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1. Programmes specific for vulnerable young people

2. Funding

3. Quality assurance

Programmes specific for vulnerable young people
 

Portugal implements a diversified set of programmes specifically aimed at supporting vulnerable young people, each governed by distinct frameworks, responsible authorities and implementation mechanisms. 

The Choices Programme (Program Escolhas), launched in 2001 and currently in its 9th Generation (2023–2026), is coordinated by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). It operates through partnerships involving municipalities, schools, NGOs, IPSS, youth associations, police authorities and community‑based organisations, with a strong focus on the inclusion of children and young people aged 6 to 30 from disadvantaged socio‑economic backgrounds, including descendants of immigrants, Roma youth and NEETs. The programme supports school success, the prevention of early school leaving, digital inclusion, employability transitions and youth participation. Annual participation data are collected by AIMA, although targets are project‑specific rather than defined at national level.

Complementing this, the Vida Ativa Jovem measure targets unemployed young people aged 18 to 29 registered with the public employment services. Implemented by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto de Emprego e Formação Profissional  - IEFP, I.P.), it provides short modular training and work‑based learning opportunities through accredited training centres and employers. IEFP publishes annual statistics on participation, although data disaggregated by vulnerability are not systematically available. 

Similarly, the ATIVAR.PT programme, introduced in the context of the post‑COVID recovery and maintained since, promotes employment and skills development through incentives to employers and vocational training. It is also coordinated by IEFP and targets unemployed young people, including NEETs and other vulnerable groups.

Another relevant long‑established measure is the OTL – Ocupação de Tempos Livres (Free‑Time Occupation Programme), coordinated by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ). It offers short‑ and long‑term non‑formal education opportunities through youth associations, municipalities, NGOs and schools. While it is open to children and young people aged 6 to 30, its long‑term strand specifically targets NEET youth by supporting community‑based project development. Participation data are published annually by IPDJ although, again, not specifically broken down for vulnerable youth.

The Integrated Programme for Education and Training (Programa Integrado de Educação e Formação - PIEF) is overseen by the Directorate‑General for Education (Direção-Geral de Educação e Formação) and focuses on the reintegration of early school leavers aged 15 to 18. Implemented in cooperation with schools, social services, municipalities and child protection commissions, it offers personalised education and training pathways. The Ministry of Education collects detailed monitoring data, particularly on reintegration and attendance, as part of its annual reporting cycle.

At project level, the STEER programme—implemented by Fundação da Juventude (Youth Foundation)—supports young people at risk in the transition from education to employment. As a European‑funded initiative, its implementation cycle includes monitoring and evaluation in accordance with EU requirements, although national-level participation data are not consolidated.

The National Programme for Sport for All (Programa Nacional de Desporto para Todos - PNDpT), coordinated by IPDJ, promotes youth inclusion through sport. It is implemented by sports clubs, municipalities and local associations, and supports children and young people from low‑income backgrounds, Roma communities, migrant families and other vulnerable groups. Participation statistics are published annually, though not consistently disaggregated by vulnerability profiles.

Taken together, these programmes reflect a comprehensive national approach in which multiple ministries, agencies, municipalities and civil‑society actors play complementary roles. The diversity of frameworks and target groups means that data availability varies significantly, with some programmes providing systematic annual reporting and others relying on project‑based evaluation cycles. Nonetheless, these interventions constitute the backbone of Portugal’s strategy to support vulnerable young people, addressing challenges related to education, employment transition, social participation and community integration.

Funding

In Portugal, funding for inclusive programmes for young people is primarily coordinated by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude – IPDJ), in cooperation with other public bodies, local authorities and civil society organisations. Financial support aims to promote equal access to opportunities, social inclusion and active participation of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged or under‑represented backgrounds.

IPDJ manages and implements several funding instruments targeting youth organisations, informal groups and public or private entities working with young people. These funding mechanisms support projects addressing social inclusion, non‑formal education, civic participation, skills development, volunteering and the inclusion of young people facing social, economic, geographic or cultural barriers. Special attention is given to young people with fewer opportunities, including young people with disabilities, NEETs (young people not in employment, education or training), young migrants and those living in peripheral or low‑density territories.

Funding is mainly allocated through competitive calls for proposals, programme agreements and annual or multiannual support schemes. Eligible activities may include local and national youth projects, awareness‑raising initiatives, training activities, peer‑to‑peer actions and capacity‑building measures for youth organisations. IPDJ also promotes co‑financing models that combine national resources with European funding, notably through EU youth programmes and other international cooperation frameworks.

In addition, IPDJ plays a key role in informing and supporting stakeholders’ access to external funding sources relevant to inclusive youth policies. This includes providing guidance, technical support and dissemination of opportunities related to European programmes and international funds that contribute to social inclusion and youth empowerment. Through these funding strategies, IPDJ seeks to ensure that inclusive youth programmes are sustainable, territorially balanced and responsive to the diverse realities of young people in Portugal.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance in programmes for the social inclusion of vulnerable young people in Portugal is carried out through a combination of internal monitoring systems, external evaluations, and programme‑specific reporting mechanisms. Although the structure and depth of quality assurance procedures vary across programmes and responsible authorities, several common mechanisms are consistently applied at national level. Most programmes implement internal monitoring processes that track participation levels, attendance, completion rates and the achievement of programme objectives. These mechanisms typically include satisfaction enquiries, follow‑up interviews with beneficiaries, and assessments of the quality and accessibility of activities. External evaluations are carried out periodically, particularly for programmes funded through European instruments, which require compliance with established evaluation standards and reporting obligations.

Across programmes, quality is assessed using a range of criteria and indicators, including the accessibility of activities for vulnerable young people, the extent to which initiatives meet their stated objectives, the effectiveness of interventions in improving educational or employment outcomes, and the degree of community engagement generated. Programme indicators also include participation trends, progress of beneficiaries over time, reduction of risk factors such as early school leaving or disengagement, and the overall impact of activities on local communities. For programmes targeting specific vulnerable groups—such as NEET youth, young migrants, Roma communities, or early school leavers—assessment criteria also consider the capacity of the programme to reduce structural barriers and to promote sustainable social inclusion.

Some programmes have formalised quality assurance frameworks. The Integrated Programme for Education and Training (PIEF) is monitored and evaluated by the Directorate‑General for Education (DGE), which collects data on participation, attendance, reintegration into education and training, and educational outcomes. Monitoring culminates in structured evaluation reports based on predefined indicators. The Choices Programme (Programa Escolhas) undergoes a three‑tier evaluation process consisting of (1) self‑assessment conducted by each local project team, (2) internal evaluation performed by the programme’s technical coordination unit, and (3) an external independent evaluation assessing the programme as a whole. This external evaluation includes qualitative and quantitative indicators, along with long‑term analyses of the programme’s impact on vulnerable communities, although public availability of the most recent full reports varies by programme cycle.

For other youth‑focused inclusion programmes—such as Vida Ativa Jovem, ATIVAR.PT, OTL and sport‑based inclusion initiatives—quality assurance is primarily reflected in the annual reports produced by IEFP or IPDJ. These reports include beneficiary statistics, activity summaries, and evaluations of programme effectiveness, but do not always provide detailed long‑term impact assessments or programme‑specific independent evaluations. Where long‑term evaluation studies or impact analyses are not publicly available, this is explicitly noted in accordance with Youth Wiki guidance.

Overall, quality assurance across social inclusion programmes relies on a combination of administrative data, beneficiary feedback, internal performance monitoring and, in the case of EU‑funded interventions, rigorous external evaluation procedures. These mechanisms ensure that programmes maintain alignment with their objectives, continuously improve implementation practices and respond effectively to the needs of vulnerable young people.