Overview
The Alpine region is affected by a strong trend towards a new interregional out-migration, especially of young people, impacting brain drain, depopulation and reduction of the existing social capital profiles. The levels of territorial cohesion in the Alpine area deteriorate and the gaps in development and quality of life are growing sharply both between countries and between regions and communities. OUT4INGOV focuses on developing and testing newly-shared governance mechanisms, while strengthening capacity building and the empowerment of local communities. Furthermore, a key role in the project is played by the direct involvement of young people, aiming at promoting a triple-win situation for the sending area, the receiving territory and for the young migrant.
Factsheet
- 2021 – 2027
- Cooperatively managed and developed Alpine region
- SO 4.1 - Enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, as well as other territorial strategies
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- AG3 Labour market, education and training
- 01/2025
- 08/2026
- 633.920 EUR
- 475.440 EUR
Description
Supporting Youth and Strengthening Communities in the Alpine Space
Many regions in the Alpine area are facing significant challenges due to an increasing trend of young people leaving their home regions in search of better opportunities elsewhere. This outmigration is causing profound effects, such as:
- Brain drain: Highly educated and qualified individuals leave, taking valuable skills with them.
- Depopulation: Negative migration balances lead to shrinking populations in rural and less-developed areas.
- Erosion of social cohesion: Communities lose the energy, creativity, and spirit that drive collective resilience and local development.
While the regions that attract these young people benefit from their talents through "brain gain," increased innovation, and economic growth, this trend widens the gaps in development, quality of life, and territorial cohesion across the Alpine space.
Our Vision: Balanced Development and Empowered Youth
This project seeks to address these challenges by fostering innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to managing youth migration. The goal is to create a win-win-win scenario where:
- Sending regions benefit from stronger ties to their diaspora and the return of new skills and ideas.
- Receiving regions continue to thrive while supporting the broader Alpine community.
- Young people are empowered to shape their own futures while contributing to regional development.
How We Work
Through collaboration with key stakeholders—such as policymakers, local authorities, and community organizations—we aim to:
- Develop tools and models for better governance: By co-creating solutions with stakeholders, we will design innovative policies that guide youth migration in a way that strengthens territorial cohesion.
- Build capacity: We will enhance the skills and knowledge of local actors to address migration challenges and opportunities effectively.
- Empower communities: Local communities will play a key role in shaping strategies and actions, ensuring that they reflect the needs and aspirations of the people they serve.
The Role of Young People
Young people are at the heart of this initiative. By engaging youth councils and young migrants directly, the project will promote:
- Circular exchange of skills: Through community networks, collaborative projects, and on-site visits, knowledge and innovation will flow across regions.
- Community-to-community learning: Regions can learn from each other’s experiences to implement better policies and practices.
Partners
- Lead partner
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento (ITH2)
- Trento
- Viviana Caldara
- viviana.caldara@provincia.tn.it
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Trento (ITH2)
- Trento
- Liria Veronesi
- liria.veronesi@fdemarchi.it
- Austria
- Vorarlberg (AT34)
- Feldkirch
- Hanna Öllös
- hanna.ollos@cipra.org
- France
- Alsace (FRF1)
- Strasbourg
- Marco Boaria
- marco.boaria@aldaintranet.org
- Slovenia
- Vzhodna Slovenija (SI03)
- Maribor
- Amna Potocnik
- amna.potocnik@rra-podravje.si
- France
- Franche-Comté (FRC2)
- Vesoul
- Gaëlle Galdin
- gaelle.galdin@vesoul.fr
- 46.072192311.1212361
- 46.068808411.1192604
- 47.23860759.597405
- 48.57894477.754108
- 46.552905515.651472014749798
- 47.621028075187186.153803928908814
Outcomes
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Collaboration Framework for the Governance of the Spillover Effects of Youth Migration
DownloadThe collaboration framework incorporates mechanisms of collaboration experienced in WP1 mainly through peer-to-peer sessions, co-creation groups and capacity building, to allow knowledge exchange among stakeholders/decision makers. The O.1.1 is a common ground for collaboration among the 6 full project partners (at stakeholders/decision makers level) and contributes to R.1, offering a collaboration prototype to be spread in the Alpine Area. -
Pilot actions
Pilot Actions consist in place-based jointly developed and implemented (and peer reviewed) addressing a large variety of topics (e.g cooperation, consultation information, observation). Implementation will be done in Trentino (I), Maribor region (SLO), Vesoul area (FR). The implementation and the peer reviewing (all the PPs will be involved in the processes) will aim to establish solutions (see R.2). -
Governance mechanisms/tools tested in Pilot actions and assessed
This output is directly related to Output 2.1 and will consist of 3 Tools/mechanisms co-designed, tested and validated throughout pilots that are intended as solutions at local level to strengthen the Governance of the youth migration flows spillover effects: i.e. consultation bodies, cooperation network, observatory.
Downloads
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Deliverable 1.1.1 is the baseline report of the Out4Ingov project. Exploring Practices of Youth Participation in Marginal Areas: Strategic Orientation Towards Youth Migration Governance Models analyses 31 practices mapped to understand the state of the art of existing approaches in terms of policies, mechanisms, and governance tools to promote youth participation, the development of marginal areas - with a focus on Alpine space, and the circulation of people and ideas.Download
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Deliverable 1.1.2 Common Indicators to Measure the Youth Migration Dynamics in the Local Area introduces key dimensions and indicators to guide the development of prototype governance models. The report presents a set of common indicators designed to offer a comprehensive snapshot of youth conditions and migration dynamics at the local level.Download
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Deliverable 1.2.1 Consultative Body Prototype: A Participatory Governance Model for Inclusive Youth Engagement in Local Decision-Making, focusing on migration, mobility, and diversity, presents an innovative tool for participatory governance. It empowers young people to share their perspectives, influence local policies, and foster constructive dialogue with public institutions. The model promotes inclusive and collaborative decision-making by bringing together local youth, returnees, newcomers, and young migrants to work with municipalities on key topics such as migration, housing, mobility, and sustainability.Download
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