The publication Compendium of Public Policy Papers, supported by the project “Support to Electoral Reforms”, contains 22 innovative initiatives and was implemented by representatives of political youth, participants in the second Academy of Public Policy (https://electoralsupportprogramme.mk/en-public-policy-academy/).
The Academy of Public Policy aimed to mobilize the youth of political parties through a long-term learning process. Participants learned to create and influence public policies, learned to explore specific evidence-based issues, and were trained in their work system to incorporate the fundamental values of democratic societies, such as participation, active citizenship and inclusion.The Academy combined theoretical policy-making sessions with practical experience in designing and implementing policy responses.
The project supports political parties in developing resources and capacities to create evidence-based programs and greater involvement of local communities, including women, youth and other vulnerable groups.
The result is more than inspiring: out of a total of 22 proposed policies of young leaders, coming from 6 different political parties, almost all were incorporated into the parties’ election programs in the last local elections.
The academy is an opportunity for “learning through work” and aims to strengthen the competencies of young leaders in creating and influencing public policies. The documents that are part of this publication are the result of the efforts of the representatives of the political youth to create policies based on evidence and values. Their goal is to find relevant solutions, oriented to the needs of the citizens.
Among the set of citizen-oriented policies, political youth created innovative initiatives to increase the economic independence of women in rural areas of the municipality of Kocani, care of stray dogs in the municipality of Tetovo, and the municipality of Struga prepared an initiative to care for stray dogs, sustainable solutions for stray dogs were also offered for the municipality of Prilep, the Municipality of Ohrid emphasizes the need to establish a Youth Center, in the field of environmental improvement – Kicevo Green City, an initiative for conservation, rehabilitation and affirmation of the Tetovo Fortress, a skate park as a solution for underdeveloped youth subculture in the Municipality of Cair, Career Center for Youth in Delchevo, policies and activities for more appropriate care of people with special needs – inclusive Aerodrom for all, functional local youth council in the municipality of Gostivar and others.
In the initial phase of preparation, the political youth organized extensive consultations with local communities and vulnerable groups, which helped them identify their priority needs.
Information obtained through interaction with citizens helped them as a basis for drafting public policy documents, which were further shared with the party leadership and most of them incorporated in the political platforms of the Local Elections 2021.
Creating evidence-based policies is a relevant model for improving the quality and effectiveness of proposed policies and programs. On the one hand, the political responsibility of the parties is strengthened, and at the same time it helps them to become more citizen-oriented. Through the principle of in-depth analysis and factual situations, the mismatch between the perceptions of policy makers about the needs of citizens and their real needs can be improved.
The active participation of young people in political and public life is crucial for the democratic development of a country and such results give optimism that political parties recognize the benefits of prioritizing the needs of citizens.
The willingness of the political options to apply a programmatic approach, which is oriented towards the necessary needs of the citizens and especially of the vulnerable groups from the local communities, contributes to the electoral processes to be more inclusive and more representative. The main goal of the project is to promote democratic and credible electoral processes, which facilitate political participation and social integration, enabling voters to elect their representatives and hold them accountable.
You can also read it on line at the link below:
https://electoralsupportprogramme.mk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Zbornik-na-Dokumenti-za-javni-politiki.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2DN7me3T03lXeYKrF38UihkRnwbWYXrheHPIbTspqv6XVcvZ_CLiXKHmc
