Youth-Focused Policy Dialogue

Purpose

Danish embassies continuously engage in various forms of policy dialogue with multiple stakeholders related to overall political issues as well as more programme-specific policy dialogue. Policy dialogue is an important instrument in promoting youth policies,  influencing the national political context and enhancing an enabling environment for youth in terms of adherence to international conventions, national legislation and practice.

Youth-focused Policy Dialogue

Policy dialogue is an open and inclusive exchange between development partners aiming at influencing policy processes, implementation and monitoring of results. The initiative to start a policy dialogue lies with the part who wants to change or obtain something.

When it comes to youth-focused policy dialogue, the goal may be to influence legislation, law enforcement, promotion of youth rights or changes of practices in terms of human resources, youth involvement etc. – depending on the level of policy dialogue (international, national, local or programmatic). Clarification of which potential dialogue partners are the most relevant to obtain the goal is important. Depending on the sector-specific focus of the programmes, government institutions, including line ministries, national youth council, civil society platforms or organisations, local government institutions and private-sector actors are among the most frequent dialogue partners. Policy dialogue – and youth-focused policy dialogue – may be addressed by and through embassy partners: CSOs, CBOs, think tanks and YLOs. Influencing these partner organisations to hold a specific youth focus may be a way for embassies to indirectly support youth-focused policy dialogue.

The tools available for youth-focused policy dialogue are multiple and include youth situational analysis (potentially joint with other donors) (Youth Situational Analysis), advocacy and lobby, consultations and participation, support to media and research to provide evidence, support to law enforcement or formulation/revision of national legislation, international conventions and SDGs, implementation and dissemination of information on national policies.