How Youth policy is funded

Youth Office has been co-funding youth work programmes since its beginnings. The amount of money available for youth work programmes in 2024 and 2025 is 3.662.800,00 EUR. Over the last decade funds have gradually increased (in 2015 and 2016 the two-year amount was 2,56 million EUR).

The National Programme for Youth (Resolucija o Nacionalnem programu za mladino 2013-2022 ), adopted in 2013 for the period 2013-2022, provides a range of different measures in the fields of education, employment and entrepreneurship, housing, health and wellbeing, the social position of youth, the development of the youth sector, culture and creativity, heritage, media.

The amount available for a wide set of measures defined in the National programme for Youth in 2015 was 169 million EUR (European funds included). The allocated resources in 2016 amounted to 199.6 million EUR.

What is funded

Measures of the National programme for youth are covering the following fields: 

• education: improving competences of young people; increasing international student mobility,
• employment and entrepreneurship: facilitating start of working career for young people; improving the quality of employment; facilitating better coordination between work, private and family life,
• housing: provision of capacities and systematic accessibility of housing for young people; affordable housing for young people and the establishment of support mechanisms,
• health and wellbeing: promoting regular physical activity, a balanced diet and maintaining recommended body weight among young people; prevention of smoking and first attempts at smoking, risky and harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs, ensuring healthy and safe entertainment for young people, and combating sport-related violence and vandalism; strengthening care for sexual and reproductive health of youth and family planning; promoting positive mental health among young people and reducing mortality from suicide among young people; ensuring a higher level of safety and health at work for young workers; improving road safety and reducing the number of injuries and deaths of young people in traffic; improving travel habits among young people as a commitment to sustainable mobility; reducing the impact of a changing environment on young people's health,
• social position of youth and the development of the youth sector: promoting participation and representation of young women and men; promoting the establishment and development of organisations in the youth sector, the development of key areas of the youth sector and ensuring the functioning of non-organized youth; promoting participation and strengthening of international youth work and learning mobility in youth work; strengthening the research and analysis segment in the youth field; promoting volunteering among young people; promoting a sustainable mode of social action with a focus on the transition to a low carbon society and green economy; greater social inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities,
• culture and creativity, heritage, media: concern for accessibility of quality cultural offer and participation of young people in culture; caring for literacy in the Slovenian language, other native languages and foreign languages and media literacy; culture and creativity are socially recognized as a foundation of general education of each individual.
  
   

Financial accountability

Each ministry is responsible for its budget allocation for measures on national youth policy. The report about the implementation of the measures within the National Programme for Youth is prepared by the Office for Youth and adopted by the National Parliament. The correct and rational manner of use of public resources is monitored by the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia, which provides assessments on the conformity of operations with regulations and guidelines, and on the cost-effectiveness of operations.

Use of EU Funds

European Cohesion Policy 2007–2013

Youth Infrastructure

With funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Slovenia established 10 new youth centres with a total investment of 6.5 million eur. Beneficiaries were public institutions that operated youth centres with official status granted by the Office for Youth of the Republic of Slovenia. This initiative created a network of 10 centres, equipped with appropriate facilities for youth programs and providing over 300 new beds. The centres include Javni zavod Vetrnica Slovenj Gradec, Mladinski center Brežice, Mladinski center Krško, Mladinski center Velenje, Koroški zavod za kulturo, Celjski mladinski center, Mladinski kulturni center Maribor, Mladinski center Trbovlje, Zavod za šport Ajdovščina, and Javni zavod ŠKTM Radlje ob Dravi.

Youth Competencies and Training

1. Non-formal and Formal Education for Youth Workers
   A total of 3.7 million eur from the European Social Fund (ESF) was allocated to developing models of non-formal and formal education for youth workers, enabling their participation in youth organizations and projects focusing on social, civic, and cultural competencies to enhance youth employability. Eight thematic networks were created, consisting of youth organizations and external partners. The beneficiaries were organizations in the youth sector (excluding public institutions).
2. Development of Social and Civic Competencies
   An additional 0.8 million eur from the ESF co-financed 20 projects aimed at developing the social and civic competencies of young active participants. These projects focused on expanding local organizational units, establishing local youth information and guidance networks, supporting unconventional political participation, and strengthening permanent youth consultation mechanisms. The projects contributed to training young individuals in the youth sector by creating new jobs, enhancing the territorial organization of youth organizations, improving youth information services, and promoting youth political participation and consultation mechanisms. The beneficiaries were youth sector organizations (excluding public institutions).

European Cohesion Policy 2014–2020

During the 2014–2020 programming period, ESF funds were used to promote youth active citizenship and enhance their skills for improved employability, with a total expenditure exceeding 6.5 million eur. Additionally, nearly 1.2 million eur was allocated to fund the employment of 129 youth workers in youth sector organizations. The total amount spent was 7,716,306.71 eur, representing 96% of the allocated funds (8,073,333.56 eur). Beneficiaries were organizations operating in the public interest within the youth sector.

Below is a breakdown of specific public calls:

1. Public Call for Promoting Youth Active Citizenship for Higher Employability 2016–2018  (Javni razpis za spodbujanje aktivnega državljanstva mladih za večjo zaposlenost 2016–2018):
   Between 2016 and 2018, 18 projects aimed to promote youth active citizenship and increase employability, focusing on securing employment for participants engaged in project activities such as training. A total of 4,020 young people participated in the training programs, with 614 successfully securing employment after acquiring relevant skills.
   • Allocated funds: 4,810,294.33 eur
   • Spent funds: 4,610,023.12 eur
2. Public Call for Employment in the Youth Work Sector 2018 (Javni razpis Zaposlitev na področju mladinskega dela v mladinskem sektorju 2018)
   In 2018, funding supported the employment of 129 youth workers in youth sector organizations. These jobs provided young people with quality work experience, knowledge, and competencies as youth workers, while also strengthening the activities and overall quality of the youth sector.
   • Allocated funds: 1,254,300.00 eur
   • Spent funds: 1,195,449.23 eur
3. Public Call for Strengthening Youth Competencies through Active Citizenship for Higher Employability 2020–2021 (Javni razpis Krepitev kompetenc mladih skozi aktivno državljanstvo za večjo zaposljivost 2020 - 2021):
   Between 2020 and 2021, projects focused on enhancing youth competencies through active citizenship to improve employability. A total of 10 projects (6 regional and 4 national) covered the entire country and were implemented by youth sector organizations in partnership consortia. These projects provided free training programs for unemployed youth, integrating them into non-formal education and active citizenship initiatives to boost employability. During implementation, 842 young people (aged 15–29 and unemployed at the time of enrollment) participated in training programs of at least 90 hours. Of these, 649 successfully completed the full training, and 298 secured employment after completing the program.
   • Allocated funds: 2,008,739.23 eur
   • Spent funds: 1,910,834.36 eur

European Cohesion Policy 2021–2027

The total available funding (ESF and ERDF) amounts to 17,379,264.71 eur.

For organizations operating in the public interest within the youth sector, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth has planned three measures in the 2021–2027 programming period. The European Social Fund (ESF) will finance two measures: one addressing youth precarious employment (8 million eur) and another focused on strengthening youth competencies for employability and active citizenship (7.3 million eur). The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will support ICT infrastructure and equipment for quality youth work in the Eastern Cohesion Region with over 2.1 million eur.

Below are details on the planned measures by fund:

1. European Social Fund (ESF):

• Measure: Youth Work Against Precarious Employment
  This measure addresses youth precarious employment by establishing a supportive environment within the youth sector and implementing pilot projects. The initiative aims to raise awareness and empower young people, youth organizations, and youth workers, while also informing the general public about precarious employment issues. Pilot projects will help organizations support young people in understanding, confronting, and mitigating the consequences of precarious work through training programs. Activities will follow the principles of high-quality youth work and will be implemented nationally for systemic support.
  • Available funding: 8,000,000 eur
  • Target group: Young people aged 15–29 and youth workers
  • Beneficiaries: Youth sector organizations
  • Implementation: Two public calls are planned. The first call was published in November 2023, and results are available on the Office’s website.
• Measure: Strengthening Youth Competencies for Employability and Active Citizenship Through Quality Youth Work
  The primary activity is training programs to enhance the competencies of young people aged 15–29 for employability and active citizenship, delivered by youth sector organizations. The measure encourages innovative youth work methods with broader impacts on youth work quality and policy. Special emphasis will be placed on engaging NEET youth (not in education, employment, or training).
  • Available funding: 7,267,500 eur
  • Target group: Young people aged 15–29, aiming to develop skills for employability and active citizenship
  • Beneficiaries: Youth sector organizations
    
    2. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):
• Measure: Ensuring Adequate ICT Infrastructure and Equipment for Youth Organizations
  This measure aims to provide basic infrastructure and equipment to support high-quality youth work and non-formal education.
  • Available funding: 2,111,764.71  eur(for the Eastern Cohesion Region only)
  • Target group & beneficiaries: Youth sector organizations