In Montenegro, youth participation is a cornerstone of the national youth policy. Rather than a standalone document, the strategy to increase participation is integrated into the primary national framework: the National Strategy for Youth 2023–2027.

Scope and Main Objectives

The National Strategy for Youth 2023–2027, adopted by the Government of Montenegro, serves as the roadmap for improving the status of young people (aged 15–30). The strategy is built upon several strategic goals, with Strategic Goal 2 explicitly dedicated to participation:

• "Young people are active citizens, involved in the development, implementation, and monitoring of public policies."

This goal aims to tackle the historically low levels of trust in institutions and the limited involvement of youth in formal decision-making processes.

Key Elements of Youth Participation in the Strategy

The Strategy outlines several specific operational objectives to enhance participation:

1. Strengthening institutional mechanisms - The strategy focuses on revitalizing the Council for Youth, a high-level advisory body that ensures youth representatives have a direct seat at the table with government ministers. It emphasizes the "co-management" principle between the state and youth NGOs.
2. Developing youth services (Youth Clubs and Centers) - Participation is fostered at the grassroots level through Youth Services. These physical spaces are designed to be hubs for non-formal education, civic activism, and volunteerism, providing young people with the tools to initiate local changes.
3. Local level  participation - The Strategy mandates that local self-governments develop and implement Local Youth Action Plans (LYAPs). This decentralizes youth policy, allowing young people to participate in decision-making within their own municipalities.
4. Inclusivity and vulnerable groups - A significant portion of the strategy is dedicated to increasing the participation of "hard-to-reach" youth, including those from rural areas, the Roma and Egyptian communities, and youth with disabilities, ensuring that participation is not limited to urban or highly educated populations.

Implementation and Responsible Bodies

The Ministry of Sports and Youth is the primary body responsible for coordinating the strategy. Implementation is carried out through biennial Action Plans, such as the Action Plan for 2025-2026, which allocates specific budgets for:

• Grant schemes for NGOs focusing on political literacy and civic engagement.

• Training for Youth Administrators to facilitate participation at the local level.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring is conducted by the Ministry of Sports and Youth in collaboration with the National Youth Network of Montenegro (Mreža za mlade), which acts as an independent watchdog. Furthermore, international organizations like UNICEF Montenegro and UNDP provide technical support and external monitoring to ensure that participation targets, such as the number of youth involved in public consultations are met.