The UfM hosts the MedNC Network Conference, which gathers over 100 Second Chance Schools in 9 countries with programmes on education and training

• To date, the MedNC programme has given hope to 29,000 young people through its 100 partner centres in 9 countries with programmes focusing on education, training and confidence-building.
• The UfM is hosting the 2019 MedNC Annual Conference, in order to support an agenda for the region based on employability for the Mediterranean youth.

25-27 November 2019, Barcelona. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is co-organising together with the Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) the 2019 Mediterranean New Chance (MedNC) Annual Conference, to be held back to back with the 12th MedNC Steering Committee, which is taking place in UfM Headquarters in Barcelona. To date, the MedNC programme has given hope to 26,000 young people through its 100 partner centres in 9 countries with programmes focusing on education, training and confidence-building. On the occasion of the 2019 MedNC Annual Conference, the UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institut européen de coopération et de développement (IECD), and the consortium led by The WonderPick Limited.

The first two days are dedicated to trainings and visits of field-based centres. The third day is open to public by invitation and will be focused on the best practices to be considered as model for improving the condition of young people in the Mediterranean region, in particular that of young women.

In line with the UfM agenda, to increase the employability of Mediterranean youth, and with the IECD’s ambition, to give to their beneficiaries the knowledge they need to improve their living condition, the 2019 MedNC Annual Conference is an occasion to gather stakeholders and MedNC members and relevant partners for developing synergies between their various programmes and promoting capacity building activities stimulate innovation and accelerate impact scaling-up.

The UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel has said “The Union for the Mediterranean has placed youth at the heart of its actions, well aware that they are the leaders of tomorrow. Our flagship Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs) aims at increasing the employability of young men and women, notably through the MedNC network, which the UfM has supported and accompanied since its inception.”