Donor

The project "Youth Voice for Changes" is funded by the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme through the Civic Engagement and Transparency Facility (CETF) 2024–2029.

Reference number

CETF -n/ GFL1 - 50/ 2026

Lead partner

Free Youth Centre, Vidin, Bulgaria

Аssociated partners

Youth Centre, Montana, Bulgaria
Youth Cente, Vratsa, Bulgaria

Territorial scope

North-Western Bulgaria

Duration

12 months (August 15,2026 – August 14, 2027)

Project overall objective

To strengthen the participation of young people in the development, monitoring and improvement of local youth policies by building their capacity for civic engagement, introducing a youth-led methodology for civic monitoring, creating accessible digital participation tools, and establishing structured dialogue between young people and local authorities in the municipalities of Vidin, Montana and Vratsa.

Summary of the project

The project "Youth Voice for Change" aims to strengthen meaningful youth participation in local decision-making and to improve the quality, transparency and responsiveness of municipal youth policies. The project is based on the understanding that young people should not only be beneficiaries of youth policies, but should also have the knowledge, tools and opportunities to assess them, express their views and participate in shaping future decisions.

The project will be implemented in the municipalities of Vidin, Montana and Vratsa and will actively involve young people as "agents of change". They will be selected and prepared to participate in the different stages of the project, including the development and application of a civic monitoring methodology, youth research, data collection, discussions and advocacy activities.

A central element of the project is the development of a methodology for civic monitoring of local youth policies. The methodology will combine an assessment of municipal youth policies against European standards with youth research reflecting the needs, opinions and experiences of young people. Standards, criteria, indicators and assessment tools will be adapted to the local context and used to produce evidence-based assessments and recommendations.

The project will also create the online platform "The Voice of Young People", designed as an accessible digital channel through which young people can participate in surveys, express opinions, submit ideas and provide feedback to local authorities. The platform will be tested with young people and accompanied by guidance and training for its administration, supporting its continued use after the end of the project.

During the implementation of the civic monitoring methodology, young people and project experts will collect and analyse information from surveys, interviews, focus groups and official municipal documents. Separate assessments of youth policies and youth research reports will be prepared for each of the three target municipalities. The project foresees at least 450 primary data sources, 3 municipal youth policy assessments and 3 youth research reports.

The results and recommendations will then be presented to local authorities, youth organisations, institutions and other stakeholders through local round tables and a concluding working meeting. These activities will support dialogue on how the recommendations can be incorporated into municipal youth planning and will seek concrete commitments for improving local youth policies.

Expected results:

young people in Vidin, Montana and Vratsa actively involved as "agents of change";
improved knowledge and practical skills of young people for civic participation and monitoring of public policies;
a methodology for civic monitoring of local youth policies developed and applied; a functioning online platform "The Voice of Young People" created as a channel for participation and feedback;
youth research and systematic collection of evidence carried out in the three municipalities;
3 assessments of municipal youth policies and 3 youth research reports prepared;
evidence-based recommendations for improving local youth policies formulated; local round tables and advocacy activities conducted with young people, institutions and local authorities;
strengthened dialogue between young people and municipal authorities; improved transparency, accountability and youth participation in local youth policy development.

Project budget

56.506,96 EUR

Prepared with the support of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme, Civic Engagement and Transparency Facility (CETF) 2024–2029. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the governments of Switzerland and Bulgaria.