Planning and managing budgets for youth by Level II local public authorities, predominant expense categories, and civil society contributions in developing youth programs.
The study ''Assessment of Youth Sector Expenditures in Level II Local Public Authority Budgets vs. Youth Organization Budgets" conducted by the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM) analyzes these topics.
This research is an annual exercise carried out under the program "The Joint Fund for Strengthening Youth Participation and Developing Youth Centers in the Republic of Moldova," implemented by UNFPA Moldova and supported by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the National Youth Agency, with funding from the Government of Switzerland.
The study provides an overview of how local authorities perceive the needs of young people and address them through financial resource allocation. It also identifies best practices, gaps, and opportunities for improvement in managing youth budgets.
The research results show that youth expenditures represent approximately 4.8% of total local budgets, registering a 0.7% increase compared to 2022. In 2023, the total budget allocated to youth activities at the LPA II level reached 37.279 million MDL, a significant increase from 26.744 million MDL in 2022 and 19.930 million MDL in 2021.
However, 99% of the budget is allocated to two key subprograms out of six: maintaining youth centers and developing youth activities. This highlights a disproportionate distribution of resources concentrated on youth infrastructure at the expense of other essential development activities.
The average expenditure per young person at the national level in 2023 was 59.97 MDL, up from 50.48 MDL in 2022 and 30.04 MDL in 2021. This positive trend reflects growing investments in the youth sector. However, the increase is also influenced by migration, which has reduced the number of young people in the country, amplifying the impact of the per-capita budget on those who remain.
It is worth noting that some districts continue to steadily increase their youth budgets, contributing to the development of the local youth sector. In 2023, nine Level II administrative units spent more than the national average per young person, but only eight managed to allocate and execute youth budgets exceeding one million MDL. At the same time, three districts allocated 0 MDL for youth, and eight other districts allocated budgets below 100,000 MDL.
For the first time in 2023, CNTM also conducted a comparative analysis of LPA II budgets versus youth NGOs' budgets. This research's 42 youth organizations' budgets amounted to 21.064 million MDL, compared to the 37.279 million MDL invested by Level II LPAs.
It is essential to continue investments in the youth sector, improve fund management mechanisms, and ensure an equitable distribution of resources at the national and local levels. Local authorities must prioritize programs that address the real needs of young people, actively involve civil society organizations in the decision-making process, and increase transparency in fund utilization. Strengthening the capacities of LPAs and promoting ongoing dialogue with young people can contribute to a more strategic and sustainable approach to managing resources.
