guidance, and support with legal documentation and immigration status;
• Creation or expansion of local employment networks.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include legally recognised public or private non-profit organisations, provided they are part of a consortium with other relevant entities – such as NGOs, businesses, local authorities or public institutions (e.g. schools, employment centres or vocational training providers).

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
• Relevance of the project and expected outcomes in relation to the initiative’s goals;
• Originality and potential for innovation in both approach and results;
• Reach and profile of beneficiaries, particularly those on low incomes or with low qualifications, people who are unemployed or have left school early, recipients of social benefits, undocumented individuals, immigrants, asylum seekers, or people facing social exclusion;
• Formal quality of the application, the consortium, the theory of change, and alignment with other relevant projects or initiatives;
• Active involvement of local residents and communities in the design, implementation, and long-term sustainability of the project;
• Ambition of the proposed outcomes in improving qualifications, employability and income;
• Sustainability and scalability of the initiative, including its potential for expansion, replication of the methodology, long-term impact, and integration into public policy or institutional practice.

For more information, visit Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.