The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has opened applications for the UfM Med Youth Lab 2026, an introductory entrepreneurship and employability programme designed for young university students and recent graduates aged 18 to 29.
The programme is intended for young people with no or limited previous experience in entrepreneurship and will combine online training, in-person workshops, teamwork, expert-led sessions, and follow-up activities.
Up to 30 young participants will be selected for the 2026 edition, which focuses on building practical foundational skills that can support entrepreneurship, employability, innovation, and community engagement.
About the UfM Med Youth Lab 2026
The UfM Med Youth Lab is organised by the Union for the Mediterranean, with support from German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and in partnership with the University of Palermo.
The 2026 edition will combine virtual learning from October to December 2026 with in-person workshops taking place from 14 to 16 December 2026 in Palermo, Italy.
The in-person programme will be held alongside the UfM Employment Forum and the UfM workshop From Degrees to Ventures, providing participants with opportunities to engage with broader discussions around employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
Programme Components
The programme consists of three main stages:
- Online training: October to December 2026.
- In-person workshops: 14–16 December 2026 in Palermo, Italy.
- Follow-up activities: 2027.
The online component will allow participants to build foundational knowledge before attending the practical workshops in Palermo.
Skills Participants Will Develop
Through expert-led sessions, non-formal education and teamwork, participants will develop introductory skills in several areas relevant to entrepreneurship and employability.
The programme will focus on:
- Entrepreneurial mindset.
- Innovation.
- Basic financial literacy.
- Communication.
- Problem-solving.
- Employability skills.
- Project and idea development.
- Peer learning and collaboration.
The training is designed to increase participants’ confidence in engaging with entrepreneurship, even where they have little or no previous experience in the field.
Training of Trainers and Peer Facilitation
A distinctive feature of the 2026 programme is its Training of Trainers approach.
Participants will be supported to design a simple introductory awareness session on entrepreneurship that they can later share with peers at national or local level during 2027.
The programme does not constitute a professional trainer certification, and participants are not expected to become entrepreneurship specialists.
Instead, participants will become peer facilitators who can introduce basic entrepreneurship concepts within their communities and share knowledge with other young people.
Full Sponsorship Available
Full sponsorship is available for eligible participants who need to travel to Palermo for the in-person component.
The sponsorship covers travel, visa and accommodation costs related to the in-person programme.
This support is available to nationals of the following countries:
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North Macedonia
- Palestine
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Türkiye
Applicants should carefully review the official guidelines to understand the precise eligibility and financial coverage conditions.
Who Can Apply?
The UfM Med Youth Lab 2026 is intended for university students and recent graduates aged 18–29.
The programme particularly targets young people who have limited or no previous knowledge or experience in entrepreneurship.
Successful participants should be interested in developing their entrepreneurial and employability skills and sharing introductory knowledge with other young people after completing the programme.
Programme Objectives
The 2026 edition has several objectives focused on youth skills development and regional cooperation.
These include:
- Introducing young people to fundamental entrepreneurship and employability concepts.
- Developing transferable skills in innovation, financial literacy, communication and problem-solving.
- Building confidence among young people who are new to entrepreneurship.
- Supporting participants in creating introductory entrepreneurship awareness sessions.
- Encouraging the sharing of knowledge at local and national levels.
- Promoting peer learning among young people.
- Strengthening cooperation across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Regional Youth Development
The UfM Med Youth Lab forms part of the Union for the Mediterranean’s wider efforts to strengthen youth participation, skills development, education, employment and access to opportunities across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The programme contributes to the objectives of the UfM Youth Strategy 2030 and the UfM Youth Agenda: Call for Action, which recognise young people as important contributors to social and economic development.
The 2026 edition builds on previous UfM Med Youth Lab programmes held in Fes, Morocco, in 2024, and Tirana, Albania, in 2025.
While earlier editions focused heavily on project-development skills, the 2026 programme introduces a stronger emphasis on entrepreneurship and employability.
Application Deadline
Applications for the UfM Med Youth Lab 2026 must be submitted by:
30 August 2026 at 23:59 CEST
Interested applicants should review the application guidelines, confirm their eligibility, prepare the required attachments, and submit the application before the closing deadline.
UfM Med Youth Lab 2026 – Official Programme Information
Applicants with questions or difficulties during the application process can contact the programme team through the email address provided by UfM: [email protected].
Key Details at a Glance
- Programme: UfM Med Youth Lab 2026
- Organiser: Union for the Mediterranean
- Age: 18–29
- Target group: University students and recent graduates
- Experience: No or limited entrepreneurship experience
- Participants: Up to 30
- Online training: October–December 2026
- In-person training: 14–16 December 2026
- Location: Palermo, Italy
- Follow-up: 2027
- Sponsorship: Travel, visa and accommodation for eligible nationals
- Application deadline: 30 August 2026, 23:59 CEST
The UfM Med Youth Lab 2026 provides young people from eligible Euro-Mediterranean countries with an opportunity to develop practical entrepreneurship and employability skills, participate in regional peer learning, and take newly acquired knowledge back to their communities.
