Project funding EU
Project website N/A
Programme website Montenegro – Albania
Contribution to the Programme’s specific objective Employability and social inclusion is fostered
Project start date 01.02.2023
Project end date 01.02.2025
Project total budget EUR 290.000,00
0Project EU funding EUR 246.500,00

Description Overall objective: Facilitating the access to the labour market for young people and women in cross-border areas of Albania and Montenegro
Specific objectives:
OC1: Increased professional skills and competencies of unemployed youth and women in the cross – border region to match the employment demands in the tourism, ICT and hospitality sector;
OC2: Developed self-employment / entrepreneurship skills – strategic planning, networking, marketing and sales, e-business – among young people and women in the cross-border region in the area of ICT, tourism, hospitality, gastronomy and traditional crafts;
OC3: Established a cross-border brand for the promotion of local products and services, with the aim of improving competitiveness, self-employment, preconditions for further employment and increase cross border business to business cooperation in priority sectors in the CB region.
The foreseen activities within the project are:
WP1 Meeting the current labour market needs in priority development sectors in the CB region
A1.1.1 In cooperation with all CB partners and stakeholders, developing and organizing a Joint Conference on the current opportunities in the CB region of Albania and Montenegro, with the focus on the labour market trends and development prospects (related to Op1.1)
A1.1.2. Publishing the outputs of the conference and recommendation for stakeholders (related to Op 1.1)
A1.2.1 Jointly developing and publishing the Calls for application and selection of the training candidates for increasing the employability skills in the tourism, ICT, hospitality and interlinked sectors; (related to Op 1.2)
A1.2.2 Selecting the training candidates for theory and on the job trainings (related to Op 1.2)
A1.2.3 In cooperation with the vocational and informal education providers from Albania and Montenegro, developing and implementing theoretical training for the selected candidates (related to Op 1.2)
A1.2.4 In cooperation with the employers from the CB region and other relevant stakeholders, organizing a 3-month practical/ on the job training for the candidates that successfully passed the theoretical training programme and interviews (related to Op 1.2)
A1.3.1 Implementing theoretical training and exchange cross-border programme for the tourist guides (related to Op 1.3)
WP2 Implementing comprehensive training and mentorship programme for self-employment of the unemployed youth and women in the CB region
A2.1.1 Announcement and selection of the training and mentoring candidates for the development of business ideas and plans (related to Op 2.1)
A2.1.2 Creating and engaging a Joint Pool of Mentors for the support to potential young and female entrepreneurs in the CB region for strategic planning, finance, administration, marketing, networking, sales (related to Op 2.1)
A2.1.3 Developing and implementing group workshops in business idea development and planning, finance, administration, marketing, networking and sales (related to Op 2.1)
A2.2.1 Implementing individual mentoring for the development and fine-tuning of inclusive business plans of the training participants to apply for financing or attract potential investors from diaspora (related to Op2.2)
A2.3.1 Video documenting the evolution of business ideas/ models developed by the youth and women throughout the project with the focus on the expected impact on the border region of Albania and Montenegro (related to Op2.3)
A2.3.2 Post-production and broadcasting a promotional 30-minute video on the evolution of CB business ideas into sustainable business plans in the course of the project via online streaming channels to promote self-employment in the priority development sectors in the CB region (related to Op 2.3)
WP3 Establishing durable and sustainable support for potential and existing employers in the CB region
A3.1.1 Identifying and mobilizing potential and existing local businesses in the CB area to be included and promoted under a unified single CB brand (related to Op3.1)
A3.1.2. Promoting and organizing two joint Business Fairs of local products and services from the CB region (related to Op3.1);
A3.1.3 Developing a platform to remain active outside of the project life for one-stop online marketing and selling point of the local products and services, for the purpose boosting the local businesses and the prospects of future employment and self-employment in the CB region (related to Op3.1)
A3.2.1 Developing and integrating an online point of experiences exchange for potential young and/or female entrepreneurs from the CB area achieved through the creation of the ‘’No borders’’ network integrated into the project website/portal and promoted in social media platforms (related to Op3.2).
WP4 Communication and Visibility
A4.1.1 Start-up activities – Developing the Joint Communication and Visibility Plan; (related to Op 4.1)
A4.2.1 Developing training and promotional toolkit; (related to Op 4.2)
A4.2.2 Developing and regularly updating project website/portal and social media pages; (related to Op 4.2)
A4.2.3 Organizing joint Opening conference (related to Op 4.2)
A4.2.4 Organizing joint Final event (related to Op 4.2)
Expected results Expected results of the project are:
OC1):
Op1.1 Identified and assessed opportunities in the relevant development sectors in the CB region of Albania and Montenegro through a Joint CB Conference, with the focus on the labour market trends and development prospects
Op1.2 Developed and implemented joint theoretical and 3-month practical trainings in the tourism, ICT, hospitality and interlinked sectors for 30 unemployed youth and women from the CB region (15 from each).
Op1.3 Implemented recognized trainings for tourism agency business in Montenegro and Albania for 10 unemployed youth and women from the CB region (5 from each).
(OC2):
Op2.1 Developed and implemented a joint comprehensive mentorship programme for self-employment/ entrepreneurship in the areas of tourism, ICT, hospitality, gastronomy, and traditional crafts for 30 unemployed youth and women from the CB region (15 from each).
Op2.2 Developed (at least) 10 inclusive business plans to give the sustainability and follow up after the project completion and register 5 start-up businesses to provide additional impact to labour market in the CB area of Albania and Montenegro.
Op2.3 Created one joint cross-border promotional video of the self-employment potentials in the CB region, as well as evolution of business ideas/ models developed by the youth and women throughout the project and the expected impact on the border region of Albania and Montenegro.
(OC3):
Op3.1 Developed, branded, and launched one online marketing and selling point of products and services from cross-border area, for the purpose boosting the local businesses and the prospects of future employment and self-employment in the CB region
Op3.2 Durable joint support, promotion, and online point of experiences exchange for potential entrepreneurs from the CB area achieved through the creation of the ‘’No borders’’ network integrated into the project website/portal and promoted in social media platforms.
Transversal:
Op4.1. Joint Communication and Visibility Plan created.
Op4.2 Project promotion and results dissemination achieved through the set of joint public events activities, promotional tools, and available media channels.
Expected outputs Expected project outputs are:
– Organizing joint Opening conference;
– design and publish Calls for applications of the training candidates for increasing the employability skills in the tourism, ICT, hospitality and interlinked sectors;
– Selection of candidates for tourist guides course (duration 7 months) and for practical/on-the-job trainings at the designated employer (duration of 3 months);
– theoretical/introduction training for the selected candidates
– Organization of the practical/on-the-job trainings;
– Organization of the tourist guides course for 10 participants;
– Organization of exchange programme between the tourist guide as a one-day visit to a CB city to gain insights and experiences;
– engaging mentors to support the potential young and female entrepreneurs and provision of mentoring support;
– selection of the training candidates for the development of business ideas and plan;
– 5 two day workshops (in the each of the 5 areas relevant for beginners in business- legal matters and business registration, financial management/accounting, strategic planning and business model, marketing and sales, and digital/content marketing);
– 6 best business ideas and models selected and awarded with the amount of 5000 EUR per each business (3 from Montenegro and 3 from Albania);
– video documenting the evolution of business ideas/ models developed in order to promote self-employment in the priority development sectors in the CB region;
– two joint Business Fairs of local products and services from the CB region organized;
– Development of develop a platform for one-stop online marketing and selling point of the local products and services, for the purpose of boosting the local businesses and the prospects of future employment and self-employment in the CB region;
– Creation of the ‘’No borders – Montenegro and Albania’’ network;
– Promotional campaign conducted;
– Joint Final event organized.

Lead partner Institution name: Foundation Business Start-up Centre Bar
Country: Montenegro
Address: Bulevar Revolucije bb, Poslovni centar Kula A, Bar 85000
Website: www.bscbar.org
Legal status: Public
Partner Institution name: Chamber of Economy of Montenegro
Country: Montenegro
Address: Novaka Miloševa 29/II, Podgorica 81000
Website: www.privrednakomora.me
Legal status: Public
Partner Institution name: Albanian Investment Development Agency
Country: Albania
Address: Skerdilajd Llagami street, building no. 1, Tirana 1019
Website: www.aida.gov.al
Legal status: Private