In 2023 the Council of Europe, together with its partners, has developed the training programme on participatory youth policy and its training manual, improved competencies of 22 teachers from 11 regions of Ukraine at a training for trainers, prepared a series of videos of young people's participation practices and provided mentoring and expert support for the trainers team to implement the training programme at the regional and local levels. 21 programmes for 611 civil servants and local self-government officials have been implemented in 2024.
Additionally, trainers apply programme’s methodology for other target groups, notably young people who are members of the youth council, students, volunteers and young activists in Rivnenska, Poltavska, Sumska, Khmelnytska, and Vinnytska regions. New training programmes have already been scheduled for 2025 in the Sumska, Rivnenska, and Chernihivska regions.
The National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service recommends that subjects providing educational services in the field of professional development training (providers) develop general professional development programmes for civil servants and local self-government officials on participatory youth policy based on the Model Programme.
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The Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" was launched within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026. The third phase is built on results and experiences in 2020-2022 and expands systemic impact by strengthening youth participation policies and youth work in war and post-war contexts, taking into account the needs of young people.
The project is implemented in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine in three components: 1) participatory youth policy; 2) recognition of youth work in wartime (in particular, trauma-informed youth work); 3) support of youth centres and youth organisations as platforms for civic activity and democratic participation.
The project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” highlights the importance of the Council of Europe's Youth Sector Strategy 2030 and reflects the National Strategy of State Youth Policy until 2030, the State Target Social Programme “Youth of Ukraine” 2021-2025.
The Project encourages youth policy stakeholders in Ukraine to implement and disseminate the Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to Member States: on the access of youth from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights, CM/Rec(2015)3; on young people's access to rights, CM/Rec(2016)7; on youth work, CM/Rec(2017)4; on Roma youth participation CM/Rec(2023)4; on protecting youth civil society and young people, and supporting their participation in democratic processes CM/Rec(2022)6.
News, Council of Europe resources in the field of youth and open announcements for participation in project activities can be found here.
