The Gulbenkian Employment Initiative aims to strengthen financial security, improve employment rates, and raise job quality among young people aged 16 to 34, particularly those who are not in education or employment, or who are working in precarious, low-paid, or poor-quality jobs.

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.

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.

Grant Conditions

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.

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.

How to Apply

• Only online applications will be accepted;
• Register on MyGulbenkian;
• Before submitting the application form, check all eligibility criteria. We recommend reading the Call Conditions (available in the Documents section);
• The application can only be submitted once all required fields in the form are completed and all documents required by the Call Conditions have been uploaded;
• Finally, click the “Submit Application” button. To avoid difficulties in submitting your application, do not wait until the last days of the deadline.