The Recipes for the Successful Implementation of Youth Participatory Budget

The EU Youth Strategy emerged from a collaborative dialogue that involved young people from all corners of Europe between 2017-2018. The ultimate goal of the strategy is to address the low civic engagement among youths and empower them to actively participate in democracy and society. During the co-design process of the strategy, 11 European Youth Goals were identified as the primary framework for youth politics. One of these goals is “Space and Participation for All,” which aims to strengthen young people’s democratic participation and autonomy, as well as provide dedicated youth spaces across society.

One useful tool that can help achieve this goal is a Youth Participatory Budget. This process allows young people to have a say in how public funds are allocated to meet their needs, enabling them to become active agents of change in urban development. By contributing to making cities more suitable to their needs and preferences, youth can better engage in democracy.