Young people remain underrepresented in political processes. This is nothing new. Their needs and aspirations are too often treated as an add-on rather than properly integrated into regional development strategy work. For rural communities in particular, this gap has real consequences. Decisions about housing, mobility, education, jobs, recreation and services are frequently made without the perspectives of the people who are expected to build their lives there.
Young and Rooted frames youth participation as a question of governance capacity and democratic resilience. When youth voices are meaningfully integrated into policymaking, communities gain better decisions, stronger legitimacy, and development strategies that reflect lived realities—not assumptions.
What makes this project different
What makes this project different is how it moves beyond “youth engagement activities” and asks a more structural question: How do we build durable systems where youth participation has influence and not just visibility?
The project focuses on rural contexts and recognises that rural youth are not one group. It examines who participates, who is excluded, and why, taking special consideration for factors such as geography, gender, socio-economic background, education, and ethnicity.
A key innovation is the concept of the rural “youth public”. Youth participation is analysed not only through formal structures (e.g., councils and advisory bodies), but also through wider civic and public life: Community organising, movements, cultural arenas, and informal networks. The project asks how these forms of engagement can be recognised and translated into real decision-making power.
What this project will deliver
We aim to strengthen and support youth organisations, and local and regional authorities, in fostering meaningful youth participation across the Nordic Region – especially in rural contexts.
To achieve this, the project will:
- Map and analyse how rural youth participate across the Nordic countries, and how participation is shaped by legal and policy frameworks
- Capture youth perspectives in their own words through case-based “youth public” stories
- Identify barriers to sustained youth participation and the conditions that enable long-term impact
- Develop practical tools and recommendations to embed participation in governance systems
- Support learning across Nordic territories through workshops and a webinar, strengthening pathways from local engagement to broader policy influence
The project combines literature and policy analysis, interviews, case-based storytelling, focus groups, and cross-Nordic synthesis to move from insight to actionable governance change.
How we work
The project is structured in five steps:
1. Knowledge overview
A combined literature review, policy and legislative analysis, and stakeholder interviews map how rural youth participate across the Nordic countries: who participates, how participation happens, and the degree of influence it achieves.
2. Rural “Youth Public” stories
Interviews in 4–6 case areas capture diverse youth experiences and forms of engagement in real-world contexts. Outputs include youth stories and communication content that amplify rural youth voices.
3. Institutionalising youth participation locally and regionally
Focus groups with civil servants, politicians and youth representatives explore what it takes to move beyond tokenism. Assessing readiness and co-developing strategies to embed youth participation sustainably.
4. Towards youth-proofing rural policy
A cross-Nordic synthesis identifies transferable lessons and remaining barriers. A workshop and an interactive webinar support co-developed recommendations to strengthen how youth perspectives feed into policy across governance levels.
5. Project management and dissemination
Ongoing coordination and communication ensure results are shared through relevant policy arenas and networks, supporting peer learning and practical uptake.
This research project is part of the Nordic thematic group for local and regional resilience and attractiveness. The Nordic thematic groups contribute to the Nordic Co-operation Programme for Regional Development and Planning 2025–2030 under the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Committee of Senior Officials for Regional Policy (EK-R)
