Research Series Issue 57: Unlocking the potential of rural youth: the role of policies and institutions

This study presents a framework to analyse the political economy of rural youth policy and institutions’ opportunity space with a quadrant that measures the extent to which rural youth are a priority in policies and institutions versus the extent that governments have to effectively implement rural youth policies.

It examines quantitative and qualitative data gathered from various sources in order to determine favourable conditions for effective policies for rural youth by looking at the origins and complexity of policy responses in an array of specific cases.

Policies must also be gender sensitive and be able to recognize the different opportunities and challenges faced by young men and young women, so that related policies and programmes attempt to address existing gender inequalities.