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1. Governance

2. Cross-sectoral cooperation

Governance

Main Actors:

Governmental Authorities

Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security

The ministry responsible for the approval and implementation of policies related to employment and vocational training through the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, I.P., since it regulates issues related to protection and social action through the Institute of Social Security, PI. It also includes the National Commission for the Promotion of Children and Young People at Risk (CPCJR), where the Commissions for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCJ) are also included.

Career Offices (GIP) – services that aim to fight unemployment and precarious employment as an enabler of poverty risk situations. 

These are support services for the development of a course of (re)insertion into the labour market for young people and unemployed adults, which work in collaboration with the various local centres of the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, PI, network.

For detailed information on the different entities and actors in the field of employment and entrepreneurship that promote the Youth Guarantee programme, please see chapter 3 – Employment and Entrepreneurship; sub-chapter 3.2 – Administration and Governance

Ministry of Justice

The ministry responsible for the approval and implementation of policies related to the protection of citizens’ rights and duties. It integrates the Directorate-General for Social Reinsertion, which is responsible for public policies of crime prevention and social reintegration for young people and adults, particularly through the promotion and implementation of educational governance measures and alternative measures to imprisonment.

Ministry of Education

It was the ministry in which the Secretariat of State of Youth and Sports was integrated into the previous Constitutional Government. It governs the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, P.I.

Under the XIII Constitutional Government, the Secretariat of State of Youth and Sports was integrated into the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, namely in the Parliamentary Affairs.

The Ministry of Education has a direct or indirect intervention in the definition, implementation and monitoring of the measures and initiatives in four key fields of the Youth Guarantee programme: education, training, employment and entrepreneurship, according to the typology of the measures, through the Directorate-General of Education (DGE) and the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Training, PI (ANQEP, I.P.).

Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth P.I. (IPDJ)

The mission of the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth is to implement an integrated and decentralised policy for the areas of sport and youth, in close collaboration with public and private entities, namely sports bodies, youth associations, students and local authorities. The Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth aims to stimulate support for associations, voluntary work and the promotion of citizenship, leisure activities, non-formal education, information and geographic mobility of young people in Portugal and abroad. It is also proposed to revitalise youth tourism, in particular regarding the network of youth hostels and the Youth Card, to increase mobility, with gains in efficiency and economy.

In the domain of social inclusion, the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, P.I. (IPDJ), develops an intersection role in different domains and in coordination with various ministries, both in its coordinating capacity and as a partner in various measures and programmes to combat poverty and exclusion among young people.

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

It is the central department whose mission is to provide support to the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister, and to promote the interministerial coordination of several government departments.

The Commission for Citizenship and Equality of Gender (CIG), with a focus on promoting citizenship and gender equality, which is responsible for coordinating the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination: Portugal + Equal [Portugal + Igual] 2018-2030, composed of 3 Action Plans: Action Plan for gender equality; Action Plan for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; Action Plan to Combat Discrimination on the grounds of Sexual Orientation, Identity and Gender Expression and Sexual Characteristics.

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is the public institute that, under the direct supervision of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, is responsible for collaborating in the definition, implementation and evaluation of public policies regarding the attraction of migrants, the integration of migrants, including refugees, and Roma Communities, and the management and enhancement of the diversity of cultures, ethnicities and religious through the promotion of  intercultural and interreligious dialogue. It is responsible for the coordination of the “Choices Programme” (Programa Escolhas).

The Secretary of State for Citizenship and Equality is also responsible for the overview coordination of the Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE), as well as the coordination for the supervision of the National Council for Solidarity, Volunteering, Family, Rehabilitation and Social Security Policies.

The Directorate-General of Local Authorities (DGAL)is also part of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), under the direction of the Secretary of State for Local Authorities, incorporating municipalities, civil parishes and their associations, metropolitan areas and the inter-municipal communities, which are important entities for an integrated and proximity policy in the promotion of public policies for youth social inclusion.

Ministry of Internal Administration

Regarding migration policy, Portugal has undergone a significant institutional transformation. The former High Commission for Migrations (ACM, I.P.) has been replaced by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which is now responsible for managing residence permits, refugee resettlement programmes, and broader integration policies.

In with cooperation with civil society, the National Support Centres for the Integration of Migrants (CNAIM) have been of particular importance. Created in 2004 (Lisbon and Oporto) and 2009 (Faro), these are centres that concentrate, in the same space, the main support services, institutions and offices for migrants, following an One-Stop-Shop model. Currently, there are centres in Lisbon, Oporto and Faro.

Ministry of Health

Ministry responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies in the domain of health, regulating the management of resources, services and equipment in the healthcare sector. The Directorate-General of Health (DGS) is the entity under its governance that is responsible for the coordination of the National Health Plan. The DGS promotes and participates as a partner in some programmes/measures of youth health promotion, such as the “Take Care of Yourself programme”.

Other organisations and public entities are also involved in the implementation of youth inclusion policies, such as, for instance, in the domain of housing, the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation, PI (IHRU), under the tutelage of the Ministry of the Environment; or, in the domain of citizenship, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), under the supervision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Non-governmental actors 

Youth social inclusion policies in Portugal increasingly rely on collaborative networks involving public institutions, NGOs, private entities, and Private Institutions of Social Solidarity (IPSS). This shift reflects a move away from centralised governance towards integrated, partnership-based approaches tailored to complex social realities.

Proximity-based collaboration between local actors enables a deeper understanding of community needs, which informs the design and monitoring of public policies. Within this framework, employment incentive programmes—developed in partnership with the Institute of Social Security (ISS, IP)—have been particularly impactful in supporting children and young people at risk of exclusion.

In the context of policies to combat unemployment, the Career Offices (GIP) are of particular importance.

In with cooperation with civil society, the National Support Centres for the Integration of Migrants (CNAIM) have been of particular importance. Created in 2004 (Lisbon and Oporto) and 2009 (Faro), these are centres that concentrate, in the same space, the main support services, institutions and offices for migrants, following an One-Stop-Shop model. Currently, there are centres in Lisbon, Oporto and Faro.

The CNAIMs are complemented by the CLAIM Network – Network of Local Support Centres for the Integration of Migrants – which promotes personalized assistance and articulation with various local structures. There are currently 94 CLAIMs throughout the country involving fifty municipalities and thirty civil society entities.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

At an institutional level, intersectoral coordination is promoted between different ministries and the State structures involved in the conception, implementation and monitoring of policies and entities with competence in these fields:

• Social partners, through the Standing Committee for Social Dialogue (CPCS), a permanent tripartite body that brings together the Government, trade union confederations and employer organisations. The CPCS operates as the main institutional mechanism for negotiating and consulting on employment, social protection and labour‑market policies. It functions through regular plenary and working‑group meetings, where social partners provide input, assess policy proposals and agree on coordinated measures. In the context of youth social inclusion, the CPCS contributes by aligning national strategies on employment, training and social protection with the needs identified by workers’ and employers’ representatives;
•  Solidarity sector partners, covering the members of the Standing Committee of the Solidarity Sector (CPSS), which involves the National Confederation of Solidarity Institutions, the Portuguese Mercies Union, the Union of Mutual Societies in Portugal and the Portuguese Cooperative Confederation (CONFECOOP);
• António Sérgio’s Cooperative for Social Economy (CASES), whose primary mission is to promote the strengthening of the social economy sector, and the National Economic and Social Council (CNES);
• European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Portugal), a nationwide civil‑society platform that brings together NGOs, social‑economy organisations and local partners working to combat poverty and social exclusion. EAPN Portugal participates in cross‑sectoral cooperation mechanisms by providing evidence‑based input, monitoring social indicators, and contributing to policy design through consultations and working groups. Its role is particularly relevant for youth inclusion, as it disseminates good practices, supports community‑based interventions and strengthens the representation of vulnerable young people within national anti‑poverty strategies.
   

In the context of the national strategy for social inclusion, these plans and programmes are not only aligned conceptually but also coordinated through formal mechanisms of interministerial and multi‑stakeholder cooperation. This coordination takes place through working groups, permanent commissions and regular consultation processes that ensure consistency between sectoral initiatives, avoid duplication of measures, and allow the integration of youth‑focused priorities into broader national strategies. Through these mechanisms, policies in fields such as employment, education, health, equality, migration and poverty reduction are jointly monitored and adjusted, ensuring a coherent and evidence‑based approach to youth social inclusion.

• National Plan for the Implementation of a Youth Guarantee (PNI-GJ)  The PNI‑GJ operates through interministerial coordination between the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economy and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, supported by a centralised monitoring system managed by IEFP. Its mechanism involves structured activation pathways for young people, regular reporting to the European Commission, consultation with social partners, and the use of shared indicators to ensure the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of Youth Guarantee offers.
• National Plan for Ethics in Sports (PNED).  Implemented through a national coordination platform involving IPDJ, sports federations, schools and municipalities, using training modules, ethical charters and monitoring structures to promote integrity and inclusion across youth sports.
• National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination (National Action Plan for Equality between Women and Men; National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; National Action Plan to Combat Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sexual Characteristics). ENIND functions through multi‑sectoral working groups coordinated by CIG, with annual reporting, mandatory training for public officials, structured consultation with civil‑society organisations, and a monitoring framework aligned with EU equality indicators.
   

National Roma Communities Integration Strategy (ENICC)

The ENICC remains active and has been revised and strengthened. It is currently being implemented with the support of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), and includes a new monitoring platform and outreach initiatives aligned with the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020–2030. The ENICC is implemented through a multi‑level governance model led by AIMA, combining national coordination with local Roma contact points, community mediators, and a digital monitoring platform aligned with EU Roma 2020–2030 targets.

Strategic Plan for Migration

The Strategic Plan for Migration 2015–2020 has been replaced by a new Action Plan for Migration, presented by the Portuguese Government in June 2024. This new plan promotes a more humane and regulated approach to immigration, with a strong focus on integration, dignity, and the fight against human trafficking. The Migration Action Plan operates through a whole‑of‑government coordination framework led by AIMA, using one‑stop‑shop services (CNAIM/CLAIM), municipal integration plans, interagency working groups, and EU‑funded monitoring mechanisms under AMIF.

National Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (2021–2025)

This strategy is currently in force and forms part of Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). It aims to promote autonomy, equal opportunities, and the full participation of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. This strategy is implemented through cross‑ministerial working groups and PRR‑funded initiatives, supported by annual reporting, accessibility and inclusion indicators, and coordinated collaboration between national authorities, municipalities and social‑sector organisations.

These policies are also articulated with the National Reforms Plan (PNR) and the Major Planning Options, as well as with the various Regional Operational Programmes.