Open Call for Training on Strengthening Youth Policy Resilience (Ukraine)

Deadline: 06-Sep-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with its partners, has launched a call for applications for a programme designed to strengthen sustainable youth policy at the local level. The initiative begins with a four-day training for local government representatives and continues with community-level partnership workshops focused on youth needs, intersectoral cooperation, resource mobilisation and practical youth policy solutions during wartime. Programme Overview The programme is designed for representatives of local government units whose responsibilities directly involve the development, coordination or implementation of youth policy. It aims to help local authorities integrate youth priorities into broader community development strategies while strengthening cooperation among government, civil society and other local stakeholders. The programme consists of two practical stages:

Four-day training in Poltava: September 23–26, 2026.

Local partnership workshops: October 2026, conducted in each participating community.

UNDP will cover the costs associated with participants’ attendance at the training. Key Focus Areas The programme focuses on strengthening the ability of local authorities to develop and implement effective youth policy in challenging circumstances.

Key areas include:

Modern approaches to youth policy implementation. Integration of youth priorities into local strategic planning. Intersectoral and multi-stakeholder cooperation. Mobilisation of local resources. Practical solutions for youth policy during wartime.

Partnership development with diverse stakeholders

Understanding and responding to young people’s needs. Young people are an important part of community resilience and recovery, particularly in communities affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, effective youth policy requires more than individual programmes. Local authorities need the capacity to identify youth priorities, coordinate across sectors, use available resources and create meaningful partnerships with organisations and community stakeholders. This programme is intended to strengthen those capabilities.

Participants will gain practical tools that can help them

Incorporate youth priorities into community development plans. Identify local resources that can support youth initiatives. Improve cooperation between government departments and other stakeholders. Develop responses to challenges facing young people during wartime. Strengthen dialogue between young people, local authorities and community leadership. Build sustainable partnerships for youth development. Programme Structure

Stage 1: Four-Day Training

The first stage is a four-day practical training programme in Poltava from September 23 to 26, 2026. Participants will explore approaches to sustainable youth policy and develop practical skills for working with different stakeholders.

The training will address:

Youth policy planning and implementation. Intersectoral cooperation.

Partnership development

Local resource mobilisation. Youth needs assessment. Community development. Wartime challenges and practical responses. Professional resilience. Burnout prevention. Cooperation with community leadership and other partners. The training represents the beginning of the programme’s practical phase.

Stage 2: Local Partnership Workshops

After completing the training, each participant will organise a local partnership workshop in their own community during October 2026. The workshop will bring together relevant local stakeholders to examine youth-related priorities and develop practical approaches for future cooperation.

The workshop will focus on:

Analysing the current needs of young people. Identifying resources available within the community. Mapping potential partners and cooperation opportunities. Discussing practical solutions to identified challenges. Developing concrete steps for strengthening local youth policy. Supporting further dialogue with community leadership. This approach allows participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training directly within their communities. Who Is Eligible? The programme is open to representatives of local government units whose responsibilities directly include the formation and/or implementation of youth policy. One specialist from each UNDP partner community in the following regions is invited: Dnipropetrovsk Zaporizhia Mykolaiv Sumy Kharkiv Kherson Chernihiv The applicant should therefore be a relevant local government representative from a participating UNDP partner community.

Participant Profile

Applicants should be professionals whose responsibilities are directly connected with youth policy. The programme is particularly relevant to local government specialists who are involved in: Youth policy development. Youth programme implementation. Community strategic planning. Cooperation with youth organisations. Intersectoral coordination. Community development. Engagement with young people and local stakeholders. Expected Outcomes By completing the programme, participants are expected to strengthen their professional capacity to integrate youth policy into broader community development.

Participants will gain

Practical approaches to youth policy development. Tools for partnership building. Skills for intersectoral cooperation. Approaches to local resource mobilisation. Better understanding of youth needs. Strategies for addressing youth-related challenges during wartime. Tools for communicating with community leadership and stakeholders. Greater professional resilience and awareness of burnout prevention. Participants will also be prepared to organise a local partnership workshop and continue discussions with community leadership after the training. How the Programme Works The programme follows a training-to-action model.

Step 1: Apply for the Programme

Eligible local government representatives submit their applications according to the programme req