Ukraine, in co-operation with the Council of Europe, demonstrates significant progress in the implementation of participatory youth policy.
On 22 October 2026 an online presentation of the achievements of the advanced training programme “Participatory Youth Policy” was held. The programme has been implemented in Ukraine for the fourth year and helps civil servants and local self-government officials to promote youth participation in the formation and implementation of youth policy, taking into account the standards and approaches of the Council of Europe.
The presentation was attended by specialists in the field of professional training of civil servants and local self-government officials, representatives of structural units responsible for youth policy, youth councils and youth centres of all levels.
The results are impressive: in 2024-2026, trained trainers implemented 42 advanced training programmes for 1342 civil servants, local self-government officials, scientists and educators in Ukraine.
The presented programme allows us to effectively respond to the needs of young people in Ukraine, said Nataliia Rudnytska, Deputy Head of the Youth Policy Department, Head of the Department for Support of Social Formation of Youth of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, opening the presentation.
Valentina Falco, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, briefly presented the activities of the Office within the framework of the current Action Plan “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026 and stressed that even in extremely difficult times for the country, it is important to continue working together for the sake of Ukrainian youth. “We count on your support, dedication and inspiration to ensure voices of young people across Ukraine are heard, especially at this critical juncture for their country”, she said.
Liudmyla Lukianova, member of the Supervisory Board of the Ukrainian Association of Youth Councils, emphasized that the training of officials ensures more effective participation of young people at the local level, thanks to which youth councils become active participants in democratic processes.
Trainers* of educational and practical course shared their experience of conducting trainings based on the Model Programme:
The Council of Europe developed “Participatory Youth Policy” programme in 2023 together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and the Ukrainian Youth Councils Association. On 18 September 2023, the National Agency approved on its basis a Model general short-term professional development programme “Participatory Youth Policy”. Subsequently, within the framework of this programme, the Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III and IV" developed a training and practical course, created manual, conducted three trainings for trainers in 2023, 2025 and 2026 years, prepared a series of videos of youth participation practices, supported the trainers team with mentoring and expert assistance, held consolidation meeting and public presentation of the key achievements of the programme.
The presentation was organised by the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV” together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and the Ukrainian Youth Councils Association. Learn more about the course.
The Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV" is being implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026. More information about the project, including news, youth resources and open calls for participation in the project, can be found here.
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The Council of Europe Office in Ukraine would like to thank the following trainers of educational and practical course who shared their experience of conducting trainings based on the Model Programme “Participatory Youth Policy”:
- Iryna Tsikul, Chernivtsi Regional Centre for Advanced Training, PhD in Political Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Yu. Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University,
- Olena Babenko, Poltava Regional Centre for Advanced Training, PhD in Economic Sciences,
- Liudmyla Gumenna, Zhytomyr Regional Centre for Advanced Training,
- Tetiana Shestakovska, Vyacheslav Golub, Oleksandra Sakun, Chernihiv Regional Centre for Advanced Training, Private Postgraduate Educational Institution “Institute of Professional Transformations”,
- Volodymyr Azovskyi, Inhouse Consulting (LLC “IN K”),
- Yevheniia Kryvosheienko, Sumy Regional Centre for Advanced Training, Head of the Youth Centre of Sumy State University,
- Lesia Tykhonchuk, National University of Water and Environmental Management,
- Yuliia Mazur, U-LEAD with Europe Programme,
- Tetiana Andriychuk, Kyiv-Mohyla School of Governance, Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Higher School of Public Administration,
- Iryna Nikolina, Vinnytsia Institute of Trade and Economics of the State University of Trade and Economics, PhD in Public Administration, Associate Professor of the Department of Management and Public Administration.
