On 25 May 2024, the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” presented the research results of the needs and state of activity of youth consultative bodies, in particular, taking into account the needs and realities of young people in the war and post-war period, at the final forum of the programme “Indomitable Youth: Youth Councils”.

The purpose of the forum was to present the results of the programme “Indomitable Youth: Youth Councils” in the form of a presentation and create a platform for co-operation between youth councils (including representatives of student self-government bodies, youth public organisations, student self-government bodies and other public associations) and local authorities .

Victoriia Bezsmertna, an expert of the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III”, outlined the key findings of the research in her presentation:

• As for the various areas of participation of young people, the most relevant, according to the respondents, are informing, training, supporting youth projects and initiatives, encouraging young people to volunteer and promoting the participation of young people in non-governmental organisations.
• The main difficulties and barriers in the implementation of youth policy with the participation of young people were identified as the lack of a youth policy strategy at the local level, the devaluation of youth policy, a political barrier, unsettled co-operation between the authorities and young people, lack of support from authorities, lack of experience, insufficient level of competences, movement of young people outside the community, change of sphere of activity and priorities, financial barrier.
• Establishing co-operation between authorities and young people, support from authorities, increasing the level of competences, functioning of youth councils as consultative bodies, and performance of consultative functions by representatives of youth consultative bodies at different levels, research of young people’s needs, financing, development of youth infrastructure, mobile youth work were defined as possible and desirable actions to overcome obstacles to youth participation.
• Competencies of youth work and youth policy that need to be developed in order to improve the participation of young people, according to the respondents, are knowledge of the legislative framework, administrative skills, researching the needs of young people, knowledge about the purpose, tasks and functioning of youth councils, communication and co-operation skills, English (or another foreign) language, flexibility and adaptability, advocacy skills.

The research of the needs and the state of activity of authorities responsible for youth policy, and youth consultative bodies, in particular, taking into account the needs and realities of young people in the war and post-war period was conducted by The Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, The National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service and the Ukrainian Association of Youth Councils during May-July 2023 with the aim of better understanding key stakeholders, their achievements, challenges and needs for the implementation of participatory youth policy. The target group of the research was civil servants and local self-government officials responsible for youth policy, and representatives of youth consultative bodies.

The research methodology was based on methods of participatory research, which involve the participation in the research of representatives of target groups, the inclusion of common (popular) ideas and practices in the content of the research, a focus on expanding the opportunities of research participants, the absence of hierarchy to take into account interests and opinions of those with less power or representation, valuing different opinions and views. Questioners, mapping, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted within the research. 

• The public presentation-discussion of the research results took place on 11 August 2023, day before the Youth Day, in online format.

Representatives of structural divisions responsible for youth policy, youth consultative bodies, public organisations and international organisations took part in the presentation-discussion. The results of the discussions during the presentation were added to the research report.

The research report of the needs and the state of activity of authorities responsible for youth policy, and youth consultative bodies, in particular, taking into account the needs and realities of young people in the war and post-war period, may be found at the link –

• https://rm.coe.int/yfd-ukraine-iii-research-i-report-english/1680af0868 (in the English language),
• https://rm.coe.int/yfd-ukraine-iii-research-report-i-ukrainian/1680ae8108 (in the Ukrainian language).

It should be noted that the programme “Indomitable Youth: Youth Councils” was developed by Ukrainian Association of Youth Councils and is implemented within programme Mriiemo ta Diiemo (Dream and Act), which is implemented with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Ukraine) and is implemented by IREX in Ukraine in partnership with International Republican Institute – IRI Ukraine.

The Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 and is based on the results and experience of the projects “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” in 2020-2022.  The project will expand the systematic impact by strengthening youth participation policies and youth work during the war and in the post-war context, taking into account the specific needs of young people.

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.