Structure of Decision-making

The Ministry of Education and Science ensure the development of the single national policy in the area of youth policy and coordinated implementation thereof, thus maintaining a system of measures for youth work. The Ministry of Education and Science:

• promote the cooperation of the authorities involved in the implementation of the youth policy and coherence of the activities in the area of youth policy at the national level;
• ensure the methodological management in the planning, implementation, and assessment of youth work of local governments;
• coordinate and organise the training and exchange of experience of the persons involved in youth work;
• develop international cooperation in the area of youth policy;
• take care that young people and the persons involved in youth work would have access to the information on the rights, obligations, opportunities, and responsibility of young people.

State administration institutions, upon implementing the youth policy according to their competence, shall evaluate the impact of the relevant sectoral policy on youth. State administration institutions in their activities shall provide youth organisations with an opportunity to engage in discussion of the decisions affecting the youth policy prior to the taking thereof.



The local governments shall plan youth work by developing the youth policy development planning documents of the local government. The local government shall ensure an institutional system for youth work. The local government shall ensure that youth organisations and youth initiative groups (informal and non-registered initiative groups, interest-related associations) have the opportunity to engage in the discussion of the decisions of the local government affecting the youth policy prior to the taking thereof. 

The Youth Advisory Council is an advisory institution established by the Cabinet the objective of which is to promote the development and implementation of the coordinated youth policy, and also the youth participation in decision-making and social life. Delegated representatives of the State administration, local governments, and youth organisations shall be included in the composition of the Youth Advisory Council. Delegated representatives of youth organisations shall form at least half of the composition of the Youth Advisory Council.

Main Themes

Youth policy in Latvia is developed based on the goals and priorities defined in the European Union and the Republic of Latvia's national development planning documents, as well as the competencies of persons involved in youth affairs as defined in the Youth Law in the field of youth policy. When planning youth policy, youth problems are assessed, factors that hinder the implementation of youth activities are identified, and accordingly the goals, tasks and measures taken to eliminate them and create favorable conditions for the development of young people's personality and their participation in social, political, economic and cultural life are identified. 

In the planning period of 2022-2027, the following action directions have been set out in the National Youth Strategy, which determine the thematic priorities of youth policy in this time period:

• Development and creation of a qualitative and sustainable system for working with youth;
• Promotion of broader and more active participation of young people;
• Encouragement of acquisition of skills and competencies necessary for the labor market and independent living;
• Promotion of inclusion for youth with fewer opportunities.

The Role of the National Agency for Youth

The Agency for International Programs for Youth (hereinafter referred to as the “Agency”) is subordinate to the Minister of Ministry. The main objective of the Agency is to promote youth voluntary service activities and mobility (e.g. with the EU, Eastern Partnership, MEDA countries, etc.). The Agency implements non-formal learning, information programs and projects targeted at youth and those working with youth, whilst supporting the link between non-formal learning and lifelong education.

The Agency works according to the State Administration Structure Law and Regulations (issued by the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers in the year 2012, 11th of December, No. 863)

The Agency makes it possible for young people to write projects, spreads interesting and useful information for young people about the available opportunities in Europe, supports exchanges of experience, provides consultations about project writing and ensures that young people are consulted.

Policy monitoring and evaluation

The National Youth Strategy and the The State Program for Youth Policy include sets of indicators that allow for the evaluation of progress in achieving youth policy objectives.

In 2023, the development of monitoring for Youth Policy and work with youth has been initiated. Monitoring of Youth Policy and work with youth will provide an opportunity to observe changes that occur along with the implementation of youth policy and work with youth at the national, regional, and municipal levels, and help evaluate trends in achieving the previously planned policy results. The results would not only provide data for policy impact analysis but would also allow conclusions to be drawn about what directions of work and objectives should be considered a priority in the next policy planning period.