Evidence-based Policy Making for Youth Well-being

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) observes that, of the 1.2 billion youth population aged 15-24, close to 90% of these young people live in developing countries. If properly nurtured, they can act as engines for economic and social progress. Hence, the political will has grown among many national governments to develop comprehensive policy frameworks that better respond to young people's needs and aspirations through national youth policies.

This toolkit, which emerged from an OECD Development Centre project on youth inclusion (2014-2017), provides analytical tools and policy guidance to countries that are developing, implementing, or updating their youth policies. It consists of step-by-step modules to carry out a youth well-being diagnosis and includes practical examples of youth policies and programmes in the areas of employment, education and skills, health, and civic participation.

The toolkit is divided into two parts: Part I presents the conceptual framework that underlines the toolkit and describes the different challenges and needs of youth as they go through transitions in life. A life cycle approach recognises that adverse and unequal youth outcomes are often attributable to circumstances at birth and during early childhood. The framework also emphasises the multi-dimensionality of youth well-being and the causal linkages between the different dimensions. An inventory of common youth policies and programmes, including concrete international examples, follows.

Part II, which is intended for technical experts and policy analysts, provides a step-by-step methodological guide to carry out in-depth analyses on the situation of youth and to profile vulnerable youth using empirical evidence. It includes six modules that can be used at different phases in the policymaking cycle:

• Module 1 proposes a series of indicators, adapted from the OECD well-being framework, to measure deficits in selected well-being dimensions and introduces a new indicator to estimate the extent of youth multi-dimensional deprivation (Y-MDI).
• Module 2 explains how to establish a profile of disadvantaged youth by identifying the determinants of poor well-being outcomes.
• Module 3 presents tools to assess the policy and institutional environment, drawing specific attention to the interplay between policies, institutions, social norms, and youth well-being.
• Module 4 presents tools to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of youth interventions and programmes.
• Module 5 introduces ways to calculate the costs of inaction and youth exclusion.
• Module 6 presents approaches to support the voices of young people in national decision-making processes. This module looks at youth participation in policymaking processes via associations (often designated as "informal participation"), which stands in contrast to traditional avenues of civic participation (e.g., voting and party affiliation). Youth participation in policymaking processes is an action-oriented process involving young people in institutions, initiatives, and decisions, and affording them control over resources that affect their lives. Several examples are provided that illustrate different levels and forms of youth participation in the policymaking cycle. The set of skills and competences needed for successful participation in the policymaking process can be grouped into under i) political literacy; ii) democratic attitudes and values; and iii) critical thinking. Selected key recommendations for successful youth participation:
  • Have clear expectations on the purpose and possibilities of youth participation.
  • Provide training and support for young people.
  • Provide training and support for adult decision makers to help them engage with young people and listen to their views.
  • Provide young people with jargon-free information that is accessible to them.
  • Ensure hard-to-reach groups of young people are aware of and encouraged to be part of projects. Consider their specific needs.
  • Ensure meetings are accessible (times and locations).
  • Make participation voluntary and do not expect long-term commitment.
  • Allow adequate time for participation (to mature).
  • value the input of young people; take their views seriously and give clear feedback on the impact of their contribution.
  • Manage the expectations of young people. Ensure clear and transparent communication about the limits of their involvement.
  • Make sure there is the necessary financial commitment to youth participation.
  • Set up systems for reviewing and continuously improving the process.
  • Recognise young people's contribution and input (e.g. a certificate of achievement).

This toolkit is intended to help governments better monitor and evaluate youth-specific programmes and improve policies dedicated to youth using evidence. Country reviews carried out by the above-mentioned project using this toolkit identify gaps in youth well-being that can help advocates communicate to urge more investment in youth projects and programmes. A common approach to youth diagnosis will provide comparable data, allowing countries to share good practices and exchange information on policies that work or not. According to OECD, evidence-based analysis is necessary to improve youth policymaking in both developing and advanced economies.