Encouraging youth participation in policymaking with the Youth Panels

Recognising that today’s youths are increasingly willing to engage with the government in policy making, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Mr Edwin Tong, announced in May 2023 that four youth-led panels would be set up to encourage youth participation in decision making. Consisting of youths aged 15 to 35, the panels would work with the government to co-create and shape policies in areas close to their hearts. 

In collaboration with MCCY and the National Youth Council (NYC), Verian sought to build the capabilities of the panels to facilitate constructive policy dialogues and ideate solutions for their assigned policy areas. These areas ranged from financial security, careers, technology and the environment, reflecting “top-of-mind” concerns faced by youths today. 

As consultants, we guide the youth panels through the process by firstly, building their capabilities, and secondly, by offering advice from a policy advisory perspective. 

We designed capability-building sessions to improve youths’ understanding of policy and research, such as: 

• The policy cycle  

• Design thinking 

• Conducting and synthesising research 

• Developing solutions and gathering feedback 

• Developing, refining and delivering policy recommendations  

The sessions comprised (1) building theoretical knowledge, (2) case studies/ examples, and (3) hands-on exercises to apply learnings in breakout groups. 

Utilising design thinking approaches and public participation techniques, we aimed to empower youths to design evidence-based policy solutions. 

These capability-building sessions were attended by close to 120 youths in the panels. Better equipped, the youths embarked on their respective journeys to delve into their policy area and develop solutions. 

This culminated in the Youth Policy Forum, where the panels shared their findings and policy solutions through showcase exhibitions and panel presentations. Held in August 2024, the Forum was attended by over 1,000 attendees, including Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Minister Edwin Tong, who discussed the role of youth in civic participation and policymaking. Following this, the youths will continue their efforts to deliver refined recommendations to NYC, MCCY, and the respective agencies. 

Source: Channel News Asia and National Youth Council