ALMA Works: Strong Evidence of Impact on Youth Inclusion, Skills, and Employability

An independent evaluation was conducted to assess the impact of the ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) initiative under the ALMA EU-level call, which supports young people facing barriers to employment, education, and social participation. The initiative targets young people with NEET status (not in employment, education, or training), particularly those experiencing long-term unemployment, low qualifications, disability, migration challenges, or social exclusion. By combining personalised support, practical experience, and transnational mobility, ALMA equips vulnerable young people with the confidence, skills, and motivation needed to build a sustainable future. ALMA provides a structured pathway that helps participants take their first meaningful steps towards employment or education.

The study covered 28 transnational projects implemented across 15 EU Member States, involving more than 800 young people with NEET status.

The main result of the ALMA EU-level call is that 62 per cent of participants who completed all three project phases found employment or returned to the education system following participation. When considering all participants, including those who dropped out, 47.4 per cent successfully reintegrated.

The independent evaluation confirmed that ALMA effectively supports young people who are traditionally the hardest to reach:

• Participants reported higher motivation, improved emotional stability, and greater independence.
• 94.8 per cent of participants in the ALMA projects agreed that this experience has contributed to their personal growth.
• 81.4 per cent of participants who completed all stages of ALMA reported clear improvements in their employability, including better understanding of labour market expectations and increased confidence in pursuing career goals.
• 87.3 per cent of young people strengthened core social competences such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These skills are critical for workplace success and were consistently highlighted by participants as major outcomes of the programme.
• 78 per cent of participants indicated that mentoring played a central role in maintaining motivation and ensuring programme completion. Continuous guidance from mentors – before, during, and after mobility – helped participants overcome personal, social, and emotional challenges.
• 76 per cent of participants indicated that the opportunity to live abroad and communicate with people from other countries helped them feel more European, and 77.2 per cent gained a clearer understanding of the EU’s role in their lives.

ALMA increases chances in the labour market and reduces dependence on social support. Work-based learning and transnational mobility generate high value-added skills that contribute to productivity and innovation. A cost–benefit analysis showed that each €1 invested in ALMA generates €1.33 in social and economic value, reflecting long-term benefits for employment, social inclusion, and a more productive European economy.

To ensure that these positive outcomes continue, the evaluation proposes a set of targeted recommendations focused on: maintaining the ALMA intervention for the most vulnerable NEETs who need sufficiently individualised and comprehensive support; encouraging Member States to consider applying the ALMA model when developing post–2027 programming policies; promoting cooperation between ALMA project implementers and local employment services, social service centres, non-governmental organisations, and other organisations working with young people; strengthening communication efforts to better reach hard-to-engage young people and local communities; and reinforcing long-term monitoring, data collection, and cooperation between sending and hosting organisations.

The evaluation was carried out by the Smart Continent Management Institute in cooperation with the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA).

Read the full report or the summary report.