Harnessing youth potential for post-war recovery and transformation of Ukraine

Young people will have to live with the burden of Ukraine's post-war recovery and transformation. The success of Ukrainian youth will therefore also be the success of Ukraine itself.

The study "(Re)Building the future: Harnessing youth potential for post-war recovery and transformation of Ukraine" (2023) by Alonso Escamilla is based on this thesis. This publication was made possible by the cooperation of a number of organizations, including The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and others.

The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has had a catastrophic effect on Ukrainian youth, and this will continue into the future. As a result, young Ukrainians emerge as an important target group for public policies once the post-war recovery process commences. This policy study highlights the importance of perceiving youth positively as active stakeholders who themselves should be involved in Ukraine’s recovery and transformation.

In this analysis, Alonso Escamilla highlights the importance of recognising Ukrainian youth as active stakeholders in their nation’s transformation and post-war recovery. The study offers valuable insights from successful post-war recovery practices while urging relevant stakeholders to tailor these measures to their specific profiles, regions, and situations.

The author draws attention to the importance of social and psychological well-being, vocational education, and social security, and presents a holistic framework for successful youth reintegration. The outlined approach advocates for data-driven policymaking, prioritising inclusiveness, and fostering community-centric recovery efforts.

The study proves that solving problems in the areas of human capital, civic participation and innovative development depends on the optimal implementation of youth policy in post-war Ukraine.