Modernization of local government development programms in the field of youth policy (in case of Dnipropetrovsk region)
Authors: Hyrenko Liliia 
Published: March 2020

The article analyzes the local self-government development programs in the field of youth policy (in the case of Dnipropetrovsk region), especially innovative forms and methods of cooperation with youth. The particularities of youth involvement to public administration activity on the city, restrict, rural territorial communities’ levels are investigated. It’s argued that the transformation of value approaches in the organization of public administration is depend on the realization of market-liberal and democratic values, which influences on the activities of public authorities, which is especially noticeable at the local level. Decentralization processes have opened a «window of opportunities» for the youth’s involvement to the public policy-making processes. Seeking the new mechanisms and generating new ideas to intensify the processes of involving young citizens in public local affairs and to solve particularly significant problems is a new challenge in the activities of local governments. There is a need to find appropriate innovative forms and methods of engagement with young people, in particular in youth development programs in the field of youth policy, as well as in the context of finding new organizational forms of activity.

According to the concept of sustainable development, it most often refers to the activities and development of modern states, regions, communities for the sake of security and the capabilities of future generations of citizens. In this context youth participation in society is not limited to forming an active part of the public or building democracy in the future. It is about the need to create a level playing field for participation in socially important affairs in determining this future. For participation in society to be meaningful to young people and a justifiable part of their lives, living space, it is essential that they be able to influence decisions and take action at a young age, not just at a later stage in their lives.

There are different approaches to understanding the level of youth participation in these processes: discussion and decision making. The institutional involvement of young people in local and regional affairs involves the introduction of appropriate structures or mechanisms that will enable young people to participate in the decision making and discussion of decisions that affect them and may affect their lives. Accordingly, forms of representative participation on a permanent basis are proposed, but are not limited to youth councils, youth parliaments, youth forums. This approach facilitates a rethinking of opportunities for youth policy implementation at the regional level and shifts the focus in terms of decentralization of the Ukrainian authorities from «youth work» to «active youth participation». Changes in the functions of public authorities in the sphere of youth policy implementation: dialogue and partnership; consultancy; active involvement in counseling. According to the author, one of these forms could be creation of regional councils of Youth Associations – a permanent advisory and advisory body.