Drawer - Reference Framework

Reference Framework

The Reference Framework of competences for municipal youth participation in decision-making was developed through research between 2018-2020, involving nearly 200 municipal youth policy officers. It is built around 4 KEY TASKS that are essential for engaging young people in municipal decision-making: creating a supportive environment within the MUNICIPALITY, empowering YOUNG PEOPLE, developing policy, STRATEGY and structure, and of course MANAGING and validating it.

What are the Elements of the Framework?

There are 8 organisational environment elements in the bottom of the chart (with dark blue) showing an ideal situation that can be reference points for developing the conditions of meaningful and sustainable youth participation in municipal decisions.

Each one of the 4 KEY TASKS is divided into 6 competence elements: 2 values and attitudes, 2 knowledge-based elements and 2 skills (see explanation below) that contributes to the successful performance of the key competence. Practices show that the presence of these 24 competence elements in a municipality is a very important prerequisite of the evolution of the ideal organisational culture and supportive environment for meaningful youth participation.

Values and attitudes: There are always specific values and principles behind actions and policies. Everything we do is rooted in these values and reflects how a person or organisation considers and approaches other people or issues. Each TASK will be supported by 2 attitudes and values that you are expected to agree and identify with.

Knowledge: A competence requires the acquisition of relevant information, an understanding of various theories, the carrying out of research, the cognitive processing of this information, and an understanding of the relationship between the various elements. Each task will be supported by 2 knowledge sections, so that you can understand why, what and how things can be done.

Skills: In order to act, implement policy and achieve objectives, you need specific abilities. These abilities will empower you to be competent and effective in your implementation. Each task will be described via 2 specific skills.