Call for tenders: Research Services on Youth Mobility
Research services on exploring current meanings, controversies and significance of youth mobility in Europe
Introduction
The Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card (PAYM) was set up in 1991 at the initiative of the then Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Catherine Lalumiere, following the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth held in Lisbon (Portugal). The overall objective of the Partial Agreement is for member governments and EYCA member organisations to work together to create better mobility solutions for young people. This general objective implies two main aims:
- Development of the Youth Card scheme
- Development of better youth policies and for member governments
The European Youth Card Association (EYCA) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit association of 37 member organisations that issue the European Youth Card to over 9.2 million young people in over 35 countries across Europe.
Over the past year, the PA on Youth Mobility has been undergoing an evaluation and re-thinking process which combined various elements:
- an evaluation of the thematic events under the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility implemented over the past ten years;
- a workshop “Youth Perspectives in Action” held in early 2025 on exploring possible cooperation of the PAYM with other Partial Agreements of the Council of Europe;
- a high-level side-event at the Council of Europe Conference , which actively explored various dimensions of youth mobility, as well as the political significance of the concept.
In this context, the Board of Coordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card has agreed to further explore, through desk research methodology, the current meanings, controversies and significances of youth mobility in Europe. The outcomes of the study should help understand, among other things, how the PA on Youth Mobility can create active synergies with other Partial Agreements of the Council of Europe.
Objectives of the study:
- Build on the existing knowledge of the PA on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card and further explore dimensions of youth mobility in Europe: current meanings, controversies, significances and political evolution of the concept.
- Identify neuralgic points in the concept of youth mobility and different angles of approaching the concept, so as to fully raise awareness of its political importance (ex. how European identity is defined through mobility; the psychological developments of mobility; the implications of mobility in conflict; accessibility of mobility at local level and on labour market; solidarity and youth mobility, etc.)
- Support the Board of Coordination to re-articulate the need for political and policy cooperation on advancing youth mobility.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
The study is expected to be carried using desk research method.
Deliver a comprehensive report (max 15 pages) highlighting aspects related to: the evolution of youth mobility across Europe and its relation to building / maintaining the European identity; explore different dimensions of youth mobility that both policy makers and civil society works on; identify possible synergies with other Partial Agreements of the Council of Europe.
Timeframe of the contracting process and key dates:
Deadline to submit documentation: 25 April 2026
Evaluation of received offers and selection: before 30th April 2026
Contractual dates: 1st May – 31st August 2026
Estimated budget: The maximum budget available is 6000 euros (VAT included).
Other elements:
The selected researcher / team of researchers should be available for one-hour online meeting on the first week of May 2026, as well to a few supplementary meetings at intermediate and finalisation stages of the study preparation to better clarify the needed outcomes.
Working language is English
Exposure to the youth sector, to the field of youth mobility and / or the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the youth card is a plus.
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documentation:
- CVs and Portfolio with links to previous publications;
- Financial offer, including expected number of working days, fee per day (VAT included) and estimated distribution of working days throughout the four months of contract;
- A draft plan of proposed research and approach.
All documents and questions can be sent to corina@eyca.org