On this page

1. Existence of a National Strategy

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority

4. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a National Strategy

There is no stand-alone National Strategy on Youth Volunteering in Romania. Youth volunteering was one of the key areas of the National Strategy in Field of Youth Policy 2015-2020 (hereafter: Youth Strategy 2015-2020), as presented in the dedicated section 1.3 National youth strategy. The main elements concerning volunteering in the Youth Strategy have been focusing on informing the public and young people about volunteering, raising awareness and support for youth volunteering and improving the certification system of voluntary work.

Between 2019 and 2021, a coalition of youth organisations and organisations working of volunteers of all ages (Bethany Social Services Foundation, Community Support Foundation Bacau, Pro Vobis - National Resource Centre for Volunteering Romania and Cluj-Napoca Volunteer Centre) prepares amendments to the Volunteering Law with support from the Active Citizens Fund, funded by EEA Grants. Complementary, a coalition of NGOs including the Timiș County Youth Foundation, Pro Vobis - National Resource Centre for Volunteering Romania, ART Fusion and the National Youth Foundation prepared the  Strategy for Volunteering in Romania, and support from Erasmus Plus. Citizens and NGO consultations on the existing needs have been organised. However, the strategy was not yet adopted by the Government.

Scope and contents

For volunteering, the specific objectives of the Youth Strategy 2015-2020 were:

1. Create an environment that fosters volunteering in Romania
2. Improve the system of volunteer work certification and public recognition
3. Raise public awareness of the importance of volunteer engagement

Responsible authority

The responsible authority for the promotion of youth volunteering was the Ministry of Youth and Sports until December 2021. Starting with January 2022 the responsibilities on youth have been transferred to the Ministry of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities.

Revisions/ Updates

The Youth Strategy 2015-2020 have been preceded by the National Action Plan for Youth (PNA-T) 2001 and its revised version for 2005-2008. In 2020 the Ministry of Youth and Sports started preparing the youth strategy 2021-2027. In December 2020 a needs assessment was provided by the Life Quality Institute to support the elaboration of the strategy in 2021. Additionally, the Youth Barometer 2020 was released with the same aim. Other than that, consultations with the Counties’ Directorates on Youth and Sport and with other governmental institutions with responsibilities in the field of youth were organized. Based on the outcomes of the research and the consultation processes and after consultation with the National Council for Youth, a preliminary proposal for the new Youth Strategy, in line with the European Youth Strategy, was published in 2021. A cooperation protocol with the Government’s General Secretariat was signed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport in order to be provided with additional support for the coordination of the development and adoption process of the new Youth Strategy. In 2022, the consultation processes with the governmental and non-governmental organisations will continue, aiming to have the final project adopted by the end of the year.

In 2020 the Ministry of Youth and Sports started preparing the youth strategy 2021-2027. In December 2020 a needs assessment has been provided by the Life Quality Institute to support the elaboration of the strategy in 2021. The strategic planning process was carried on in 2021, with several consultations organised and several versions of the strategic objectives and main actions have been presented by the Ministry to the National Council on Youth, the advisory body of youth organisations organised by the Ministry. All versions under consultation included the promotion of youth volunteering among the strategic priorities. However, in March 2024 the strategic process is ongoing and the new Youth Strategy is under final consultation with the Government Ministries and other institutions.