Project title: Public-Private Partnership and transnational exchange for better labour market governance to effectively tackle negative impacts of demographic change in the Danube Region

Project acronym: ANCHOR

Project duration:  1. 4. 2025 – 31. 9. 2027 

Total project value: 2,086,300.00 EUR

Financing: European Regional Development Fund

Partners:

1. Network for Regional Development Foundation – lead Partner
2. Municipality of Nyíregyháza City with County Rights – project partner
3. Scientific Research Centre Bista Ptuj – project partner
4. Academia Ltd. – project partner
5. Municipality of Centar Sarajevo – project partner
6. Chamber of Economy of Sarajevo Canton – project partner
7. TU Wien – project Partner
8. Development agency North – DAN Ltd. – project partner
9. City of Valjevo – project partner
10. Modern Educational Approach – project partner
11. Non-governmental organization "Youth Space" – project partner
12. Bulgarian Association for Transfer of Technology and Innovation – project partner

Project objective:
Our main objective is to improve accessibility and inclusion in the labour market in the Danube region and to better integrate vulnerable groups. The project focuses on strengthening cooperation between relevant organisations responsible for effective labour market management and integration, and on improving the coordination of their activities. This is to reduce the unbalanced migration processes in the Danube region and ensure equal opportunities for all.

The ANCHOR project addresses significant macro-social challenges related to employment by proposing an integrated and multilevel approach to labor market governance as a sustainable solution. The existing governance frameworks are rigid, and services lack the necessary flexibility, competence, and openness. Although various organizations, including labor market authorities, governments, educational institutions, NGOs, and employers, have important roles and data regarding labor market processes, their collaboration is hindered by bureaucratic barriers and a lack of coordination, commitment, and trust. As a result, stakeholders often operate in isolation rather than working together effectively.

The ANCHOR project focuses on improving labour market governance in the Danube region to address challenges related to demographic change, such as population ageing and labour market inequalities. It focuses on harnessing existing knowledge and research to improve labour market management and tackle demographic challenges. With the participation of various stakeholders, the project develops innovative strategies and solutions for more efficient labour market management and promotes the inclusion of vulnerable groups, which contributes to the sustainable and inclusive development of the region.

The project partners will jointly carry out a series of activities that will enable synergies with existing and past projects and research programmes.