NextGen Blue

The Blue Economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Europe, contributing €623.6 billion in turnover and employing 3.59 million people across the EU. It plays a central role in the EU Green Deal and the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy. Yet, despite its economic importance and growth potential, awareness and capacity in this sector remain limited.

NGOs and youth workers, who act as key multipliers of knowledge, guidance, and non-formal education, often lack the tools, structured resources, and sector-specific expertise to inform and inspire young people about sustainable blue careers. This gap creates a chain effect: youth remain unaware of emerging career paths, NGOs cannot provide consistent support, and local communities miss opportunities for innovation and resilience in marine-based industries. According to Eurostat (2023), 41% of young people in coastal EU regions report a lack of awareness about blue-sector career paths, while demand for professionals in marine renewable energy alone is expected to rise by 25% by 2030.

NextGen Blue equips NGOs, youth workers, and young people aged 14–19 with the knowledge, skills, and tools to contribute to sustainable ocean-based industries, aligning with the EU Blue Economy Strategy, the European Green Deal, and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 - Life Below Water. The project's objectives are to:

• Increase awareness and strengthen the capacity of NGOs and youth workers to promote opportunities in the Blue Economy, particularly in marine conservation and emerging industries like blue energy.

• Enhance the skills and professional competences of NGOs and youth workers in sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, eco-tourism, and marine renewable energy.

• Foster international collaboration between NGOs, youth workers, and industry stakeholders, ensuring cross-border knowledge-sharing.

• Promote NGO capacity-building and innovation in youth work, while encouraging sustainable entrepreneurship in sectors such as marine renewable energy and eco-tourism.

• Contribute to environmental protection and ocean conservation, supporting the EU's ambition for a sustainable, circular, and low-carbon economy.

The project's activities include the development of a Blue Economy and Career Opportunities for Youth Handbook (led by VERDE), local trainings on the Blue Economy and marine sustainability, a series of non-formal education videos, an international workshop for youth in Greece, and the pilot implementation of the NextGen Blue Workshop. Special attention is paid to NEETs, rural youth, and young people in coastal communities who often lack access to career guidance and opportunities.