International Mentoring Center



IMC Belgium: Helping Navigate the Nation’s Economic Landscape

Let us together help scale the scope of the Belgian human potential through mentoring.

IMC Membership

Join the IMC Belgium Region to enjoy its exclusive discounts on mentor credentials, mentoring certification, and mentoring accreditation. Access resources, templates and more to enhance your mentoring skill and connect with the global mentoring community.

IMC Credential

Advance your career and enhance your credibility with such mentor credentials as CAM, CPM, or CMM. The IMC Belgium Region offers you a myriad of opportunities to earn these mentor credentials that will guide your professional growth to make a meaningful difference.

IMC

IMC Accreditation

Enhance your mentoring by obtaining international recognition for your training facility or organization through IMC accreditation. It will not only validate your mentoring programs but raise the standards for mentoring in Belgium through your mentoring training.

Mentoring in Organizations

Display commitment to growing individuals in the organization by giving mentoring certifications. IMC accreditation ensures that your mentoring program meets international standards, ensuring that continuous learning and development remains strong.

IMC in Belgium

Mentoring is integral to Belgian society. The nation has a well-developed and diverse mentoring ecosystem that spans universities, corporate foundations, banks, and regional hubs. The International Mentoring Center Belgium is proud to be part of the nation’s mentoring ecosystem by supporting it and ensuring it aligns with global standards.

Just like any other nation, Belgium tackles challenges through practical, scalable responses. It uses it as a way to build entrepreneurial capacity, support youth employment, and foster innovation at the grassroots level.

From university incubators such as StartLab.Brussels to corporate partnerships such as the Youth Incubator and bank-led accelerators like Start it @KBC, the nation is betting big on its human potential and enterprises.

The International Mentoring Center Belgium is at the forefront of supporting the nation’s mentoring ecosystem by upholding the finest mentoring standards and supporting its transition to a strong and diverse economy.

🇧🇪 Mentoring in Belgium Key Statistics

Fully attributable macroeconomic, labour market and fiscal indicators — sourced exclusively from public, auditable reports.

As of July 2026 · Sources: NBB · Statbel · IMF · FocusEconomics · Trading Economics
National Economic Indicators VERIFIED
Belgium – Macroeconomic Landscape 2024–2027 · Public Records
Real GDP growth (2024) 1.0%confirmed annual rate
1.0%
Real GDP growth (2025 forecast) 0.9%NBB consensus forecast
0.9%
Real GDP growth (2026 forecast) 1.0%NBB consensus forecast
1.0%
Real GDP growth (2027 forecast) 1.2%NBB consensus forecast
1.2%
GDP per capita (2024) $56,731USD
$56,731
Sources: National Bank of Belgium (NBB) · Belgian Prime News (BPN) · World Bank (GDP per capita)
Inflation Indicators VERIFIED
Consumer Price Inflation (HICP) 2023–2027 · NBB · Statbel
Average inflation (2023) 2.3%HICP
2.3%
Average inflation (2024) 4.3%HICP — elevated
4.3%
Average inflation (2025 forecast) 2.8%NBB consensus forecast
2.8%
Average inflation (2026 forecast) 1.8%NBB consensus forecast
1.8%
Average inflation (2027 forecast) 2.1%NBB consensus forecast
2.1%
Sources: National Bank of Belgium · Belgian Prime News (BPN) · Statbel
Labour Market Indicators VERIFIED
Employment, Unemployment & Labour Force 2024–2025 · Statbel · NBB · ILO
ILO unemployment rate (2024) 5.8%of labour force aged 15–64
5.8%
ILO unemployment rate (2025) 6.2%Q1 2025
6.2%
ILO unemployment rate (Q3 2024) 6.0%up from 5.4% in Q2
6.0%
Employment rate (2024) 72.3%of people aged 20–64
72.3%
Employment rate (Q1 2025) 72.6%of people aged 20–64
72.6%
Unemployed persons (Q3 2024) 320,000ILO definition
320,000
Sources: Statbel (Labour Force Survey) · National Bank of Belgium · ILO modelled estimates
Youth Unemployment VERIFIED
Youth (Ages 15–24) Labour Market 2024 · Statbel · ILO
Youth unemployment rate (Q3 2024) 19.9%of active youth
19.9%
Youth unemployment rate (2024 annual) 16.75%annual average (ILO estimate)
16.75%
Youth unemployment rate (2023) 16.12%ILO estimate
16.12%
NEET rate (2024) 9.9%of youth aged 15–29
9.9%
Sources: Statbel · Macrotrends · ILO
Fiscal & Public Debt Indicators VERIFIED
Government Finances & Debt 2024–2027 · NBB · Eurostat
Government debt (2024) 104.7%of GDP
104.7%
Government debt (2025 forecast) 105.9%of GDP
105.9%
Government debt (2026 forecast) 108.2%of GDP
108.2%
Government debt (2027 forecast) 109.1%of GDP
109.1%
Budget balance (2024) -4.5%of GDP
-4.5%
Budget balance (2025 forecast) -5.1%of GDP
-5.1%
Sources: National Bank of Belgium · Belgian Prime News (BPN) · Eurostat · indicators.be
Current Account VERIFIED
External Balance 2024–2025 · NBB · IMF
Current account balance (2024) -2.6BUSD (goods & services)
-2.6B
Current account balance (2025) -13.8BUSD (goods & services)
-13.8B
Current account (Q2 2025) -2.26%of GDP
-2.26%
Decade average current account 0.72%of GDP (2003–2025 avg)
0.72%
Sources: CEIC Data · IMF · TheGlobalEconomy.com
Key Insights

Modest Growth

1.0%

Belgium's GDP grew by 1.0% in 2024, with forecasts of 0.9–1.2% through 2027 — below the euro area average.

NBB · BPN (2024–2027)

Inflation Normalisation

4.3% → 1.8%

Inflation peaked at 4.3% in 2024 and is projected to drop below 2% by 2026, returning to pre-crisis levels.

NBB · BPN (2024–2026)

Stable Unemployment

5.8%

Belgium's ILO unemployment rate remained around 5.8–6.0% in 2024–2025, below the euro area average of 8.5%.

Statbel · NBB (2024–2025)

Youth Unemployment Challenge

19.9%

Youth unemployment spiked to 19.9% in Q3 2024 — more than triple the national average — a critical target for mentoring.

Statbel (Q3 2024)

High Public Debt

104.7%

Belgium's public debt‑to‑GDP ratio exceeds 100% and is projected to rise above 109% by 2027 — well above the EU's 60% threshold.

NBB · Eurostat (2024–2027)

Current Account Deficit

-13.8B

Belgium's goods and services current account turned negative in 2025, with a deficit of $13.8B, compared to -$2.6B in 2024.

CEIC · IMF (2024–2025)
Data Certification: Every indicator presented above is sourced from publicly available, auditable reports published by the National Bank of Belgium (NBB), Statbel (the Belgian statistical office), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Central Bank (via the Eurosystem), FocusEconomics, CEIC Data, and Trading Economics. No program-level estimates, internal monitoring data, or unaudited figures are included in this infographic. All numbers are independently verifiable.

Upcoming Chapters

Antwerp

Antwerp

Status: Launching Soon

Brussels

Brussels

Status: Launching Soon

Ghent

Ghent

Status: Launching Soon

Benefits of Mentoring in Belgium Impact Delivery

How structured mentorship drives workforce integration, academic excellence, and professional leadership — building resilience and opportunity across Belgium.

As of July 2026 · Sources: DUO for a JOB · MentorYou · Actiris · Be.Face · KU Leuven · VUB · ULB · Agoria · VLAIO · Soroptimist

Workforce & Employment Inclusion Benefits

Intergenerational Mentoring for Youth Employment

DUO for a JOB, established in 2013, connects young job seekers with a migrant background to experienced professionals aged 50+ through one-on-one mentoring. The program delivers significant outcomes: 50% of participants secure employment, and 70% find a positive outcome (job or training). 7 out of 10 participants find a job, internship, or training. The program has scaled across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.

Professional Mentoring for Job Seekers

MentorYou, coordinated by Pour la Solidarité, provides up to 6 months of personalized mentoring with at least two meetings per month. In 2024, the program supported 140 mentor-mentee duos, with 65% achieving employment or training placement. The program targets NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), who represented 9.6% of Belgians aged 15–29 in 2023.

Brussels Workforce Mentoring Initiative

Actiris, the Brussels public employment service, aims to support 4,400 job seekers through mentoring by 2028. In 2024, 981 job seekers participated in the mentoring program. Among participants in 2022, 65% found a job and 77.8% achieved a positive outcome (work, internship, or return to study). Be.Face, a Brussels-based association, supported 250 mentees in 2025 through a network of 300+ volunteer mentors, achieving 98% satisfaction and 78% year-on-year growth.

Academic & STEM Development Benefits

Women Engineers Mentoring Programme

KU Leuven and Agoria launched the Women Engineers' Mentoring Programme at Group T Campus in April 2024. The initiative pairs third-year female engineering students with professional female alumni engineers for a year of expert guidance, with at least four meetings plus three campus sessions on career planning and talent development. The program's second edition launched in April 2025 with 22 students paired with successful graduates. The WEMIND project enhances the program with digital tools and impact measurement.

University Mentoring Networks

The Team Mentorat (T'M) program, organized by six French-speaking universities (UCLouvain, ULB, ULiège, UMONS, UNamur, USL-B), provides career mentoring exclusively for doctoral candidates and graduates. The ULB Alumni Mentoring Program connects bachelor's and master's students with trained alumni mentors for semester-long guidance. POLLEM (Pôle académique Liège-Luxembourg-Expérience-Mentorat), established in 2019, facilitates the transition of first-year students into higher education across nine institutions through teacher-mentors.

Student & Youth Mentoring Initiatives

IB Community at UCLouvain runs a mentorship program helping IB students prepare for six-month internships through resume support and mock interviews. Backstage.Network offers a free six-month mentoring program connecting job seekers with volunteer mentors from partner companies. The CEBE Buddy Mentorship Program connects members with experienced mentors for professional and personal development.

Professional & Social Impact Benefits

Women's Leadership & Board Mentoring

Guberna, the Institute of Directors, launched the second edition of its Board Mentoring Programme in partnership with Women on Board, the Federation of Enterprises of Belgium (FEB), and the Family Business Network. The initiative aims to raise awareness about diversity within corporate boards. SOFIA offers mentoring and management programs for women in leadership positions across the business sector.

Women's Professional Development & Entrepreneurship

Soroptimist International Benelux offers a Leadership & Mentoring Program spanning eight months, connecting young women with proven professionals for personal and professional development. The program targets women with a minimum of two years' working experience across all sectors. SheDIDIT, founded in 2018, serves as the Belgian platform for female entrepreneurs coming from migrant backgrounds.

Entrepreneurship & Business Mentoring

StartLAB.Brussels (VUB) offers an incubation program with mentorship, workshops, and coaching to guide entrepreneurs through all stages of venture development. Mentor Me by VLAIO targets ambitious entrepreneurs who have survived the startup phase and are ready to scale up, matching them with experienced entrepreneurs from its network. The program focuses on businesses younger than three years and includes regular Mentor Room sessions.

Accreditation Process

How Organizations in Belgium Can Get IMC Accreditation

To maintain the highest level of standards in global mentoring, IMC has a rigorous review system to audit your organization’s program quality as part of our strict accreditation process requirements in Belgium.

Your organization can opt to provide a mentoring program with more than 20 hours of training or a shorter one. This can get you a training accreditation or an endorsed training accreditation.

Your program must include mentoring skills and domain or knowledge development so as to be eligible for accreditation. Every program must incorporate the following three sections compulsorily:

  1. The IMC Definition of Mentoring
  2. The IMC Code of Conduct and Ethics
  3. The IMC Core Competencies (minimum of 3 are must for accreditation)

The programs must provide participants with the necessary skills for each credential and ensure that the trainer is the primary mentor supervisor for at least a year.

The accreditation will be valid for three years from the date of issue.

The Accreditation Application Flow

The entire accreditation application process takes around four to six weeks. 

Stage 1: Organization Details

Stage 2: Program Details

Stage 3: Instructor Details

Stage 4: Terms and Conditions

Following a successful review, you’ll receive an email notification confirming your IMC accreditation status and a media kit to display your accreditation.

Please feel free to contact us for any further clarification

FAQs

The IMC Belgium Region is a local chapter of the International Mentoring Center. It is a dedicated network for mentoring professionals in Belgium to connect, collaborate, and thrive within their local community. Members gain access to a complete ecosystem of mentoring credentials, certifications, and accreditation.

Yes. The IMC Belgium region comprises local chapters at the following three locations:

  • Brussels 
  • Antwerp 
  • Ghent 

The IMC Accreditation is a formal recognition that an organization’s or training facility’s mentoring program meets international quality benchmarks. This accreditation validates your mentoring initiatives, ensuring they align with global standards and best practices. It demonstrates your dedication to providing high-quality mentoring and can support employee development, talent retention, and leadership cultivation.

It is an interactive, confidential, and supportive learning relationship for mentors. It involves a mentor supervisor—a practicing mentor with relevant experience—who provides guidance through dialogue and reflection.

The IMC Code of Ethics is a formal commitment to fostering integrity, professionalism, and excellence in mentoring relationships. Founded on the principles of honesty, fairness, and accountability, it guides mentors to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. The Code is grounded in IMC’s core values, known as the 7 Cs: Commitment, Contribution, Collaboration, Competence, Compassion, Creativity, and Community.

The IMC Global Membership is an annual subscription designed to accelerate your journey toward meaningful impact. The membership costs $175 annually.

  • Provides instant access to a global community of peers.
  • Exclusive resources like training modules and marketing toolkits.
  • Invitations to events and webinars.
  • A membership badge for recognition.
  • Priority access to IMC publications and opportunities to publish articles. 
  • The chance to be featured in monthly spotlights.

Join IMC Belgium