Forthcoming policy developments

There was an important renewal of legislation regarding several youth policy programmes and initiatives. Programmes in the fields of health, training and holiday leisure times were subject to revision.

The National Youth Plan II, which ended in December 2024, was closely monitored and is being currently evaluated.

 In 2025 Portugal will have a new strategic document for the youth area, the National Youth Agenda (Agenda Nacional da Juventude), which aims to tackle the challenges faced by young people and create the conditions so that young people choose to build their future in the country.

The National Youth Work Strategy, which was developed in 2023 by IPDJ and is being consolidated during 2025, is expected to be published during the present year. The National Youth Work Strategy is expected to be a useful tool for youth organisations, municipalities and other entities working with and for young people, with the aim of promoting quality youth work activities, and contributing to the European Youth Work Agenda and the Council of Europe Recommendation on Youth Work CM/Rec(2017)4, in line with the main developments at European level on this matter.

IPDJ will also publish, during this year (2025), the report on the Strategic Guidelines for Promoting Youth Participation. In the process of drafting the report, multiple entities in the youth field were consulted, including the main platforms representing youth in Portugal, as well as a diverse group of young people, it being a participatory process in which young people and youth organisations played an active role. The report on the Strategic Guidelines for Promoting Youth Participation is expected to contribute not only to promoting the development of quality youth participation projects and initiatives, and to strengthening young people´s skills in civic and political participation, but also in developing quality activities and initiatives in youth work. Both this report and the National Youth Work Strategy are expected to contribute to the improvement of youth policies in Portugal at the national, regional, and local levels.

The National Agency for Qualification and Professional Education is reviewing and updating the National Qualifications Catalogue, including the youth worker professional profile, that will be upgraded to level 5. The new National Qualifications Catalogue and the new youth worker professional profile are expected to be published by the end of 2025. In the case of the new level 5 youth worker professional profile, the objective is to raise the qualifications and reinforce the skills of the youth workers, so that these professionals are better prepared to respond to the current problems and challenges that youth workers face, and provide an effective response to young people´s problems.

The Youth Development Academy, a space dedicated to the promotion and development of youth policies in which good practices and various experiences were shared, was held annually until 2019. The various editions of the Youth Development Academy were organised by IPDJ, in partnership with the Erasmus+ Youth/Sports and ESC National Agency, the National Youth Council and the National Federation of Youth Associations. The development and operationalisation of the Youth Development Academy appears as the second measure of the National Youth Work Strategy. The Youth Development Academy, with a new model and format, is scheduled to take place in 2025, on the theme of youth work. This Academy aims to be a civic space for developing and improving the quality of youth work, in a collaborative spirit between the various actors and stakeholders active in youth policy and youth work. The Youth Development Academy aims to be a collaborative space for sharing and developing youth work, bringing together the different national actors working on the topic.

Ongoing Debates

In addition to developing the new level 5 youth worker professional profile, expected by mid-2025, there is a debate on introducing a higher education course in youth work. Experts agree that such a course would enhance qualifications and skills, better preparing professionals for current challenges. IPDJ is discussing this possibility with Portuguese universities.

Law no. 8/2009, amended by Law no. 6/2012, established the legal regime for Municipal Youth Councils which advise on youth policy. Despite the requirement for all municipalities to have these councils, many have not yet created them. Given their importance, there is a debate on amending the law to improve their format, composition, and competences. IPDJ is considering a review of this law soon.

Priority areas include youth employment, mental health, housing access, favourable taxation, and retaining skilled young people in Portugal.