ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION-MAKING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES (USING THE EXAMPLE OF MYKOLAIV TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34132/pard2026.31.12Keywords:
youth policy, local self-government, decision-making, youth participation, youth councils, civic engagement, management efficiency, territorial communityAbstract
The article presents a comprehensive study of the mechanisms and tools for involving youth in decision-making processes at the local government level in the context of decentralization and civil society development. The importance of active youth participation as a key resource for the socio-economic development of territorial communities and improving the quality of public administration is substantiated. The author analyzes modern national and international approaches to the formation and implementation of youth policy, as well as existing methods for assessing its effectiveness at the local level. The paper proposes a comprehensive approach to determining the effectiveness of interaction between local government bodies and the youth community, which combines quantitative and qualitative indicators. Particular attention is paid to the activities of youth councils as an institutional mechanism for representing the interests of young people, the use of e-democracy tools, in particular electronic petitions, consultations and online surveys, as well as participatory budgeting practices as a form of direct participation of young citizens in the distribution of local resources. The article identifies and substantiates a system of key performance indicators (KPI), which allows for a comprehensive assessment of not only the level and forms of youth involvement in local governance processes, but also the real impact of their participation on the adoption of management decisions, the formation of local policy and the socio-economic development of territorial communities. The proposed indicators cover the institutional, organizational and social dimensions of youth participation, which allows for a more objective and comparable analysis of the effectiveness of youth policy. Based on the analysis, practical recommendations have been formulated for improving the youth participation strategy, aimed at strengthening inclusiveness, transparency and efficiency of interaction, which, in turn, will contribute to ensuring the sustainable development of local self-government and strengthening trust between authorities and youth.
References
Aketina, O.V., Hromadska, N. A. (2014). Suchasni osoblyvosti politychnoi komunikatsii ta yii proiavy v informatsiinomu suspilstvi [Modern features of political communication and its manifestations in the information society]. Naukovi pratsi [Chornomorskoho derzhavnoho universytetu imeni Petra Mohyly kompleksu «Kyievo-Mohylianska akademiia»]. Seriia : Politolohiia. T. 248, Vyp. 236. Retrieved from: https://politics.chdu.edu.ua/article/view/55595 [in Ukrainian].
2.Akimova, T. (2021). Zaluchennia molodi do pryiniattia rishen: orhanizatsiino-upravlinskyi aspekt [Involving youth in decision-making: organizational and managerial aspect]. Naukovi perspektyvy. № 5(11). Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
3.Andriiash, V.I., Hromadska, N. (2020). Efektyvnist pryiniattia derzhavno-upravlinskykh rishen: osoblyvosti vykorystannia politychnoho analizu [Effectiveness of state and managerial decision-making: features of using political analysis]. Publichne upravlinnia ta rehionalnyi rozvytok. № 8. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
4.Hromadska, N. (2024). Analitychni tsentry v suchasnii Ukraini: vyklyky ta perspektyvy rozvytku [Think Tanks in Modern Ukraine: Challenges and Development Prospects]. Publichne upravlinnia ta rehionalnyi rozvytok. № 24. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
5.Hromadska, N. A. (2023). Sotsialnyi dialoh yak instrument vyrishennia problem molodizhnoi zainiatosti v Ukraini v umovakh viiny [Social Dialogue as a Tool for Solving Youth Employment Problems in Ukraine in Wartime]. Publichne upravlinnia ta rehionalnyi rozvytok. № 20. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
6. Yemelianov, V. M., Shtyrov, O. M., Verba, S. M., Yaroshenko, L. S. (2020) Liderski yakosti na derzhavnii sluzhbi: problemni pytannia [Leadership Qualities in the Civil Service: Problematic Issues]. Publichne upravlinnia ta rehionalnyi rozvytok. № 10. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
7.Yemelianov, V.M. (2012). Rozvytok partnerskykh vidnosyn biznesu i vlady v systemi derzhavnoho upravlinnia stalym rozvytkom Ukrainy: teoriia, metodolohiia, praktyka : monohrafiia [Development of partnership relations between business and government in the system of public administration of sustainable development of Ukraine: theory, methodology, practice: monograph]. Mykolaiv : Yemelianova T. V. 419 s. [in Ukrainian].
8. Yemelianov, V.M., Shemchuk, Yu.V., Andriiash, V.I. (2016). Vzaiemodiia orhaniv mistsevoho samovriaduvannia z terytorialnoiu hromadoiu: komunikatyvnyi aspekt [Interaction of local government bodies with the territorial community: communicative aspect]. Naukovi pratsi : naukovo-metodychnyi zhurnal. Vyp. 255. T.267. Derzhavne upravlinnia. Mykolaiv : Vyd-vo ChDU im. Petra Mohyly. S. 66-73. [in Ukrainian].
9. Ivanii, O. (2025). Mekhanizmy zaluchennia hromadskosti do stratehichnoho upravlinnia terytorialnymy hromadamy v umovakh detsentralizatsii [Mechanisms of public involvement in strategic management of territorial communities in the context of decentralization]. Teoretychni ta prykladni pytannia derzhavotvorennia. № 33. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
10. Leuta, O.S., Psota, O.V. (2018). Elektronni petytsii yak novyi mekhanizm komunikatsii vlady ta suspilstva [Electronic petitions as a new mechanism of communication between government and society]. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
11. Lushahina, T., Soloviova, A. (2021). Osoblyvosti vzaiemodii molodi z orhanamy derzhavnoi vlady ta mistsevoho samovriaduvannia [Peculiarities of youth interaction with state authorities and local self-government bodies]. Naukovyi zhurnal «POLITYKUS». Vypusk 2. S. 47-52. [in Ukrainian].
12. Malikina, O., Hromadska, N., Andriiash, V. I. (2021) Otsiniuvannia derzhavno-upravlinskykh rishen: modeli ta kryterii [Evaluation of state and administrative decisions: models and criteria]. Derzhavne upravlinnia: udoskonalennia ta rozvytok. № 9. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
13. Metodolohiia otsinky hromadianskoi uchasti u pryiniatti politychnykh rishen na rivni terytorialnykh hromad (2024). [Methodology for assessing civic participation in political decision-making at the level of territorial communities]. Hromadska orhanizatsiia «Ievropeiskyi dialoh». Lviv : HO «Ievropeiskyi dialoh». Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
14. Ministerstvo molodi ta sportu Ukrainy. Blyzko 40% molodykh liudei vymusheno zminyly svoie postiine mistse prozhyvannia (2023) [Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. About 40% of young people were forced to change their permanent place of residence]. Uriadovyi portal. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
15. Palahniuk, Yu. V., Faichuk, O. L., Kostieva, T. B. (2019). Osoblyvosti sotsialnoi aktyvnosti molodi Ukrainy v umovakh yevrointehratsii [Peculiarities of social activity of Ukrainian youth in the context of European integration]. Teoriia ta praktyka derzhavnoho upravlinnia i mistsevoho samovriaduvannia. № 2. Retrieved from: https://el-zbirn-du.at.ua/2019_2/20.pdf [in Ukrainian].
16. Solovykh V., Radionova L., Karotieieva H. (2015) Hromadska uchast yak odyn z bazovykh elementiv partysypatyvnoi demokratii [Public participation as one of the basic elements of participatory democracy]. Tsyfrovyi repozytorii KhNAMH. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
17. Susskind, L., & Carson, L. (2008). The IAP2 Spectrum: Larry Susskind, in Conversation with IAP2 Members. International Journal of Public Participation. № 2 (2). P. 67-84. [in English].
18. Torkhova N., Andriiash V. (2018) Komunikatsiina stratehiia yak instrument formuvannia zviazkiv z hromadskistiu u sferi publichnoho upravlinnia: osoblyvosti zastosuvannia v orhanakh pravosuddia [Communication strategy as a tool for forming public relations in the sphere of public administration: features of application in judicial bodies]. Publichne upravlinnia ta rehionalnyi rozvytok. № 2. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
19. Shyshpanova N.O. (2024) Zaluchennia molodi do publichnoi sfery rehioniv: propozytsii efektyvnykh modelei kariernoho rozvytku [Involving youth in the public sphere of regions: proposals for effective career development models]. Ahrosvit. № 22. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
20. Shulha, A.A, Yemelianov, V. M. (2017) Normatyvno-pravove zabezpechennia reformuvannia mistsevoho samovriaduvannia ta obiednannia terytorialnykh hromad v Ukraini [Regulatory and legal support for the reform of local self-government and the unification of territorial communities in Ukraine]. Naukovi pratsi [Chornomorskoho derzhavnoho universytetu imeni Petra Mohyly kompleksu «Kyievo-Mohylianska akademiia»]. Seriia : Derzhavne upravlinnia. T. 290, Vyp. 278. [in Ukrainian].
21. Yak sohodni formuietsia molodizhna polityka v hromadakh: tezy z bryfinhu meriv. Portal «Detsentralizatsiia» (2024). [How youth policy is formed in communities today: theses from the mayors' briefing. Portal «Decentralization»]. Retrieved from: [in Ukrainian].
22. Nadiia Torkhova, Viktoriia Аndriiash, Alexander Yevtushenko, Oksana Malikina. Organizational forms of Public relations and media management in the Justice system of Ukrainian. Viešoji politika ir administravimas public policy and administration. 2020, T. 19, №. 4 / 2020, Vol. 19, № 4, p. 169-182. Retrieved from:
.png)
.png)
