Workshop on strengthening capacities for the implementation and monitoring of the EU CG

On Tuesday, 7 July, a workshop “Strengthening Capacities for the Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Action Plan for the Implementation of the Council Recommendation Establishing a European Child Guarantee – National Level” was held in Zagreb. The workshop brought together representatives of national institutions involved in the implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan for the European Child Guarantee.

The workshop was organised within the framework of 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”, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy and UNICEF Office for Croatia, with financial support from the European Union through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI).

The aim of the workshop was to further strengthen the capacities of institutions responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Action Plan, while also improving the use of data and indicators in decision-making processes affecting children’s lives. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the role of monitoring and evaluation in the design and implementation of public policies, become acquainted with the draft monitoring framework for the implementation of the National Action Plan, and exchange experiences regarding inter-institutional cooperation and coordination.

Particular emphasis was placed on developing practical skills related to defining indicators, standardising data collection, analysing data and reporting, as well as on strengthening coordination between the national, regional and local levels. Through interactive presentations, group work and practical exercises, participants analysed existing monitoring systems, identified their strengths and challenges, and discussed concrete steps for their further improvement.

During the workshop, key findings from a study on the capacities of institutions involved in the implementation of the National Action Plan were presented, together with recommendations for strengthening the monitoring and evaluation system. Participants discussed the quality and availability of data, information-sharing among institutions, and the importance of using evaluation findings to improve public policies.

The workshop also covered participatory policy-making, the involvement of children and other relevant stakeholders in the planning, implementation and monitoring of measures, and the development of a sustainable and effective system for monitoring the implementation of the European Child Guarantee in Croatia.

The National Action Plan for the Implementation of the European Child Guarantee represents a key framework through which Croatia seeks to improve access to essential services for children in need and to reduce child poverty and social exclusion. Activities such as this contribute to strengthening the capacities of institutions responsible for achieving these objectives and to the continued improvement of support systems for the most vulnerable children and their families.