Engaging Young People in the Policy Change Process

This report evaluates the 'Next Generation Policy Directions' project, which trained young researchers from seven developing countries to integrate information society and sustainable development policies. It finds that while youth can directly influence national ICT strategies and bridge policy gaps due to their interdisciplinary flexibility, they require strong institutional support and tailored gender-inclusive strategies to be effective. Key success factors included 'learning by doing' and providing researchers with a sense of ownership over their work.

• Young researchers often find it easier to influence national decision-makers at international meetings than within their own home countries, as delegates may be more candid and accessible in external settings.
• A 'learning by doing' approach, combining research, workshop facilitation, and conference attendance, was critical for developing the researchers' capacity for policy engagement and advocacy.
• Institutional support from established organizations is vital for project completion; the lack of a local host organization in the Philippines led to significant delays and required intervention from IISD staff in Canada.
• Integrating young women into policy research requires specialized recruitment and support strategies, as traditional models may fail to account for the specific constraints and needs of young women.
• The project identified that young researchers possess a unique advantage in bridging disparate policy communities because they are often not yet entrenched in a single theoretical framework or academic tradition.

APA

Dongtotsang, D., Andjelkovic, M., & Willard, T. (2006). Engaging Young People in the Policy Change Process. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/infosoc_young_people_policy.pdf

Chicago

Dongtotsang, Dolma, Maja Andjelkovic, and Terri Willard. Engaging Young People in the Policy Change Process. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2006. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/infosoc_young_people_policy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dongtotsang |first1=Dolma |last2=Andjelkovic |first2=Maja |last3=Willard |first3=Terri |title=Engaging Young People in the Policy Change Process |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/infosoc_young_people_policy.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dongtotsang2006engaging, author = {Dongtotsang, Dolma and Andjelkovic, Maja and Willard, Terri}, title = {{Engaging Young People in the Policy Change Process}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/infosoc_young_people_policy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }