Giving Young People a Voice in Local Decision-Making
21/10/2026
Young people have an important role to play in shaping the future of their communities. Their experiences, ideas and perspectives can contribute to better public policies and more inclusive local development. However, opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes remain limited in many local communities.
The DYGOV project – Digital Youth-oriented Governance's Model for Cross-Border Youth Cultural Engagement & Identity-based Decision-Making – aims to address this challenge by strengthening youth participation in governance across the Italy – Croatia cooperation area.
The project recognises that participation involves more than simply giving young people an opportunity to express their opinions. It also requires accessible channels for engagement, supportive institutions and mechanisms through which young people's contributions can be considered in public decision-making. Creating these conditions is particularly important for young people who face barriers to participation, including those who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).
Through the cooperation of the City of Krk, the Municipality of Lizzanello, the Center of Excellence of the Split-Dalmatia County and Rinascita Social Cooperative Society, DYGOV brings together partners from Croatia and Italy to promote more inclusive and accessible opportunities for young people to participate in local governance. By combining their different experiences and perspectives, the partners aim to strengthen youth engagement and encourage the exchange of knowledge and good practices across the two countries.
By connecting young people, public authorities, educational institutions and civil society, the project aims to encourage dialogue, exchange experiences and develop approaches to youth participation that respond to the needs of different communities. The involvement of partners from both countries provides a basis for sharing knowledge and exploring how effective practices can be adapted to different local contexts.
A key element of this approach will be the Bi-National CitiGEN Youth Advisory Council, which is intended to provide a structured space for young people from both countries to contribute to discussions on local governance and public policies. The project will also develop CitiSpace, a bilingual digital participation platform designed to support civic engagement through tools for proposing initiatives, commenting on policy proposals, voting and receiving feedback from public institutions.
These mechanisms are designed to complement one another. While digital tools can make participation more accessible, structured dialogue and cooperation with public authorities are essential to ensuring that young people's perspectives can inform local decision-making. DYGOV therefore combines digital innovation with capacity building and institutional cooperation.
The project will focus on pilot actions in the City of Krk in Croatia and the Municipality of Lizzanello in Italy. Through cooperation between the two municipalities and the wider partnership, DYGOV aims to develop a model that can be adapted to different local contexts and provide a basis for more continuous and inclusive youth engagement.
As the project progresses, preparations for its planned activities will help establish the foundations for this approach. The involvement of young people and relevant stakeholders will be important in shaping participation methods and ensuring that the project's tools respond to real community needs.
By placing young people at the centre of its approach, DYGOV seeks to strengthen the relationship between younger generations and public institutions, encourage active citizenship and support a more inclusive model of local governance. Through the cooperation of all four partners, the project aims to help ensure that young people are not only affected by decisions concerning their communities, but also have meaningful opportunities to contribute to them.
