Activate women: Increased capacities for labour market inclusion of disadvantaged women as Covid-19 response measure

The overall objective of the 'Activate women' project is to promote the inclusion of women (aged 25-49) in the labour market. The project supports the Employment Agency of Montenegro (EAM) in piloting an innovative Active Labour Market Programme (ALMP) specifically designed to overcome gender-specific barriers in Montenegro. It has two main target groups: (i) women with pre-school age children who were previously employed and who lost their job since mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis; and (ii) women with children in pre-school age who are willing to work, but are inactive since they do not have access to childcare services (lack of public facilities/lack of resources to afford private childcare services). The age group was selected based on statistical evidence, which show that the number of women inactive due to care and family responsibility, but willing to work, reaches its peak in that age bracket. This ALMP comprises: 1. Profiling of individual needs, employment counselling, career guidance, job search and job placement support, according to individual needs and throughout the duration of the programme; 2. A monthly non-contributory unemployment allowance, payable for maximum six months as well as a lump sum contribution towards the costs of child-care (maximum for six months); and, 3. Subsidized on-the-job training to increase employability, provided for a period ranging from three to six months (according to the individual’s profile).

Project symbol

MNE/21/01/EUR

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Budapest

Start date

01/07/2021

End date

31/03/2023

Total allocation

243902

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

108037

Development Partners

European Commission, DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

Country/Countries

Montenegro

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Economic, social and environmental transitions for full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work for all