Open Call: Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Programme (RYLMP) 2025-2026

The Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Programme (RYLMP) has opened applications for its 4th edition – the 2025/2026 cycle.

Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Programme (RYLMP) is an established regional initiative launched in 2021, designed to empower young researchers and professionals from Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia through capacity-building, mentorship, mobility, and advocacy. Implemented by SCiDEV in Albania, Youth Educational Forum in North Macedonia, and Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia with the financial support of Open Society Foundation in Western Balkans, its core objective is to foster regional youth cooperation, enhance intercultural understanding, and equip participants with the skills necessary to effectively advocate for policy change through evidence-based research.

This new edition will bring together 20 young professionals, activists and researchers from Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, who will take part in online and offline trainings led by experienced mentors, participate in mobility visits to Tirana, Skopje, and Belgrade, and gain direct exposure to decision-makers, institutions, and grassroots actors in the region. Each fellow will co-author a cross-border policy paper and work with their peers and mentors to design and implement a local advocacy campaign, ensuring that research findings translate into meaningful action.

All financial costs including travel, accommodation and daily allowances will be covered by the programme.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible applicants are young people aged 21 to 30 with citizenship and residency in Albania, North Macedonia, or Serbia. Candidates should be youth activists, researchers, or professionals active in civil society, academia, the private sector, or freelance fields. Master’s and PhD students, as well as recent graduates, are also encouraged to apply. A good command of English, both written and spoken, is required.

How to apply?

Interested applicants can apply online via the application form by submitting the following documents:

1. CV

2. A short statement of motivation

3. Completed Policy paper & advocacy template related to one of the thematic areas of the programme, as sp. The thematic areas can be accessed here.

The deadline for submitting applications is October 31, 2025, at 23:59.

Need more information?

Read the Open Call Document here.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions here.

Join the online info on October 10, 2025, at 17:30

For any further information, you can contact the RYLMP team at rylmp.project@gmail.com.

Learn more about the RYLPM Cohort 2024-2025 and their achievements here.
Learn more about the RYLMP fellows 2022-2025 here.