"Plans must result in concrete changes!"

Every child in Croatia, regardless of where they live, should have equal access to early childhood education and care, healthy nutrition, healthcare and a safe home. To help translate this right as effectively as possible into concrete services for children in their communities, representatives of Split-Dalmatia and Zadar counties gathered in Omiš on 14 and 15 October 2026.

The workshop was part of a series of activities implemented by the UNICEF Office for Croatia and the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy within the project “Croatia – Strengthening the Framework for the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Council Recommendation Establishing a European Child Guarantee”, with financial support from the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI).

Experts from regional self-government units working in the areas of social welfare, education, health, demography, strategic planning, and data collection and analysis exchanged experiences and perspectives from their respective sectors. Their work plays an important role in translating national priorities into services that respond to the actual needs of children. As co-implementers of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the European Child Guarantee (NAP CG), counties are therefore key partners in its implementation.

The programme began with an overview of the European Child Guarantee framework and the obligations arising from it, followed by strategic planning and an assessment of the extent to which existing local and regional plans are aligned with the NAP CG. The theory of change was used as a tool to link children’s needs, measures and expected outcomes. The second day focused on monitoring and evaluation, defining indicators and data quality. Participants also discussed how to address the fragmentation of sectoral data, improve cooperation between institutions, and involve children and young people in planning.

At the end of the workshop, participants identified priorities and next steps for their respective communities, as well as areas where additional support and training are needed. A shared conclusion was that plans and evaluations are only as valuable as the concrete and measurable changes they contribute to in children’s lives. The workshop conclusions will inform further activities under the project.