MTÜ Eesti Avatud Noortekeskuste Ühenduse projektitaotlus

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): Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing 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 Representatives from the youth sector of the Múlaþing municipality visited us in 2022, and in 2023, the Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers made a return visit to Iceland. Previous meetings confirmed that the issue at the center of the application is relevant for both partner countries. The bilateral partnership between Estonia and Iceland 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. 1 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. The project involves a key role for the steering group and youth sector experts from Estonia and Iceland. At the heart of the bilateral partnership is the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and practices between Estonian and Icelandic 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 government Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing, which oversees four youth centers, is 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 Icelandic partners (one in Iceland 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. Icelandic 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 Iceland and other European countries. The project fosters cooperation between Estonian and Icelandic youth centers, aligning directly with the goal of strengthening bilateral relations and knowledge sharing between the beneficiary country (Estonia) and the donor country (Iceland). 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 2  will be available in both Estonian and English on the Estonian Association of Open Youth Centers' website. Activity plan: Activity Time Location Cost Participants Cooperation Meeting with October Iceland 11 122€ Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing (4 Icelandic Partners 2024 youth work institutions) / Estonian Lead and Expert Groups / Icelandic Lead Group Development of the October Estonia 5200€ Estonian Lead and Expert Self-Assessment Model and 2024 - April Groups 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 2600€ Estonian Lead Group, november Expert Group, and Public 2024 First meeting with pilot youth November Estonia Covered 15 youth centers, Estonian centers 2024 by labor Expert Group costs and transporta tion costs Virtual meetings with partners November Estonia / Covered Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing (4 (three times) 2024 - april Iceland by labor youth work institutions) / 2025 costs Estonian Lead and Expert Groups / Icelandic Lead Group Second meeting with pilot December Estonia Covered 15 youth centers, Estonian youth centers 2024 / by labor Expert Group January costs and 2025 transporta tion costs Third meeting with pilot youth February Estonia Covered 15 youth centers, Estonian centers 2025 by labor Expert Group costs and transporta tion costs Experience exchange seminar March Estonia 2800€ 15 youth centers, Estonian for piloting youth centers, 2025 Lead Group and Expert resulting in updates to the Group developed model 3  Cooperation meeting with April 2025 10 567€ Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing, Icelandic partners Estonia Icelandic Lead Group / Estonian Lead Group and Expert Group / Youth Centers Piloting in Estonia Final seminar for presenting April 2025 Estonia 2600€ Estonian Lead Group, the results of the pilot project Expert Group, and Public Piloting workshop November Iceland 3200€ Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing (4 2024 - youth centers) aprill 2025 Project labor costs: Lead group October Estonia 76 567€ (Project Manager, Coordinator, 2024 - April Communication Specialist), 2025 Expert group (5 Youth Sector Experts) Domestic transportation costs October Estonia 3500€ Estonian Lead and Expert for Estonian meetings 2024 - April Groups 2025 Marketing costs / Infographics October Estonia 5600€ Media Partners in Estonia and design 2024 - April and Iceland 2025 Souvenirs and certificates for March - Estonia 2449€ 15 youth centers across pilot youth centers April 2025 Estonia, Sveitarfélagið Múlaþing (4 youth work institutions) Office and communication October Estonia 525€ Estonian Lead and Expert costs 2024 - April Groups 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 Icelandic practices from the youth 1 Please refer to the Results Guideline 4 youth centers in Estonia and partners have taken place, resulting sector in partner Iceland 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 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