Youth literacy and life skills, especially for vulnerable youth who have left school or never received a formal education, should be a policy priority to secure the full participation of young people in society and to ensure peaceful and sustainable development. This document assesses the complex challenge of designing policy for vulnerable youth. It emphasizes the importance of including input from youth and other stakeholders in the decision-making process. It also provides detailed examples of policies and programmes that meet the particular needs of vulnerable youth in an effective manner.