YOUTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS IN TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The article substantiates the relevance of studying the challenges and prospects for the development of youth policy in Ukraine’s territorial communities under the conditions of decentralization, martial law, and post-war reconstruction.It emphasizes that modern youth policy is one of the key directions of public governance, contributing to human capital formation, social cohesion, and democratic participation of young people in community life. The implementation of youth policy at the local level faces a number of challenges – personnel, financial, institutional, and communicative – while opening new opportunities through decentralization, digitalization, and European integration. The article draws upon scientific studies, analytical reports of the Council of Europe, USAID DOBRE, IBSER, and U-LEAD, as well as practical cases from Ukrainian communities. A systemic approach was used to analyze youth policy as a public process combining governmental, civil, and international initiatives. It is determined that youth policy is a strategic investment in community development and requires institutional capacity, sustainable funding, cross-sectoral cooperation, and active youth par- ticipation in decision-making. It is emphasized that improving the effectiveness of youth policy in territorial communities is possible only if there is a shift from a declarative approach to a systemic governance model based on cross-sectoral interaction, professionalization of personnel, and continuous monitoring of results. The successful experience of certain Ukrainian communities and international programs confirms that strategic investments in youth yield tangible social outcomes – from reducing migration rates to increasing civic engagement. The study concludes that effective youth policy implementation is possible through a comprehensive approach, development of youth infrastructure, partnership between local authorities, civil society, and international programs, and the introduction of modern tools of e-participation.