Youth work in Montenegro has been defined, for the first time, in the framework of the first Law on Youth (2016, Article 5) and the Youth Strategy 2017-2021, as “activities that are organized with youth and for youth, and are based on non-formal education, in accordance with their needs and possibilities”. However, the definition of youth work prescribed by the new Law on Youth (2019, Article 4) has been more harmonized with the international standards in this field, defining “youth work as activities that are implemented in cooperation with youth and for the youth with a goal of helping them reach independence and transition to adulthood, educational, personal and social development, in line with their needs and abilities, which are based on the methods of non-formal education.”

The National Youth Strategy (2016) describes the role of youth work that is to provide support to young people during a specific development period of becoming autonomous and their transition to adulthood, as well as to assist their personal and social development, contribute to the fulfilment of their potentials, so that young people’s voice could be heard, that they can make an influence and have their place within communities/society. Starting to live on their own has become extremely difficult for young people and they are quite often forced to start their families in multigenerational and quite frequently inadequate residential communities. Young people should be provided with direct support from institutions of the system through concrete and evenly available measures and incentives, which would enable them to start living independently and autonomously. 

The Strategy furthermore elaborates modalities of youth work implementation by stating that youth work is being implemented within extracurricular activities, within youth clubs, centres, institutions, schools, etc., and contributes to the development of young people into aware, responsible and active members of society, who contribute to the development of the community, show initiative and respect diversity. In close collaboration with the families and other professionals, youth work assists in efforts invested in decreasing youth unemployment, dropping out of school, social exclusion and structured leisure time. In order to fill the gap in the system of support to the development of young people and their transition to adulthood, it is highly important to recognize and professionalize youth work itself. 

There is no occupational standard for youth work in Montenegro since it is not a recognized profession by Montenegrin Qualifications Framework. However, the vocation of Youth Activist (equivalent to Youth Leader at the European level) was accredited by the Ministry of Education in March 2017.

In co-operation with the Centre for Vocational Education (Ministry of Education), NGO Forum MNE has been working on the process of recognition of this vocation for three years. Recognition of this vocation should contribute to the professionalisation of youth work and enhance youth services at both national and local levels. 

(From the Contribution of Non-programme countries to EU Youth Wiki)