POLICY-IMPLEMENTATION GAPS IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES: A THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF SINDH YOUTH POLICY 2018

Abstract

The most recent Sindh Youth Policy propagated in 2018 (SYP 2018) aims to empower the youth of the Sindh province of Pakistan by addressing such crucial issues as unemployment, poor education, healthcare, gender disparity, and lack of opportunities in governance intervention. Despite its clear statement of purpose, the policy encounters significant challenges in implementation, such as the lack of awareness among youth, poor resourcing, inadequate intra-departmental coordination, and weak monitoring. This study attempts to identify the gap that exists between the objectives of the policy and its actual implementation and investigates the socio-political, institutional, and governance factors inhibiting its shortcomings even after so many years. This research attempts to assess the structural and socio-economic factors responsible for the slow impacts of this policy. The study offers suggestions encompass improved awareness campaigns, institutional capacity building, strengthening coordination between departments, and participatory governance. The findings of the research confirm the need for focused interventions to narrow the gap between policy and practice and ensure that the Sindh youth realize their potential while aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The effective implementation of SYP 2018 would open up more opportunities for creating an empowered, active, productive, and peaceful youth population, thus contributing greatly to sustainable social and economic development of the province.