Objective Disadvantaged youth in urban environments often experience marginalization and disenfranchisement that can lead to disastrous consequences for them, their families, and wider society. We know that successfully engaging these young men and women in the institutions, communities, and contexts in which they live and building their capacity as social actors can be a critical factor in their positive development as individuals and future role as citizens. Yet, there is still relatively little known empirically about the specific contexts, strategies, and mechanisms through which disadvantaged urban youth can be most effectively engaged. This research is designed to develop the expertise of the experienced researcher to enable him to contribute much needed in-depth knowledge of how best to engage young people as citizens both civic and political actors with autonomy and responsibility for contributing to the common good. This work will be done through a comparative case study in three Irish cities. The methodology will involve a consultative process with designated stakeholders in each city including local politicians, policy leaders, service providers, service users, youth representatives and youth workers. It will involve field observations and interviews with young men and women in three selected case study cities, each having a distinct urban identity: Large multi-cultural (Dublin); Post-Conflict ( Belfast) and Smaller Regional City (Galway). Dissemination and Public Engagement are central to this proposal. The research will impact on the participating stakeholders by providing tangible and accessible research findings. It will impact on the field of urban youth studies by offering a comparative framework applicable to other urban contexts in Europe and globally. The impact for the experienced researcher will be the development of specific expertise with a view to developing further European and global studies of this important field. Fields of science social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil societynongovernmental organizationssocial sciencespolitical sciencesgovernment systemsdemocracy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY Net EU contribution € 187 866,00 Address UNIVERSITY ROAD H91 Galway Ireland See on map Region Ireland Northern and Western West Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 187 866,00