PEO ALMA Initiative: €19.7 million for NEET young people, submit by 30 October

The “ALMA Initiative” call under the Education and Employment Programme (PEO) 2021–2027 has a budget of €19,714,235. The money goes to projects that prepare NEET young people (those who are neither in work nor in any form of education or training), arrange a supervised work placement for them in another EU member state, and then support them to find a job or return to study. The call opened on 28 May 2026, and applications must be submitted in MySMIS2021 by 30 October 2026. NGOs, training and employment service providers, employers and educational institutions can apply.

In brief

• Programme: Education and Employment Programme 2021–2027, Priority 2 “Unlocking the potential of young people in the labour market”, specific objective ESO4.1, action 2.a.2
• Authority: Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the Managing Authority for PEO
• Beneficiaries: the public employment service (ANOFM/AJOFM/AMOFM), associations and foundations, social partners, public and private enterprises, social enterprises, accredited social service providers, continuing vocational training providers, counselling service providers, educational institutions
• Target group: young people, especially NEETs
• Total budget: €19,714,235 (ESF+)
• Submission period: 28 May 2026 – 30 October 2026, in MySMIS2021
• Status: open, competitive call; the guide has a corrigendum and a consolidated version from August 2026

What does the ALMA Initiative fund?

ALMA (“Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve”) is a European Commission initiative that member states put into practice through national programmes funded by the European Social Fund Plus. Each participant goes through three stages:

1. Preparation at home: intensive training tailored to each young person, before departure;
2. Mobility: a supervised work experience with mentoring, lasting 2–6 months, in another EU country;
3. Follow-up after return: support to use the skills gained to find employment or continue studies.

In PEO, the call falls under action 2.a.2, that is, preparing young people and providing training and employment services for them through integrated packages of active measures, personalised to each young person's profile.

Who can apply?

The official call page names the public employment service (ANOFM, AJOFM, AMOFM), associations and foundations, social partners, public and private enterprises, social enterprises, accredited social service providers, continuing vocational training providers, counselling service providers, accredited higher education institutions, and pre-university and post-secondary education institutions.

The exact conditions (authorisations required at submission, partnerships, experience required) are in the applicant's guide – specific conditions, consolidated version of August 2026, published on the MIPE website.

How and by when do you apply?

Applications are submitted electronically only, in MySMIS2021. The official list of PEO calls shows opening on 28 May 2026 and closing on 30 October 2026. The call is competitive: projects are assessed and ranked, not funded in the order they are submitted.

In August 2026, the Managing Authority published a corrigendum to the guide and then the consolidated version, which contains all the changes. Your project must be built on the consolidated version, not on the original May guide.

What has changed compared with the original guide?

The guide went through public consultation between 15 April and 7 May 2026. The responses to the comments were published afterwards, and the call was launched on 28 May. The August corrigendum and the consolidated version are the latest official documents. Before you complete the application, compare the amended sections with what you have already prepared: the budget, the activity timetable and the documents required at submission.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: the call suits organisations that already work with vulnerable young people and have, or can quickly secure, a trusted partner in another EU state to host the placements and provide mentoring. Without a network of host employers abroad and without a realistic plan for recruiting NEET young people, the project will be hard to implement, even if it passes assessment.

• Recruiting the target group is the most commonly underestimated task. NEET young people are hard to reach, and drop-outs during the mobility period are frequent. Plan for mediators and collaboration with AJOFM, schools and town halls.
• Mobility logistics (accommodation, transport, insurance, language support) must be planned from the writing of the project, not after the contract is signed.
• Timetable: there are four weeks left until the deadline. If you do not yet have the partnership and the eligibility documents, assess honestly whether you can submit a solid project or whether it is better to wait for a future call window.
• Do not leave submission until the last day: check the exact closing time in MySMIS2021 and upload the application at least 2–3 days beforehand.

If you are not sure whether your organisation qualifies, you can start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

What does "NEET young person" mean?

NEET comes from English (“Not in Employment, Education or Training”) and refers to young people who have no job and are not in any form of education or training. They are the main target group of the ALMA Initiative.

How long does the placement abroad last?

According to the European Commission, the mobility phase of ALMA is a supervised work experience with mentoring, lasting 2–6 months in another EU member state. The exact duration and conditions in the Romanian call are set out in the consolidated guide.

Can a private company apply?

Yes. Public and private enterprises, social enterprises and continuing vocational training providers are on the list of eligible applicants, alongside NGOs and the public employment service. Each category must also meet the specific conditions in the guide.

What is the submission deadline?

Applications are submitted in MySMIS2021 by 30 October 2026, according to the official list of PEO calls. After that date, the call closes. We recommend checking the exact closing time directly in MySMIS2021.

Which document should be used when writing the project?

The consolidated version of the applicant's guide – specific conditions “ALMA Initiative”, published by MIPE in August 2026, together with the PEO general conditions guide. The consolidated version includes the changes made by the corrigendum.

Official sources

• MIPE – Guides and calls, Education and Employment Programme (ALMA submission period)
• MIPE – ALMA Initiative, guide in public consultation and budget
• MIPE – Consolidated version of the Applicant's Guide “ALMA Initiative”
• MIPE – Corrigendum to the Applicant's Guide “ALMA Initiative”
• European Commission – ALMA, the initiative for the active inclusion of young people

Information checked on 3 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.