The employment situation for young people in Bosnia Herzegovina is challenging. The country is still marked by the residual tensions of war, political dynamics between levels of government are complex, policy implementation inefficient, and the transition economy is operating at below potential. In 2012, 60% of the country's young people were jobless. The Joint Programme worked closely with Government, the private sector and civil society to improve the employability of BiH youth and provide new entry points to the labour market.

The absence of jobs for youth in Albania has fueled one of the highest emigration rates in the world. The Joint Programme's goal was to create decent work opportunities for marginalized youth by combining employment and social policy objectives and integrating them into long-term national development goals. 

Although economic and social conditions in Turkey have improved rapidly in the last 10 years, the country still suffers from some key development challenges, including significant regional disparities and high unemployment among youth and women. Targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the textile sector, the largest and most labour-intensive sector in Turkey, this innovative Joint Programme assisted local businesses to develop sustainable competitiveness and improve working conditions, particularly for women in disadvantaged communities in poor areas.