Policy Change: Activists

Advancing Employment Policy in Northern Israel

A lack of quality employment opportunities is a major challenge for young adults in northern Israel, and a main cause of negative migration. While government investments in this field do not always answer the needs, local young people are rarely heard around the decision-making table. This initiative is based on the belief that meaningful change will come not only from the top, but through organized, professional, local activism.

What We Do
The program has established a group of 25 activists, young men and women from communities in the Kinneret-Amakim Regional Cluster. The group works to advance policy change in regional employment, at both the local and national levels.

Group members receive training and guidance in policy advocacy, including tools for data analysis and needs assessment, skills in writing policy papers and proposals, and practical tools for working with decision-makers and leading advocacy initiatives.

Activism Among Young Adults
Reports indicate a clear need to involve northern residents in shaping government plans for the region. However, many young adults are not engaged in civic activity, primarily because they feel they don’t have the knowledge or ability to influence policy. This program seeks to overcome that barrier.

In addition to imparting practical skills, the activist group fosters a sense of agency and capability, strengthens regional identity and belonging, and encourages long-term civic involvement. In this way, working towards policy change also boosts the participants’ personal and professional development.

Why Work Through the Regional Cluster
Regional clusters provide an effective framework for collaboration among neighboring local authorities. But despite their significant potential, they have historically focused mainly on service delivery rather than on shaping regional policy.

Working through the cluster enables a broader regional perspective and the advancement of coordinated regional employment policy, connecting smaller municipalities to create a collective impact. The model being developed in this initiative can be replicated in additional regional clusters across the country.

Our Goal
We aim to build the regional cluster’s capacity to operate resident groups for policy change, and to embed a culture of public participation and civic involvement in decision-making processes. Specifically, the initiative seeks to drive meaningful policy change in employment in Northern Israel, by young adults and for them.

Because young people are not only the target audience of policy – they are natural partners in shaping it.

Partners

Local authorities