1.6 Evidence-based youth policy
Political commitment to evidence-based youth policy
The political commitment to evidence-based youth policy has been clearly stated in the Law on Youth in Montenegro, which stipulated that youth policy is created, implemented and promoted on the basis of real needs of young people, empirical and practical knowledge on the situation of young people, research and regular monitoring and evaluation of the situation of youth, with their active involvement in this process (Article 3). Furthermore, the law includes scientific knowledge among the principles of youth policy (Article 7).
The old Youth Strategy 2017-2021 therefore set an example of best practice in applying innovative, inclusive and participatory approaches to strategic planning focused on better outcomes for young people. In order to operationalize the Framework for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Strategy (defining baseline and target values for 52 indicators), initial consultations were conducted with MONSTAT – Official Statistical Agency on the introduction of those indicators that are not included in the official statistics, monitoring indicators for youth established by the EUROSTAT.As mentioned earlier, monitoring of the implementation of action plans of the Strategy is provided through a Co-ordination Cross Sectoral Body composed of representatives of various relevant government departments, which is also responsible for preparing a draft of reports on the realization of action plans. The Co-ordination Body meets at the annual seminar to evaluate the results achieved in the implementation of activities from the previous year and to propose activities for the development of a new action plan for the coming period. In order to improve statistical visibility of youth population in Montenegro, MONSTAT issues annual reports (https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/6da83e73-9bd0-4ccb-801f-731865b60d77) in accordance with the indicators of youth policy, accompanied by Eurostat.
Recently, the former Directorate for Sports and Youth, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Office in Podgorica), conducted mapping of priority areas for the development of new youth strategic documents (May 2021). This includes consultations and qualitative research with relevant stakeholders aiming to gather opinions on short-term and long-term priorities in the field of youth policy and youth work. The research, which was conducted through focus groups, consultative meetings and online questionnaires, involved 68 participants.
By the end of 2021, the UNDP Office in Podgorica will also conduct research and assessment of the local policies pertaining to youth and youth perceptions/needs in 15 local self-governments (LSGs) in the framework of the Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2). The ultimate goal of the research is to provide comprehensive bases for developing local youth policy that will keep the younger population in their hometowns and offer them better living conditions. The final report will aim to encompass the key findings and recommendations in the area of youth policy and youth needs/perceptions in each of the targeted local governments, including areas of education, employment, free time, youth services, youth participation, etc. Special emphasis will be laid on assessing needs of socially excluded youth, youth with disabilities, youth belonging to minority groups, dropouts from the education system, NEET (not in education, employment and training) youth while all data, analytics and recommendations should be gender disaggregated. These findings and recommendations will serve as a basis for implementation of the forthcoming project’s activities that will be focusing on efficiently engaging and equipping youth with the knowledge and skills needed to become equal partners and change agents in the targeted local self-governments, while providing them with opportunities to apply for an internship programme that will provide professional training for gaining basic knowledge and skills in their communities.
Cooperation between policy-making and research
Cooperation between policy makers and researchers directly is not developed to a large extent. There are several reasons that are considered as potential obstacles when it comes to this type of cooperation, and they relate to the absence of research units within state bodies, as well as unplanned adequate funds from state and local institutions for this type of activity, while state and local institutions rely on help from other organizations, especially international ones that can offer expert support in a more efficient way.
Bearing in mind the strategic documents and programs that were implemented in the past period by the department responsible for youth policy, evaluations of previous ones and research for the development of new strategic documents were predominantly done by the UN System in Montenegro.
National statistic and available data resources
In order to operationalize the Framework for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Strategy (defining baseline and target values for 52 indicators), initial consultations were conducted with MONSTAT – Official Statistical Agency on the introduction of those indicators that are not included in the official statistics, monitoring indicators for youth established by the EUROSTAT, as well as defining a methodology for monitoring indicators for which there is no developed methodology. In order to improve statistical visibility of youth population in Montenegro, MONSTAT issues annual reports in accordance with the indicators of youth policy, accompanied by Eurostat.
Information on the latest official surveys related to education, health, employment, participation in the life of society, political participation can be found at the following link.
Budgetary allocations supporting research in the youth field
Information not available at the moment.