In this Policy Brief, we present inspiring examples of participatory policy making and key takeaways for policy makers at national and sub-national levels of government. These key takeaways aim to support the implementation of more participatory policy co-creation processes, including young people. The recommendations are based on the work delivered by the Research & Innovation UPLIFT project which aims to understand the patterns and trends of inequality across Europe, focusing on young people (aged 15-29) in urban areas.
In recent years there have been a decided shift towards more participative policy making processes; national governments and local authorities have been searching for new ways to involve citizens and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of policies. This is part of a wider paradigm shift, whereby experts and policy makers are no longer seen as the sole agents in the development of policies, but rather as just one of the many actors who contribute. Policy making in this new paradigm is dynamic and open-ended; it involves interactions between multiple actors and the pooling of resources (both public and private; material and intellectual).