In Portugal, the Minister of Youth and Modernisation holds the highest authority for youth policy. The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ, I.P.) functions as the executive and operational body responsible for implementing youth policies (see Section 1.4).

Given the cross-sectoral nature of youth policy, the involvement of multiple stakeholders, both public and private, across various sectors influencing young people's lives is essential. Effective policy design, implementation, and evaluation depend on inter-ministerial cooperation, ensuring the active participation of young people through representative structures and youth organisations. This participatory framework is institutionalised through advisory bodies such as the Youth Advisory Council, the Advisory Council of IPDJ, and municipal-level Youth City Councils (see also Sections 5.3 and 5.4).

In this context, the National Youth Council (CNJ) plays a crucial role in reinforcing this commitment. Its legal status mandates state consultation on all matters affecting young people, thereby strengthening the collaborative development of youth policies. Additionally, evidence-based policymaking remains a cornerstone of youth policy governance, ensuring that decisions are grounded in comprehensive research and data analysis.

To operationalise these principles, national youth plans are serving as policy instruments for ensuring the cross-sectoral implementation of youth policies. They reinforce the special protection of young people's rights, as stipulated in Article 70 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. Furthermore, the existing national youth plans are aligned with programmes and initiatives in the field of youth aiming to impact young people while ensuring that youth perspective is integrated into broader policy frameworks.