UNICEF and NALAG Launch Five-Year Partnership to Strengthen Child Rights and Family Support at the Municipal Level

TBILISI, 28 July 2026 – UNICEF Georgia and the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) today signed a five-year Partnership Agreement (2026–2030), reaffirming their joint commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children through stronger local governance, more inclusive social policies and child-responsive municipal services.  

The programme “Strengthening the Protection of Vulnerable Children and Their Families at the Municipal Level”will support municipalities in improving how they plan, deliver and monitor services for children and families, with a particular focus on prevention, early support and rights-based approaches.   

“Municipalities are on the frontline of improving children’s lives. This partnership represents an important step toward strengthening local systems that protect vulnerable children, support families and give young people a meaningful voice in shaping their communities. By investing in child-focused planning, budgeting and decision-making, we are helping build stronger, more inclusive and resilient municipalities for children and families”, - Isabella Castrogiovanni, UNICEF Representative in Georgia.

The initiative contributes to the implementation of Georgia’s Code on the Rights of the Child, recognizing municipalities as key actors in ensuring that the rights and best interests of every child are reflected in local policies, services and decision-making.

The programme will build on tools and approaches already developed through UNICEF and NALAG cooperation, including municipal social work concepts, child-focused programming and budgeting methodologies, and the Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) framework. These tools will be reviewed, adapted and piloted in selected municipalities to support their integration into regular municipal planning and decision-making processes. 

“As the national association representing municipalities across Georgia, NALAG is committed to helping local governments turn child rights commitments into practical action. Together with UNICEF, we will support municipalities in strengthening services, improving planning and budgeting, and ensuring that the voices of children and young people are reflected in local decision-making,” said Nino Rukhadze, Executive Director, National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG)

The five-year partnership reflects a shared vision of placing children at the centre of local development and decision-making, while equipping municipalities with the tools, knowledge and capacities needed to deliver sustainable and equitable results for children and their families.

A key feature of the programme is its focus on meaningful youth participation. Adolescents and young people will be engaged in municipal budgeting, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction initiatives, helping ensure that young voices contribute to shaping local policies and solutions that affect their lives and communities.  

Municipalities play an increasingly important role in implementing child rights, delivering social programmes and supporting children and families in vulnerable situations. While important progress has been made in recent years, challenges remain in ensuring consistent, child-focused and evidence-based social programming across the country. The new programme seeks to address these gaps by strengthening municipal social work systems, enhancing vulnerability assessment tools, introducing more child-sensitive planning and budgeting practices, and supporting municipalities to better assess the impact of their decisions on children’s rights.