Cristina Bacalso

Cristina Bacalso is the Research Lead for the Equitable by Default? Youth Work, Digital Equity, and Policy in the UK at the DYWR.HUB and one of the INCLUDE+ 2026 Research Fellows.

She is an independent research consultant specialising in public policies for adolescent and youth development, and the human rights of young people. She has worked at international, European, and national levels, with organisations including UNICEF, UNICEF Innocenti, UNDP, European Commission, Council of Europe, European Youth Forum, and with various national governments and youth civil society organisations. Her focus areas are evidence-informed youth policies, youth participation, participatory research, and youth work.

Recent publications

EU Youth Programmes Unpacked: How Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Enable Youth Civic Space (Co-author; European Youth Forum, 2025)

From Awareness to Action: Engaging Youth in the Green Economy and Climate Action (Co-author; UNICEF and European Training Foundation, 2024)

Learning for careers: What kinds of career guidance and career education services do young people want in Europe and Central Asia?  (Co-author; UNICEF and European Training Foundation, 2024)

Youth Knowledge Book on Political Participation (Co-editor; Council of Europe – European Commission Youth Partnership, 2022)

Building a Resilient Generation in Central Asia and Europe: Youth Views on lifelong learning, inclusion, and the green transition  (Co-author; UNICEF and European Training Foundation, 2021)

Trends in evidence on adolescent wellbeing: Reflections on what we know and opportunities for future research (Co-author; Journal of Adolescent Research, 2021)