About the LBO

The RYCO Local Branch Office (LBO) in North Macedonia is located in Skopje and implements activities across the whole Contracting Party. Its goal is to support youth, civil society organizations (CSOs), high schools, and universities by promoting meaningful youth engagement, participation, and collaboration.

The LBO connects local youth with the wider Western Balkans and works to strengthen local youth initiatives in line with RYCO’s values, strategies, and principles while providing exchange opportunities for young people. Established in 2017, it gained official status as an international governmental entity in 2023, recognized by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Local impact

40

HIGH SCHOOLS

80

REGIONAL EXCHANGES

135

CSOS

300+

YOUNG PEOPLE

20

YOUNG JOURNALISTS

150

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
  • Open Calls: CSOs and schools in North Macedonia have been supported through grants for projects that promote regional civil society and youth collaboration. The LBO has also partnered on initiatives launched by other RYCO Contracting Parties, facilitating regional exchanges.
  • Superschools: Across three program cycles, 40 high schools were supported and participated in 80 regional exchanges for students and teachers.
  • Western Balkans Youth Cultural Fund: 5 CSOs, 5 cultural practitioners, and 2 “Peace Champions” from North Macedonia were supported to implement cultural initiatives.
  • Hajde: 20 young journalists from two faculties received equipment and support, producing 20 youth-focused stories and 10 podcasts on youth participation and regional cooperation.
  • RISE: The program supported 118 individuals and 40 teams in 10 cities during its first two cycles. The second RISE Regional Forum in Skopje brought together more than 150 social entrepreneurs.
  • Regional Summer Camp: More than 100 young people took part in peer-education-focused regional summer camps. The first camp in Mavrovo gathered 55 participants, followed by a second camp in Bijeljina with more than 50 young people.
  • Capacity building and participation: Seven training courses organized with the OSCE Mission in Skopje benefited more than 130 representatives from CSOs and high schools. Youth Talks provide a safe space for discussion on topics such as the Berlin Process and the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.
  • Student and sport initiatives: The Regional Student Station expanded opportunities for student representatives across the Western Balkans. The “Scoring Development” regional conference in Skopje gathered more than 70 participants and promoted sport as a tool for youth development, peace, and stability.

Opportunities

The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) local branch in Montenegro organized a three-day training titled “Capacity Building for Representatives of Local Governments…
The next stop of RYCO’s Leadership Regional Tour took place in Montenegro, bringing together senior leadership, institutional partners, international stakeholders, and program…
Podgorica, March 2 – RYCO Local Branch Office in  Montenegro organized an event aimed at promoting the achievements of grantees supported through…
Kotor – On February 6th, 2026, a high-level visit was held to one of the awarded Superschools programs, implemented as part of…
The Parliament of Montenegro today hosted the conference “Berlin Process Youth Forum – Conclusions and Recommendations in the Context of Montenegro”, organized…
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a three-day training from 28 to 30…
A delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro took part in a three-day study visit to Berlin within the programme “Exchange of Experiences…
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), in cooperation with IEC Tehnopolis and partners, held the RISE Local Forum on September 25 in…
Today in Podgorica, a “Meet the Superschools” event was held, during which agreements were signed with nine Montenegrin schools whose projects were…
From June 16 to 21, Berane, a small town in northeastern Montenegro, became a meeting point for young changemakers from the Western…
Montenegrin MPs sign Declaration committing them to enhanced co-operation with youth Podgorica- Montenegrin MPs have committed to establishing regular dialogue with youth…
The Head of the Local Branch of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) in Montenegro, Edin Koljenovic, and Program Coordinator Bojana Lalatovic,…
Young leaders from twelve political parties gathered in Budva from March 11 to 13 to discuss strategies for involving young people in…
The Head of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Local Branch in Montenegro, Edin Koljenović, welcomed the newly appointed Head of the…
On February 18, 2025, a high-level visit was held to one of the awarded Superschools programs, implemented as part of the second…
Zlatibor – From December 6th to 8th, RYCO played a pivotal role as a partner organization in the promotion of the 4th…
In the course of this year, RISE reached the milestone of five years since its establishment in the region for building social entrepreneurship and empowered youth in the Western Balkans. Celebrations marking this anniversary took place in Tirana, Sarajevo, Pristina, Podgorica,…
Budva – A three-day capacity-building training on crafting project applications focused on youth mobility, cooperation, activism, and intercultural learning was organized by…
Sarajevo- 16 schools from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been awarded the title of “Super School” this year,  and their proposed projects, which…
PODGORICA – 5 schools from Montenegro received the title of “Superschool” this year, and their conceptual projects, which will contribute further to…
Bijelo Pole – Capacity building training for writing project proposals and project implementation was held between 21st and 23rd of June in…
PODGORICA – Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr. Edin Koljenović met with Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro…
Podgorica, March 28, 2024 – The RYCO Youth Talk held in the premisses of European House in Podgorica echoed a resounding message…
Bečići – Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) in Montenegro in cooperation with Youth Network of Montenegro organized “Capacity Building Training in the…
BAR– RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized Capacity Building Training for 14 representatives…
BUDVA – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized the second “Training on Intercultural…
BAR – Students and teachers of Secondary Vocational School Bar and Contemporary Art High School from Tuzla organized a theater play in…
PODGORICA – Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro – Mr Edin Koljenović held a productive meeting with the Democratization Program…
Podgorica – The high temperature didn’t stop us from working hard this week. After a long break, Hajde students from the region…
RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized a three-day Intercultural Youth Eco Camp in cooperation with the local NGO from the north-…
BUDVA – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized Leadership and Management Training for RYCO management with the support of the OSCE…
PODGORICA – Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, Mr.Edin Koljenović and the French Ambassador, Mr. Christian Thimonier, held a meeting…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, Mr Edin Koljenović met with the Director of the Directorate for…
Munich, Berlin – Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, Mr. Edin Koljenović and Program Officer, Ms. Bojana Lalatović, took part…
KOLAŠIN – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized a Youth Camp on “Intercultural Competencies in Sports” in Kolašin, from 8 to…
PODGORICA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Embassies of France and Germany and with the French…
PLJEVLJA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Council of Europe organized the activity Block the Hatred.…
BUDVA – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized the first Capacity Building Training…
BUDVA – RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized Capacity Building Training for representatives…
PODGORICA – RYCO is launching an open call for participation in the Capacity Building Training for Young Journalists on Intercultural dialogue and…
RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro supported a four-day Eco Camp organized by the NGO Euromost for the third year in a…
Budva, Montenegro – The EU Western Balkan Students Integration Summer Camp, a 3-day event consisting of workshops and training sessions, was organized…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović met with the newly appointed State Secretary of…
Montenegro – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) in Montenegro, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of France, organized three…
BUDVA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized a Youth Camp on Intercultural Competencies in Sports in Budva from 19…
BERANE – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of France organized Youth Talks…
PODGORICA – Representative of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mrs Bojana Lalatovic met with the representatives of International Visegrad Fund…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović met National Erasmus+ Coordinator Ms Vanja Drljević and Representative…
HERCEG NOVI – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Embassy of the French Republic, supported by the…
PODGORICA – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Political Science, University of…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović met with European Youth Card (EYCA) Director of…
Podgorica – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office’s (RYCO) Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the GIZ organized meeting entitled “Meet…
PODGORICA – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) organized a final event within its EU-supported project “Enhancing Youth Cooperation and Youth Exchange…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović and Youth Representative of Montenegro in the RYCO…
CETINJE – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in partnership with the Directorate of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, supported by…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović welcomed recently appointed Head of the OSCE Mission…
TIRANA – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) organized the conference “A Better Region Starts with Volunteering” in Tirana on 7-8 December…
BUDVA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized the Final Design and Validation Workshop…
PORTOROŽ – National EEPA coordinators of Montenegro and Serbia have awarded the RISE (Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs) project as the national…
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA/MONTENEGRO/SERBIA – Within the third RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Center…
KOTOR – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, supported by the French Embassy in Montenegro, organized the fifth Intercultural Youth Hub,…
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA/MONTENEGRO/NORTH MACEDONIA – Within the third RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals, supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the…
Petrovac – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović took part in the School of Political Studies…
PODGORICA – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro in cooperation with the Ministry for Education, Science, Culture and Sports organized an…
KOLAŠIN – The RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro organized a Youth Camp on Intercultural Competencies in Sports that took place in…
WESTERN BALKANS – The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is inviting tenderers to submit their offers for travel management and other related…
WESTERN BALKANS  – The Youth Entrepreneurial Service Foundation (YES Foundation) from North Macedonia in partnership with the Innovation Centre Banja Luka from…
PODGORICA – Within the new RYCO strategy development process supported by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RYCO Local Branch Office…
WESTERN BALKANS – Applications for the RYCO Superschools Exchange Scheme are now open. This newly established opportunity for schools, students, and teachers…
PODGORICA – Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro Mr Edin Koljenović participated in the final press conference of the…

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