On this page

1. Mechanisms and actors

Mechanisms and actors

The XXIV Constitutional Government of Portugal maintained a cross-sectoral approach to youth policy in its programme, with a designated Minister specifically responsible for youth affairs. This commitment is reflected in targeted measures for young people across various sectors.

The government is committed to investing in youth through interministerial coordination in areas that impact young people's lives, including education, employment, entrepreneurship, higher education, housing, birth rate, health, quality of life, sports, culture, environment, agriculture, transport, social security sustainability, poverty reduction, equality, inclusion, and migration.

The National Youth Plan II (PNJ II/ 2022-2024) served as the principal policy instrument to consolidate youth policies across these sectors. Its objective was to enhance the protection of young people’s rights, as established in Article 70 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic. The PNJ II ensured alignment between national youth policy and sector-specific plans and programmes while incorporating a youth perspective into broader policy instruments. Consequently, the PNJ II functioned as an intersectoral mechanism for coordinating youth policy in Portugal. 

For 2025 onwards, the National Youth Agenda is being built, aiming to integrate and streamline public youth policies in Portugal, promoting a comprehensive, dynamic and mobilizing vision.

The Advisory Council on Youth, established under Decree-Law No. 129/2015 of 9 July, serves as an advisory body to the Government member responsible for youth affairs. It plays a key role in promoting cross-sectoral coordination among ministries by bringing together representatives from various stakeholders in the youth sector.

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) also collaborates with IPDJ Advisory Council (Decree-Law No. 98/2001), which includes representatives from youth and sports sector entities. 

Several cross-sectoral programmes and actions are implemented using flexible working groups, tailored to specific objectives. Notable examples include:

• Cuida-te (Take Care of Yourself Programme): https://ipdj.gov.pt/o-programa - This programme promotes youth health and well-being through interministerial coordination. It addresses health determinants such as access to healthcare, health literacy, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, addiction prevention, and sexual health. The initiative involves multiple partners, including families, peers, schools, and communities.
• Youth Guarantee (Garantia Jovem): A programme targeting individuals under 30, providing opportunities in education, training, internships, or employment. It involves entities responsible for education, training, employment, social security, and youth affairs.
• Youth Parliament: Aimed at fostering political and civic participation among young people, this initiative is a partnership between the National Parliament, the Ministry of Education, IPDJ, the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities, and the Regional Directorates for Education and Youth in the Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira.

These mechanisms ensure a structured cross-sectoral approach to youth policy by fostering collaboration between ministries and other relevant entities at all levels of the decision-making process.