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1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

2. Public financial support

3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

There is not a specific legal or policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations in Cyprus. Instead, youth organisations operate under the 'Law on Associations and Foundations and Other Related Issues of 2017 104(I)2017' (Νόμος που αναθεωρεί τους περί Σωματείων και Ιδρυμάτων Νόμους του 1972 και 1997 και καταργεί τον περί εγγραφής Λέσχων Νόμο - Ν. 104(Ι)/2017).  Its main goal is to define the terms 'association' and 'foundation' and to provide guidelines for their registration and their function.

Public financial support

The 'Youth Initiatives Project' is a long-standing funding scheme administered by the YBC and financed exclusively through the national budget. It provides financial support to youth organisations for activities such as events, projects and capacity-building initiatives, as well as basic infrastructure needs and equipment. The scheme constitutes one of the main national funding mechanisms supporting youth organisations.

The 'Green Volunteering' program (Πράσινος Εθελοντισμός), launched by the Youth Board of Cyprus in 2024, encourages young people to gain experience in environmental issues through volunteering. It aims to raise awareness, promote eco-friendly actions, provide environmental education, and foster active participation. Eligible activities include tree planting, cleanups, recycling, and environmental workshops. The program is open to informal youth groups, local and national youth organizations, youth centers, and secondary schools, supporting collective efforts to protect the environment and engage youth in meaningful projects.

The Youth Board of Cyprus also launched the 'Youth Capital' program (Πρωτεύουσα Νεολαίας) in 2024, a programme designed to encourages collaboration between local authorities and young people to create projects that benefit both the community and youth. In its first year, the program focuses on rural communities, aiming to increase youth participation in decision-making and enhance opportunities in culture, sports, and creative activities. Eligible projects should address local needs and involve specific actions with clear goals. Participants include community authorities, neighbouring communities, youth councils, and youth-focused NGOs, with projects requiring partnerships between at least two different organizations. The programme concerned actions to be implemented between October 2024 and June 2025.

In addition to national funding schemes, youth organisations in Cyprus may access European and international funding opportunities, including Erasmus+ Youth, the European Solidarity Corps and other EU co-financed programmes that support mobility, capacity building and youth participation projects.

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

There are no specific national or large-scale initiatives aiming to increase the diversity of young people participating in youth organisations. However, there are EU-funded projects, such as Erasmus+, run by non-governmental sector organisations, which seek to enhance the diversity of participants.