EmpoweerNEET Launched to Strengthen Youth Inclusion and Social Entrepreneurship Across the Mediterranean

EmpoweerNEET empowers NEET youth across the Mediterranean through green skills, social entrepreneurship, and inclusive pathways to employment under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme

Publication Date
29/01/2026
Reading Time
2 minutes

The EmpoweerNEET project has officially launched, marking a significant step toward improving youth employability, social inclusion, and sustainable economic opportunities across the Mediterranean region.

In particular, this EU-funded initiative targets young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEETs) by providing practical skills development, entrepreneurship pathways, and real-world work experience.

Moreover running for 30 months, EmpoweerNEET addresses persistent youth unemployment through inclusive, place-based solutions, with a strong focus on:

  • Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE)
  • Green and future-oriented skills
  • Social and youth entrepreneurship

From Vision to Measurable Results

EmpoweerNEET is designed to deliver tangible, high-impact outcomes across participating Mediterranean countries. Over the project’s lifetime, it will achieve:

  • 4 modular training programmes developed on social entrepreneurship, green skills, and employability
  • 300 NEET youth trained, with tailored and inclusive learning pathways
  • 6 Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) platforms enhanced to better support youth engagement and enterprise creation
  • 85 NEETs placed in job-shadowing and exchange schemes, strengthening employability and cross-regional learning
  • 60 start-up support packages delivered, providing mentoring, business development, and incubation services
  • 6 sustainable financing strategies and 6 local government roadmaps co-developed to ensure long-term impact
  • 1 comprehensive policy paper produced to inform regional and EU-level youth inclusion and employment policies

These results position EmpoweerNEET as a practice-oriented and policy-relevant initiative, bridging grassroots action with institutional reform.

Kickoff Meeting and Project Implementation

The official Kickoff Meeting, held in Barcelona on 21–22 January 2026, brought together all project partners from Palestine, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Tunisia, and France. The meeting marked the operational launch of the project and ensured alignment on implementation, coordination, and impact delivery.

Key outcomes of the meeting included:

  • Consolidation of project management, communication, and financial procedures in line with Interreg NEXT MED requirements.
  • Definition of a clear six-month action plan, focusing on capacity-building and youth entrepreneurship pilots.
  • Agreement on integrated pilot actions combining training, mentoring, job-shadowing, and incubation support for NEET youth.
  • Strengthened Mediterranean cooperation and knowledge exchange, reinforcing peer learning among partners and territories.

Expected Impact

By directly responding to skills mismatches, limited access to support services, and fragmented entrepreneurial ecosystems, EmpoweerNEET aims to generate lasting social and economic impact by:

  • Empowering NEET youth with market-relevant, green, and social entrepreneurship skills.
  • Supporting the creation and consolidation of youth-led social and green enterprises.
  • Strengthening inclusive and sustainable local economies across Mediterranean regions.
  • Contributing evidence-based insights to policy dialogue and regional strategies on youth employment and social inclusion.

EmpoweerNEET Partnership

The project is implemented by a multidisciplinary Mediterranean consortium combining academic excellence, institutional capacity, and grassroots expertise:

Together, the partnership ensures that EmpoweerNEET delivers inclusive, scalable, and sustainable solutions, fully aligned with Interreg NEXT MED objectives and regional development priorities.

For further information about the project, its activities, and results, you can contact Dr. Imad Ibraik, Project Manger
An-Najah National University
📧 iibrik@najah.edu

*The contents of this press release are the sole responsibility of An-Najah National University-Palestine and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Interreg NEXT MED Programme

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