Portugal

According to the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ), the II National Plan for Youth 2022-2024 (II PNJ) was approved on 11 August 2022, and succeeds and builds upon the I National Plan for Youth 2018-2021 (I PNJ). The II PNJ is the political instrument for intersectoral coordination of youth policy in Portugal and aims to reinforce the realisation of the rights of young people and promote their emancipation and personal development, both economically and socially. The II PNJ is structured under five axes:

• Emancipation and autonomy;
• Education, training and science;
• Citizenship and participation;
• Healthy lifestyles;
• Culture and free creation.

The plan offers more than 400 measures within the scope of these axes, each with their own subsequent indicators and budgets.

The Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs is responsible for monitoring parliamentary activity and for formulating, executing, and evaluating policy in the areas of citizenship and equality, especially regarding the prevention of violence against women, migration, and youth and sports. Within the Deputy Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sports (SEJD), is primarily responsible for the creation of youth and sports policy. The Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ) is then responsible for the implementation and evaluation of these policies.

The National Youth Council (CNJ) is the representative platform for youth organisations nationwide in Portugal. Itis recognised by the government as a partner in matters of youth and policies. The CNJ aims to:

• Establish a platform for dialogue between youth organisations and councils;
• Contribute to the development of youth associations;
• Technically and scientifically support youth organisations and regional youth councils;
• Issue opinions and information related to youth issues to public administration bodies either by its own initiative or by request;
• Publish and support the dissemination of youth work.

The National Catalogue of Qualifications describes a qualification as a Youth Worker (T�cnico/a de Juventude) which was first created in 2015. According to the Catalogue, youth work entails:

• Intervening in the design, organisation, development, and evaluation of projects, programmes, and activities with and for young people through methodologies in the field of non-formal education;
• Facilitating and promoting citizenship, participation, autonomy, inclusion, and personal, social and cultural development.

One can access this qualification either through training (by taking professional courses, learning courses, education and training courses, or EFA courses); or through the recognition, validation and certification of skills (RVCC).

Additionally, there is a Portuguese Association of Youth Professionals (APP Juventude), which aims to reinforce and dignify the youth professional in Portugal, propose legislation to help regulate the youth sector, and promote non-formal education that promotes youth participation.

According to the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth (IPDJ), the II National Plan for Youth 2022-2024 (II PNJ) has over 400 measures, each with their own dedicated budget. The budget of the II PNJ totals EUR 3.0 billion (USD 3.1 billion) over three years. Of this amount, 44% originates from European funds.

The State Budget for 2023 also accounts for certain youth items, including the World Youth Day, the launching of a new edition of the Youth Participative Budget, and the National Agency for the Management of the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme. However, beyond this, no other specific information is given regarding a budget for the national authority responsible for youth.