Taotlus

EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS INITIATIVE PROPOSAL Title of the initiative: Enhancing Youth Competitiveness through the Entrepreneurial Youth Center Pilot Program Implementing entity (beneficiary state entity): MTÜ Eesti Avatud Noortekeskuste Ühendus Partner(s) (minimum one donor state entity): Tvibit Youth Centre, Municipality of Tromsø (Norway) Bilateral priority area identified by the JCBF beyond the programmes: € promotion of core European values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, for law and the respect for human rights for all people, regardless of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity; € E-governance (digitalization) € eastern partnership € equality and equal rights € competitive business environment, sustainable and adaptive governance (based on “Competitiveness Plan for 2020” approved by the Government of Estonia) Allocation (total sum): (A more detailed project budget description in the activity plan) 126 457€ Short description of the initiative: (background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline, communication and dissemination) The study conducted by ICF, Praxis, Tallinn University, and Civitta Estonia (2022) shows that young people's self-initiative and entrepreneurship are low, and the potential of non-formal education is underutilized. This, in turn, hampers the effective entry of young people into the workforce and their economic competitiveness. ICF, Praxis, Tallinna Ülikooli ja Civitta Eesti. (2022) Mitteformaal- ja formaalõppe lõimimise praktikad Eestis. Noorte edu toetuseks – võimekuse arendamine mitteformaalõppe lõimimiseks formaalõppega (REFORM/SC2021/066). Link: https://www.hm.ee/et/mitteformaalse-oppimise-loimimine-formaalharidusse. The bilateral partnership between Estonia and Norway focuses on developing youth initiative and entrepreneurship and enhancing cooperation in the youth sector across national borders. The project is based on the need to improve the quality of non-formal education in youth centers and to better understand its role in supporting youth entrepreneurship, thereby giving young people greater competitiveness when entering the labour market. The goal is to develop and pilot a self-assessment model for supporting youth entrepreneurship as a tool through the bilateral partnership. This model will help youth centers evaluate and improve the effectiveness of their activities in fostering youth initiative, entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial attitudes. 1 The project involves a key role for the steering group and youth sector experts from Estonia and Norway. At the heart of the bilateral partnership is the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and practices between Estonian and Norwegian youth sector experts, aiming to develop an effective and functional model that can be piloted in both countries. The project includes 15 youth centers across Estonia, covering all counties, which will pilot the developed solution. Additionally, the local youth centres of partner organisation, are also involved. During the project, regular meetings will be held between the members of the Estonian steering group and the youth centers participating in the pilot project. Additionally, there will be two meetings with Norwegian partners (one in Norway and one in Estonia), as well as three virtual meetings. The project budget covers expenses related to study trips, the involvement of experts, organizing meetings, developing and piloting the model, and communication efforts for disseminating the project's activities and results. The project will be promoted through seminars, virtual meetings, and publications, with a particular emphasis on disseminating the results by involving various stakeholders in the youth sector. The Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers, which brings together 261 youth work institutions across Estonia, ensures that the model reaches every region of the country. Norwegian partners will help ensure that the benefits of the project extend to the international community as well. The self-assessment model will be created as a tool to support the daily work processes of youth centers, allowing them to evaluate and improve their operations. The project will establish a certification system aimed at progressively distinguishing the readiness and capacity of youth centers in systematically supporting youth entrepreneurship. The certification is valid for three years, creating a cyclical feedback system that ensures youth centers maintain high standards and quality in their activities. After the project ends, there are plans to open the certification system to other youth centers across Estonia, with the Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers managing the system. One component of the certification system is a physical badge that youth centers will display prominently in their centers. The guidelines for the developed model will also be made available in English, facilitating its adoption in Norway and other European countries. The project fosters cooperation between Estonian and Norwegian youth centers, aligning directly the goal of strengthening bilateral relations and knowledge sharing between the beneficiary country (Estonia) and the donor country (Norway). It contributes to social justice and the inclusion of vulnerable groups by aiming to enhance youth entrepreneurship and engagement, including those facing difficulties entering the labor market. The tools developed through the project will increase the capacity of youth centers to support youth development and civic engagement, contributing to the funder's broader goals of promoting democracy and civic activity. By the end of the project, a self-assessment model for supporting entrepreneurship and a description of the certification system will be available in both Estonian and English on the Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers' website. 2 Activity plan: Activity Time Location Participants Development of the October Estonia Estonian Lead and Expert Groups Self-Assessment Model and 2024 - April Certification System, Analysis 2025 of Meetings with Pilot Youth Centers, Project Interim Reports (12 Domestic Work Meetings of the Lead and Expert Groups) - Catering and Venue Rental Costs Kick-off Seminar October / Estonia Estonian Lead Group, Expert november Group, and Public 2024 First meeting with pilot youth November Estonia 15 youth centers, Estonian centers 2024 Expert Group Virtual meetings with partners November Estonia / Partner organisation youth work (three times) 2024 - april Norway institutions) / Estonian Lead and 2025 Expert Groups / Norwegian Lead Group Second meeting with pilot December Estonia 15 youth centers, Estonian youth centers 2024 / Expert Group January 2025 Third meeting with pilot youth February Estonia 15 youth centers, Estonian centers 2025 Expert Group Cooperation Meeting with March Norway Partner organisation youth work Norwegian Partners 2024 institutions) / Estonian Lead and Expert Groups / Norway Lead Group Experience exchange seminar March Estonia 15 youth centers, Estonian Lead for piloting youth centers, 2025 Group and Expert Group resulting in updates to the developed model Cooperation meeting with April 2025 Partner organisation Norwegian Norwegian partners Estonia Lead Group / Estonian Lead Group and Expert Group / Youth Centers Piloting in Estonia Final seminar for presenting April 2025 Estonia Estonian Lead Group, Expert the results of the pilot project Group, and Public Piloting workshop November Norway Partner organisation youth work 2024 - institutions) aprill 2025 Project labor costs: Lead group October Estonia (Project Manager, Coordinator, 2024 - April Communication Specialist), 2025 3  Expert group (5 Youth Sector Experts) Domestic transportation costs October Estonia Estonian Lead and Expert Groups for Estonian meetings 2024 - April 2025 Marketing costs / Infographics October Estonia Media Partners in Estonia and and design 2024 - April Norway 2025 Souvenirs and certificates for March - Estonia 15 youth centers across Estonia, pilot youth centers April 2025 Partner organisation youth work institutions) ) Office and communication October Estonia Estonian Lead and Expert Groups costs 2024 - April 2025 Planned results1 OUTPUT INDICATOR TARGET Development and piloting of the A developed and piloted At least 80% of the youth self-assessment model in youth self-assessment model aimed at centers participating in centers evaluating the quality of support the project have for entrepreneurship in youth successfully completed centers. the model's piloting. Creation and implementation of The labeling system has been All youth centers that the youth centers' certification created and implemented, completed the pilot system encompassing three different levels project have received a that measure the capacity of youth certification based on the centers to support youth assessment results. entrepreneurship. Establishing and strengthening a At least 2 in-person meetings and 3 The best knowledge and network of cooperation between online meetings with Norwegian practices from the youth youth centers in Estonia and partners have taken place, resulting sector in partner Norway in the sharing of knowledge and countries have been experiences. incorporated into the development of the model. Raising awareness and Seminars dedicated to the project's At least 300 youth emphasizing the importance of results and dissemination of workers and stakeholders supporting youth findings, including articles and have participated in entrepreneurship guidance materials. events showcasing the project's results and are aware of the model's implementation opportunities. The project's outcomes have been disseminated 1 Please refer to the Results Guideline 4  through at least 5 media channels, including social media, reaching a broader target audience. Assessment of project impact Impact analysis prepared at the end At least 85% of the and results analysis of the project, evaluating the effect participants rate the of the model and collaborative project's impact as projects on the quality of youth positive and recommend centers work and youth implementing the model entrepreneurship. in other youth centers as well. 5  PALGAKULUD Bruto Palgafond Palk projektiks JUHTRGRUPP Projektijuht (1.0) 2,200€ 2,943.60€ 20,608€ Koordinaator (1.0) 1,800€ 2,408.40€ 16,856€ Statuudi koostamine, Kommunikatsioonispetsialist piloteerimine ja rakendamine 2,200€ 2,943.60€ 20,608€ (meediapartner) (1.0) 2024-2025 (7 kuud) EKSPERTGRUPP 5 noortevaldkonna eksperti 1,975€ 2,642.14€ 18,495€ 395€ kuu / ekspert 76,567€ TEGEVUS KULU Koostöökohtumine Norra partneritega Norras (lend, majutus, transport, toitlustus) 5 liikmeline Eesti delegatsioon 5 päeva 11,122€ Islandil Koostöökohtumine Norra partneritega Eestis (lend, majutus, transport, toitlustus) 5 liikmeline Norra delegatsioon 5 päeva 10,567€ Eestis Eesti siseriiklike kohtumiste (juhtgrupp + ekspergrupp) transpordikulud, sh pilootprojektis osalevate noortekeskuste 3,500€ külastused (ekspertgrupp) - 7 kuud / 1 kuu 500€ Kontori- ja sidekulud 7 kuud x 75€ 525€ Meened Norra külastuseks ja tunnusmärgised (disain ja trükk) pilooteerinud 15-le noortekeskusele 2,176€ Turunduskulud / infograafika ja disain, sisuturndus Eesti ja 5,600€ Norra meediaväljaannetes Toitlustuse ja ruumirendi kulu - enesehindamismudeli ja märgisesüsteemi väljatöötamine, piloteerivate noortekeskustega kohtumiste järelanalüüs, projekti 5,200€ vahekokkuvõtted (juhtgrupi ja ekspertgrupi siseriiklikud töökoosolekud 12 korda) Projekti tutvustav avaseminar Eestis - ruumide rent, toitlustus 2,600€ Projekti kokkuvõttev seminar Eestis - ruumide rent, toitlustus 2,600€ Kogemusvahetus seminar piloteerivatele asutustele - ruumide 2,800€ rent, toitlustus Piloteerimise töötuba Norras 3,200€ 49,890€ PROJEKT KOKKU: 126,457€