WISE is run by the Young Professionals Network (YPN), an Albania-based organisation, with support from the German Foreign Office. Each round selects 12 young professionals who are citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia and places them in a three-month internship with a business or NGO in the region. Placements are cross-border: a fellow from Tetovo in North Macedonia spent her internship with a technology startup in Tirana, and an Albanian fellow worked as executive assistant at Humanity in Action Bosnia & Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Host entities work in technology, communication, green jobs and civic engagement. Around the placement, YPN adds mentoring, an online training block, a networking event and regular check-ins. The programme is aimed at youth unemployment, weak workforce mobility across the six countries, and the gap between what young people study and what regional employers need.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend of 600 EUR to 750 EUR, set according to average wages in the host country.
- The stipend is meant to cover accommodation, local transport and personal expenses during the placement.
- A separate travel allowance for the journey to and from the host country.
- A two-day online capacity-building programme before departure.
- A placement with a host business or NGO, with mentoring and support from the YPN team throughout.
- Regular check-ins during the three months and a networking event mid-programme.
- A professional certificate on successful completion.
- 12 places per round.
Eligibility
- Citizens of one of the six Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia.
- Aged between 20 and 30.
- A Bachelor’s degree at minimum. A Master’s degree is an advantage.
- Final-year Bachelor’s students and graduates still waiting for their diploma may apply, with an official document confirming completed or expected completion of studies.
- At least two years of professional experience, or relevant achievements through internships, community engagement or leadership initiatives.
- Fluent English.
- A personal statement that connects the applicant’s goals to the aims of the programme.
- The call also asks for honesty, motivation and the ability to manage oneself in a new working environment.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Eligible nationalities
Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Kosovo · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Serbia
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master
Age requirement
20–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the online application form on the WISE site, with a CV, a recommendation letter, academic credentials and a personal statement.
- 2Applicants may name a specific host entity in the region where they would like to intern.
- 3Screening: YPN checks each application against the eligibility criteria.
- 4Interviews: shortlisted candidates are interviewed on skills, goals and motivation.
- 5Matching: selected candidates are paired with a host entity, and results follow once the pairing is set.
- 6Selected fellows join a two-day online orientation and capacity-building session before travelling to the host country.
- 7The three-month internship runs with mentoring, check-ins and a networking event, and ends with a certificate.
Program timeline
16 April 2026
Applications open for the 2026 round
Application deadline
4 May 2026
Screening of applications
5–10 May 2026
Interviews with shortlisted candidates
11–13 May 2026
Matching with host entities and notification of results
May 2026
Before departure
two-day online capacity-building programme
Three-month internship; exact start and end dates are set during matching and are not published
The 2026 round has closed and the application form is no longer accepting responses. YPN has not yet published dates for the next round; the 2026 window ran from mid-April to early May.