The “Enhancing the Transparency of Budget Allocations for Youth – Secret Code 1302” project is a six-month project implemented by the Institute for Development and Innovation (IRI) throughout 2026. The research involves identifying and calculating the budgetary funds allocated by local self-government units (LSGs) for youth policy.
The Law on the Budget of the Republic of Serbia is adopted annually by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Under the programme classification, Programme 1302 – Youth Policy provides the necessary data on the amount of funding allocated for the implementation of youth policy. Funding for the implementation of youth policy is provided through the budget and activities of the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, as the only budget user with funds specifically allocated for this purpose.
Unlike at the national and provincial levels, there is no established Programme 1302 at the level of local self-government units that would provide information on allocations for youth policy. Instead, activities related to youth policy are included under Programme 1301 – Development of Sport and Youth. This makes it more difficult to identify, monitor and analyse the implementation and impact of youth policy measures at the local level. The development of effective youth policies requires clear and reliable data on how much funding is allocated for young people, how these funds are distributed and what needs they are intended to address.
To enable such monitoring, funds allocated for youth policy need to be clearly identified in local government budgets. It is particularly important to analyse actual expenditure based on final budget accounts, as there can be significant differences between planned and executed budget funds.
The aim of the “Secret Code 1302” project is to determine the amount and structure of budgetary funds allocated for youth policy at the local level through a comprehensive analysis of budget allocations. The project also aims to highlight the limitations arising from the absence of an established Programme 1302 in local government budgets.
As its ultimate objective, the Institute advocates for the establishment of Programme 1302 – Youth Policy within local government budgets, following the model of the national budget.
As part of the project, the Institute for Development and Innovation will analyse budget allocations for youth policy across all local self-government units in Serbia, with the exception of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija due to a lack of available data. The research findings will be used to develop recommendations aimed at improving budget transparency and establishing a clearer system for monitoring funds allocated for youth policy.
In addition to the research, the Institute will organise activities aimed at presenting the findings to stakeholders in the youth sector, civil society organisations and decision-makers within the institutions of the Republic of Serbia. In this way, data on youth policy allocations will be made available to the public, while key stakeholders will have a basis for dialogue on opportunities to improve youth policy.
As its ultimate objective, the Institute for Development and Innovation advocates for the establishment of Programme 1302 – Youth Policy within local government budgets, following the model of the national budget. This would make funds allocated for the implementation of youth policy clearly identifiable, comparable and accessible for monitoring.
Establishing Programme 1302 – Youth Policy within local government budgets would provide decision-makers, citizens, young people and civil society organisations with a basis for developing evidence-based youth policies.
