Policy Brief Young Women’s Participation in Vlora Municipality
This publication was produced by the Social Contract Institute under the project “Beyond the Numbers: Local Barriers to Political Participation for Young Women in Vlora”, implemented within “Stronger Voices for Better Choices – Youth Hub for WB&T”, with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Social Contract Institute and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the project consortium. The findings and recommendations do not constitute an endorsement or commitment by the European Union or the consortium.
"This project was co-financed by the European Union, within the YouthHub WB&T Network."
Young Women’s Participation in Vlora Municipality Local policy brief | Social Contract Institute | 2026 Project: Beyond the Numbers: Local Barriers to Political Participation for Young Women in Vlora
Decision requested Vlora Municipality should adopt a practical participation package for young women aged 18–29 in its next youth action plan and budget cycle: regular dialogue with published follow-up, accessible information and hybrid participation, outreach beyond the urban centre, and a supported pathway into local leadership. The Local Youth Council and municipal youth and gender focal points can coordinate the package with local civil society and employment services.
What the evidence shows The Youth Participation Index (YPI) assesses the conditions for young people’s political, economic and social participation across Albania and the region. Its political dimension includes access to municipal information and participation tools and the existence of youth structures; its economic dimension includes NEET status, employment and unemployment. These are mostly national or municipality-system indicators. They do not measure how often young women in Vlora actually participate. [1, 2] SCI reviewed this framework alongside local qualitative evidence: 15 semi-structured interviews and three focus groups involving 30 distinct young women aged 18–29 in Vlora Municipality. The 15 interviewees were also among the focus group participants. The sample was selected to include urban, rural and peripheral residents, students, employed and unemployed women, and women in NEET situations. It is purposive and cannot be used to estimate municipality-wide prevalence. [3, 4, 5] The interim report records that approximately 70% of participating women had never joined a consultation, public discussion or comparable local governance activity, while more than 80% were interested in future participation. These figures describe the consulted group. Participants repeatedly identified four linked obstacles: unclear information and little feedback from institutions; seasonal work, income insecurity and time costs; distance and transport; and gender norms that discourage public leadership. [3, 4, 5]
YPI lens and Vlora evidence YPI dimension
Relevant indicator or condition
What local evidence adds
Political
Municipal online information and participation tools; local youth structures
Young women described late or unclear notices, uncertainty about how to participate, and little feedback after consultations.
Economic
NEET, youth employment and unemployment
Seasonal tourism work, long hours, lost wages and transport costs restrict when women can attend.
Social
Access to education and community opportunities; exclusion risk
Rural distance, limited youth spaces, family expectations and low confidence narrow practical access.
The 2024 Albania youth participation monitoring report notes that local youth councils exist nationwide but some have limited functionality, and that digital presence can coexist with poor youth awareness. It records 79 Youth
Guarantee registrations in Vlorë Municipality during the pilot period ending 31 December 2024. This is an administrative programme count, not a Vlora NEET rate or a count of this project’s participants. [2]
Recommendations for the next planning cycle of Vlora municipality 1. Establish a predictable youth and municipality dialogue The Mayor’s Office and Local Youth Council should schedule at least quarterly open dialogues, including one in a peripheral administrative unit each half-year. Publish the agenda in advance, record proposals by topic, and release a short response within 30 days explaining which proposals will be pursued, referred or declined. Reserve places for young women outside established organisations. This addresses participants’ concern that consultations are sporadic and that they do not learn what happens to their input. [3, 4]
2. Make every consultation easy to find and join Create one municipal calendar for youth consultations and publish each opportunity through official municipal pages, schools, the university, youth organisations and community contacts. Use clear instructions, location and transport details (when possible), and a contact person. Offer a mobile-friendly comment form and a telephone or in-person option; publish a response summary after each consultation. Track how many first-time participants and women from peripheral areas are reached. [3, 4, 2]
3. Bring participation closer to rural and peripheral communities Hold rotating meetings in administrative units and align times with work and transport schedules. For centrally held sessions, pilot transport reimbursement or organised transport for participants who would otherwise be excluded, subject to municipal rules and a transparent budget. Record attendance by area and ask absent invitees what prevented participation. Local participants identified travel time and cost as direct barriers. [3, 4]
4. Provide a pathway from first participation to leadership Partner with local women leaders, the university and civil society to offer a short mentorship cycle covering municipal decisions, public speaking, proposal drafting and meeting officials. Connect participants to the Local Youth Council and invite them to present at least one proposal to the Municipal Council or a relevant committee. Use open recruitment and make the schedule compatible with seasonal work. [3, 4, 2]
5. Offer accessible youth spaces and hybrid formats Review existing municipal and community facilities before funding new premises. Designate regular, free meeting hours for youth-led discussions and provide basic facilitation and internet access where feasible. Pair physical meetings with moderated online input so women with work or travel constraints can contribute. Youth spaces and digital participation were recurring proposals in the focus groups. [4]
6. Link civic participation with economic inclusion Coordinate youth consultation outreach with the local employment and skills office and Youth Guarantee services. Share information on training and employment support during civic activities, and invite NEET and seasonal workers to shape local youth priorities. Monitor whether work schedules, caregiving and income costs prevent attendance. This links the YPI economic dimension to the barriers the women described without treating an employment programme as a substitute for civic voice. [2, 3, 4]
Implementation and accountability Municipal action
Simple measure
Name a lead focal point; publish a dialogue calendar and standard consultation notice; map available youth spaces.
Calendar online; named contact; baseline attendance by age, gender and area.
Pilot two dialogues, one outside central Vlora; test hybrid input and transport assistance; start mentorship.
Participants, first-time attendees, proposals received and written responses.
Review pilots with young women; include successful measures and costs in the next action plan and budget.
Published follow-up; adopted measures; spending; repeat participation.
The municipality should collect only proportionate, consent-based data and publish aggregate results. A useful annual dashboard would report consultation reach by gender, age and administrative unit; the share of proposals receiving a written response; attendance from peripheral communities; and participation in mentorship and youth structures. These local measures complement the YPI framework but are not an official municipal YPI score.