Deadline: 15-Sep-2025
The Gulbenkian Employment Initiative aims to improve financial security, job quality, and employment rates for young people aged 16 to 34. It focuses on those who are not in education or formal employment, or who are stuck in insecure, low-paid jobs. The initiative specifically targets youth living in the Lisbon and Porto Metropolitan Areas, the Algarve, and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira.
The program supports innovative and replicable projects that enhance skills and employability among vulnerable youth. Up to 20 projects will be selected, each eligible for a grant of up to €100,000. The grant can cover up to 60% of total project costs and supports activities for up to 18 months.
Projects may include developing basic skills such as language, digital, and financial literacy. Support for self-employment initiatives is also encouraged. Other activities could involve social, emotional, and technical skills development, recognition of prior learning, internships, career guidance, and assistance with legal or immigration documentation. Expanding or creating local employment networks is another important aspect.
Applicants must be legally recognized public or private non-profit organizations. They are required to form consortia with other entities such as NGOs, businesses, public institutions, or local authorities.
Applications will be assessed based on their relevance to the initiative’s goals and potential for innovation. The target beneficiaries, especially those facing social exclusion, low qualifications, unemployment, or uncertain legal status, will also be carefully considered.
Additional criteria include the quality of the proposal, the strength of the consortium, and the clarity of the project’s theory of change. Projects should actively involve local communities in their design and implementation and aim for ambitious, sustainable improvements in employment, qualifications, and income. Proposals that demonstrate scalability and alignment with public policy or related initiatives will have a stronger chance of being selected.
For more information, visit Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.