Influencing Policies and Budgets for Children
UNICEF in Kosovo works to build the capacity of central and local institutions to legislate, plan and invest in social protection policies, programmes and services targeting the poorest and most marginalized children and families.
Challenges
Significant shortcomings continue to limit the effectiveness of programmes meant to reduce poverty and provide social services to the most vulnerable children and families in Kosovo. Inequitable access to health, education and protection services, inadequate cash benefits and restrictive eligibility criteria for families disproportionally impact Kosovo's poorest and most marginalized groups.
Social services, which have been decentralized and are now administered at the municipal level, are mostly underfunded, understaffed and poorly integrated with other sectors.
Social protection budget is at an all-time high and is keeping pace with the overall increase in government budget. Nevertheless, Kosovo spends considerably less than its regional peers on social protection.
Solutions
UNICEF in Kosovo conducts research and promotes evidence-based policies and interventions to strengthen systems so more children can benefit from integrated social and child protection services.
We provide technical support to enhance legal and policy frameworks and ensure that social policies are sensitive and responsive to the needs of children.
In 2023 we supported the Law on Social and Family Services, which will broaden the scope services, establish new service, models and help ensure the right to social services for all individuals in need, irrespective of urgency or risk.
UNICEF in Kosovo also works to translate policies into results on the ground by developing and piloting models that demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated, quality child protection services. We do this by providing technical support for planning, budgeting of child-related programs Kosovo-wide, combined with direct support for programme implementation in targeted municipalities to ensure the most marginalized children receive necessary services.