Challenges of National Youth Policy Implementation in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined the challenges affecting the implementation of the National Youth Policy in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. A concurrent nested mixed methods was employed by integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were collected from 363 respondents drawn from youth and social affairs offices, youth associations, and youth leagues using structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were generated through 15 key informant interviews and two focus group discussions involving regional and city-level stakeholders. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that youth policy implementation is hindered by interconnected institutional, organizational, financial, and governance-related challenges. The most significant barriers include weak leadership commitment, poor organizational structure, inadequate budget allocation, unclear practical task assignment, weak coordination among policy actors, and limited institutional capacity. The study further found that inadequate dissemination, limited policy training, and weak inter-sectoral collaboration have constrained its effective translation into practice. The study concludes that effective youth policy implementation requires strengthened institutional arrangements, sustained political commitment, enhanced coordination mechanisms, improved human and financial resource allocation, and continuous policy revision aligned with the evolving needs of young people. The findings contribute to broader policy implementation debates in developing countries, particularly regarding cross-sectorial governance and institutional effectiveness.