Divjaka Municipality, a key participant in the project “Increasing and Strengthening the Role of Youth in Local Decision-Making Processes,” recently hosted the first focus group organized by the Institute for Strategic Development (ISD). The initiative aims to empower and enhance the effectiveness of Youth Municipal Councils in local governance.
Key issues identified during the focus group include:
- Enhancing Awareness and Information: There is a significant need to improve awareness among youth about their roles and responsibilities within the Youth Municipal Councils. Educating young members about their duties and the impact of their participation is crucial for effective involvement.
- Conducting Preliminary Consultations: The focus group underscored the importance of carrying out preliminary consultations to develop short-term plans. These plans should outline priorities, objectives, recommendations, and activities, ensuring a clear direction for future actions.
- Implementing Informative and Advocacy Campaigns: There is a need to launch campaigns aimed at increasing youth engagement and involvement with the Youth Municipal Council. Such initiatives will help to attract more young people to participate actively in council activities.
- Creating a Communication Strategy: The group emphasized the importance of establishing and promoting a communication strategy for the Youth Municipal Council. This strategy will facilitate systematic presentation and dissemination of the council’s activities and achievements to the public.
- Strengthening Monitoring and Accountability: Enhancing the Youth Municipal Council’s role in monitoring, accountability, and transparency of local governance structures was recognized as a priority. This will help ensure that the council effectively oversees and holds local structures accountable.
- Promoting Collaboration with Other Municipalities: Finally, the need to foster collaboration with other municipalities that have successful practices regarding youth involvement was discussed. Learning from and partnering with other municipalities can provide valuable insights and improve effectiveness.
These points will guide the subsequent phases of the project, focusing on providing organizational and functional support to the Youth Municipal Council in Divjake. The aim is to empower the council, enhance its role in local decision-making, and promote active youth participation in municipal governance.
