e-Bozhurishte: Digital Youth Participation in Public Policy at the Municipal Level
This Project innovates the theme of Youth Participation as e-Youth Participation in Public Policy as e-Public Policy at Municipal Level as e-Municipalities within the context of (1) the second objective of the EU Youth Strategy - to encourage young people to actively participate in society; (2) Revised Charter on Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life; (3) The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE); (4) Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe & Municipalities Involvement; (5) The “Digital Local Agenda”, the “DAE going local”; (6) eMunicipalities Without Borders, as well as the strategies, law and regulation available in the project partners countries.
Context/Background
We bridge four main areas of knowledge, practice, skills and experience – the “Digital” – “Youth Participation” – “Public Policy” – “Local Governance”.
Participation/Public participation is a political principle, practice, and right (right to public participation).
The principle of public participation holds that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process. Generally public participation seeks and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision. Youth Participation in Public Policy seeks and facilitates the involvement of young people potentially affected by particular public policy or interested in a decision. Youth Public participation implies that the youth's contribution will influence the decision. Public participation has become a central principle of public policy making.
In the EU counties, all levels of government, including local – municipalities, have started to build citizen and stakeholder engagement into their policy-making processes. Public policy is a vehicle for youth action.
We believe that more knowledge of youth participation and action in municipal public policy related to youth through education and training via strategic partnership in transfer of innovation and exchange of good practices will contribute to the quality of municipal public policy relevant to youth and this field of practices.
Young people should participate in public policy at municipal level. They should identify public policy issues that concern them, organize for action, build support for program implementation. They should know about public policy process in which they can trigger change, about how public policy can be used as a tool and a way to achieve their goals.
Youth Participation, Public Policy and Municipalities will be extended with the development of e-government and the “Digital”. The EU defines electronic government as the use of information and communication technologies in public administrations - combined with organizational change and new skills - to improve public services and democratic processes and to strengthen support to public policies.
There are three HOW we need to KNOW and meet in our project Digital Youth Participation in Public Policy. The how of government (e-government), the how of local authorities (e-municipalities), the how of youth participation (e-youth participation).
There is a lack of knowledge, education and innovation for all these three within the great debates about youth, youth participation and public policy in Europe. Our project is innovative to other projects already carried out due to original answer of the question about “Know How” - How to Know More, How to Learn and Educate Digital Youth Participation in Public Policy. The EU defines electronic government as the use of information and communication technologies in public administrations - combined with organizational change and new skills - to improve public services and democratic processes and to strengthen support to public policies.
At local level, youth shall be established and engaged in public policy process. Municipalities shall adopt the Revised Charter on Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.
Although, The National Youth Strategy (2010-2020) declares that ‘the care for young people is the most important national cause, in order to provide European Development of Bulgaria,” it is observed in the document that “the dialogue with young people at national, regional, district and local level on matters affecting them is not structured yet, unlike the established European models of representation through national, regional and local youth councils.” Under the section 13 from the National Youth Strategy (2010-2020), is underlined that “It is necessary the active involvement of municipalities in the planning and implementation of policies for young people, as well as closer cooperation between the different sectoral authorities in planning, implementation and evaluation of youth policies at central and district level.” The participation of young people in the management of youth policy at national, regional, district and municipal level is not sufficiently effective.”
The Strategy observes that “despite the massive influx of information technology in everyday life and work, access to information for young people is still limited. Despite the sustainable development of the network of Youth Information and Counseling Centers (YICC), it is necessary to improve their capacity and quality of services offered by them. State and municipal authorities do not provide effective mechanisms for taking into account the opinion of the young people in making political and social decisions that concern them.
We argue that more knowledge of youth participation, as subject of this project will contribute to the growth of youth participation in public policy making as field of practice. Public policy is a vehicle for youth action.
There is a credibility gap that exist between youth and public policy makers. Our Project aims: to build credibility between youth affected by public policy, policy makers; to identify public concerns and values related with youth; to develop consensus among the impacted parties; to produce better decisions related with youth; to enhance democratic practice.