Home | News | 25.06.2026

Written by: Riste Kostovski, Master of Economics and Economic Researcher

 

The expectations and trust of young people in policymakers and in the very concept of policies are key to the implementation of policies and to the use of the measures by young people. Youth policies and strategies are key to creating a climate in which young people can develop. In addition to the planning and implementation model for youth policies and strategies, the expectations and trust of young people as the target group and beneficiaries of these plans and policies are also important. Their importance stems from the two-way relationship in which policies create expectations, and expectations, in turn, are important for the successful implementation of policies. In this regard, policies are significant for stabilising the expectations of young people, and stable expectations are important for the acceptance and use of the measures and policies.

 

Policies are, in essence, instruments for achieving specific goals. They determine the direction of the measures and activities through which certain missions, visions and objectives are to be achieved. In the context of youth policies, they are documents and plans that seek to realise the established goals of youth development. For the successful implementation of policies, lower-level strategies are required, as well as action plans through which specific activities and steps will be carried out. In order to ensure a good operationalisation of the projects, in which specific activities and events are defined, inclusivity is needed throughout the entire planning process. Inclusivity increases trust and the perception of the credibility of the policies themselves. Such a perception, when implementing policy models, strategies, plans and projects, results in greater acceptance and use by young people.

Subtitle: Focus on youth development in Macedonia

 

One of the main tenets of any government's development policy should be the development of young people. This objective is of paramount importance for stabilising demographic trends and improving the situation on the labour market. First and foremost, it is necessary to stabilise the expectations of young people. To this end, it is essential to increase capital investments aimed at young people, as well as non-budgetary funds for supporting youth organisations.

 

Prudent and effective budget management is essential for strengthening the capacity of municipalities to collaborate with youth organisations. In this context, in order to increase young people's satisfaction, it is important to focus on greater and more effective availability of services aimed at them. In this way, it will increase the motivation for youth activism and the desire of young people to get involved in decision-making processes.

To this end, it is necessary to improve the planning processes for youth policies and strategies themselves, as well as to ensure continuity in their implementation. This is necessary to increase efficiency and effectiveness, as well as to have a positive impact on young people's trust in the policies created, which is crucial for increasing their satisfaction.

The article is published by "Avangarda", the student newsletter of the University Communication Centre at the University "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Skopje – a virtual space where student ideas, challenges and successes find a voice, visibility and the opportunity to inspire positive change in the academic community.