More information
Description
The project is focused on the lack of mechanisms for systematic monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Youth Councils Act, the only law in the Republic of Croatia explicitly related to youth. Furthermore, there are no tools for monitoring the implementation of strategic frameworks for youth involvement at local and regional levels. Therefore, this project aims to strengthen the influence of CSOs in the field of youth policies by advocating for meaningful youth participation at the local and regional level. This will be achieved through research on the current state and needs of representatives of local and regional authorities and youth councils, and through developing tools for an evidence-based approach in advocacy: a policy brief, guidelines and recommendations for ensuring quality work of youth councils, and guidelines and tools for developing, monitoring and evaluating youth programs. In addition to advocacy activities, these mechanisms will be presented to the public and target groups at public events, they will be used in training youth councils and will have a long-term impact on strengthening the advocacy potential of youth councils and youth associations. The participation of young people will also be strengthened through bilateral cooperation in the development of the tools for monitoring and evaluation, as well as through the exchange of knowledge, experiences and examples of good practice with the municipality of Lindesnes in Norway. Info Zone will lead the project and coordinate the activities of tools development and bilateral cooperation. Other partners will be in charge of coordinating research (Association Delta) and advocacy activities (Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia).
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address two primary challenges. The first was the lack of mechanisms for systematical monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Law on Youth Councils, the only law in Croatia that explicitly pertains to young people. The second challenge was the absence of a system for tracking the implementation of strategic frameworks for youth inclusion at local and regional levels.
The project was designed based on previous experiences indicating that most decision-makers were unfamiliar with the operations of youth councils and the Law on Youth Councils. This lack of awareness was identified as a key factor in the low participation of young people in decision-making processes, the small number of youth councils, and their often ineffective functioning. Additionally, experiences from youth council members revealed that, in practice, these councils did not adequately represent young people, that youth participation in decision-making was often superficial, and that they lacked the tools and competencies for effective advocacy.
Despite the obligation of local and regional government units to establish youth councils as advisory bodies, only 17% had active youth councils in 2019. Before this project, there was no detailed analysis of the existing youth councils to assess their effectiveness or identify obstacles to their establishment in areas without them. This lack of analysis made it difficult to advocate for meaningful youth participation based on evidence or research results. Additionally, there were no tools available to youth councils, or to youth organizations in general, to facilitate monitoring and advocating for youth policies at the local level. The project responded to these issues by conducting the first participatory research on the state and needs of local and regional governments'' representatives and youth councils. It also developed guidelines and tools for creating, monitoring, and evaluating youth programs. The project incorporated the knowledge and experience of Norwegian partners.
The project''s activities were initially focused on local and regional governments'' representatives and former and current youth council members. In later stages, the project also involved representatives from the Central State Office for Demography and Youth, as well as youth organizations.
The project undertook several key activities aimed at enhancing youth participation in decision-making and strengthening the capacities of youth councils in Croatia.
One of the primary initiatives was a comprehensive research titled “Analysis of the Status, Needs, and Experiences of Local and Regional Government Representatives and Youth Council Members in Croatia: Quo vadis, Youth Councils?” This research was designed to assess the current state and needs of local government representatives and youth council members. To prepare and implement the research, a working group was formed in late 2022, which included representatives from partner organizations, youth councils, and local governments from various regions. The research included focus groups, surveys, and an analysis of youth council work programs, engaging significantly more participants than initially planned. The research involved 146 local government representatives and 118 former and current youth council members, exceeding the initial targets set in the project proposal. This extensive participation provided a strong foundation for developing effective tools to monitor the implementation of the Law on Youth Councils and to enhance youth participation in decision-making processes.
Building on the research findings, the project focused on advocating for meaningful youth participation by facilitating dialogue between civil society organizations (CSOs) and decision-makers. The project team produced a position paper and engaged in discussions with the Central State Office for Demography and Youth. They also made substantial contributions to public consultations on amendments to the Law on Youth Councils, successfully influencing these amendments, with some of their recommendations being accepted.
The project also developed crucial guidelines and recommendations for meaningful youth participation and policy monitoring. These were consolidated into a publication, which was presented at a final event in October 2023. The guidelines and tools developed through the project were subsequently used in training youth councils, with a specific module on program creation, implementation monitoring, and evaluation integrated into ongoing training sessions, continuing even after the project concluded.
In addition to these activities, the project fostered bilateral cooperation through two study visits. A Norwegian delegation attended a national youth council conference in Croatia, and a Croatian delegation visited Norway. These visits facilitated valuable knowledge exchange and contributed to the development of tools for monitoring and evaluating youth policies.
To further support the organizational growth of project partners and other involved organizations, the project conducted a series of training sessions, created a new website for Info Zone, and provided supervision for the Delta Association. These efforts significantly enhanced the capacity of the organizations, particularly in management, public communication, policy evaluation, and advocacy.
The project achieved significant results, directly impacting both the youth councils and local government representatives in Croatia. One of the main outcomes was the successful completion of the first participatory research aimed at analyzing the status and needs of these groups. The findings from this research provided valuable insights and formed the basis for arguments and proposals presented during public consultations on amendments to the Law on Youth Councils. These results will continue to support future advocacy and watchdog activities by civil society organizations focused on youth participation in decision-making.
Through the project, local government representatives and youth council members had the opportunity to express their needs and views on youth participation and the implementation of the Law on Youth Councils. As a response to these findings, the project developed specific guidelines to enhance the quality of youth council work, which will assist local governments in effectively working with youth councils. These guidelines, along with newly created tools for monitoring and advocating youth policies at the local level, are designed to support the ongoing work of youth councils.
The guidelines and recommendations were consolidated into a handbook titled "Youth Councils - Spaces for Cooperation and Roadmaps for the Future," which aims to facilitate the tracking and advocacy of youth policies at the local level by both youth and youth organizations. This content has also been incorporated as an additional module in the existing training program for youth council members provided by the Association of Cities in Croatia. The creation of this handbook was recognized as a critical contribution to ensuring meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes and improving the overall functioning of youth councils.
The project also had a direct impact on the final version of the Law on Youth Councils and the content of the template for developing youth council work programs. This influence was achieved through meetings with the Central State Office for Demography and Youth and participation in public consultations, where the project team utilized the research conclusions and findings to support their arguments.
Throughout the project, information and arguments based on the research results were shared with members of the Croatian Youth Network during online meetings, particularly during the public consultation on the draft amendments to the Law on Youth Councils. This contributed to strengthening the advocacy role of CSOs in the amendment process and in monitoring the law''s implementation. The handbook, policy brief, and research report produced by the project will have a long-term impact by bolstering the advocacy and watchdog roles of CSOs, particularly concerning meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes. The tools and information developed will be valuable resources for improving future advocacy efforts at both local and national levels.
Summary of bilateral results
While the project focused mainly on Croatian partners, the Norwegian partners played a crucial role. Networking with the Municipality of Lindesnes and engaging in direct discussions with young Norwegians opened new perspectives for Croatian partners and youth council representatives regarding youth involvement in decision-making processes. This collaboration significantly influenced the development of guidelines and tools for meaningful youth engagement and for monitoring and evaluating local youth programs. These interactions also encouraged the project team to consider alternative models of youth participation, leading to the successful submission of a new Erasmus+ project focused on promoting these models.The project''s publication consolidated all the guidelines and recommendations shaped by Norwegian input, including insights gained during their visit to Croatia. These exchanges highlighted key Norwegian experiences that inspired the promotion of alternative youth participation methods in Croatia. Looking ahead, the project team anticipates re-engaging Norwegian partners during or after the Erasmus+ project to further apply their expertise, though they recognize that, due to current circumstances like the constitutional review of the Law on Youth Councils, an international partnership might be premature.The research results from this project were successfully used to support public consultation feedback on proposed amendments to the Law on Youth Councils and have been incorporated into a new project proposal. The educational materials produced will continue to assist other organizations in their advocacy efforts, with some already using the handbook. The Association of Cities has also integrated these tools into their youth council training programs. This collaboration not only enriched the project but also set the stage for ongoing bilateral cooperation, enhancing youth participation in decision-making.