Launched in October 2024 and running until March 2027, YouTransition brings together partners from six countries with the aim of turning youth from passive recipients of transition policies into active co-creators. At the heart of this ambition lies a less visible but decisive activity: stakeholder mapping and engagement.
Far from being a bureaucratic exercise, the project's mapping and connecting serves as a strategic foundation. By identifying and analysing who is already active in the fields of youth participation, green transition and social innovation, the consortium seeks to understand where influence, resources and innovation truly sit.
Youth associations, grassroots organisations and NGOs appear as the main engines of mobilisation and experimentation, while public authorities hold the mandate and capacity to scale solutions provided they are actively engaged. The analysis goes beyond who is involved and looks closely at when stakeholders engage. Participation is assessed across four phases: needs analysis planning execution closing/sustainability.
At consortium level, engagement is relatively stable in the early stages—34% of stakeholders are involved during needs analysis and planning—but rises sharply during implementation (50%) and peaks during the closing and sustainability phase (55.6%).
This pattern reflects a strong pull towards "doing" and ensuring that results last, but it also highlights a risk: insufficient attention to early phases can weaken the relevance of what follows.
A closer look at national data reveals distinct engagement models.
France stands out for its exceptionally high participation during the closure and sustainability phase, reaching 81%, despite relatively low involvement earlier on. This suggests a strong focus on dissemination and long-term impact, supported by a robust non-profit ecosystem but also raises concerns about how grounded the initial planning may be in local realities.
Italy shows almost the opposite pattern: strong engagement during needs analysis (48%), followed by a dip during planning and execution, before rising again at closure. The presence of 11 public institutions may explain the solid analytical start, yet maintaining momentum during implementation remains a challenge.
Georgia emerges as the most striking case. With engagement levels peaking at an impressive 97% during execution, it demonstrates an exceptional capacity for operational mobilisation, likely driven by a cohesive civil society network. The strategic question now is how to translate this intensity into long-term sustainability.
Elsewhere, Poland presents the most balanced model, with steady engagement across all phases.
Greece shows medium-low engagement particularly in the closing phase that calls for targeted reinforcement.
Portugal shows medium-low engagement across all phases that calls for targeted reinforcement.
