Strengthening Data and Child Rights Monitoring

Challenges

Kosovo continues to struggle to generate high-quality data about the situation of children.

This lack of standardized and disaggregated child-related data makes it difficult for local and central institutions to conduct evidence-based planning and systematic monitoring. A lack of data also hinders the ability to analyze and evaluate the results of implemented policies and strategies.

Other challenges that impact the ability to conduct accurate child rights monitoring in Kosovo include limited focus on child-related sustainable development goals (SDGs), poor coordination between Kosovo institutions, academia and civil society, and the absence of a central repository for child rights monitoring. Improved child rights monitoring based on accurate and disaggregated data would shine a light on the reality of Kosovo’s most vulnerable children and their families and communities and enable better planning and response to the economic and social impacts of various situations, such as poverty.

Solutions

UNICEF works to ensure that child rights are at the forefront of the agenda in Kosovo.

This includes strengthening the capacity of Kosovo institutions for promoting human development and fulfilling the rights of children.

We accomplish this by providing technical support to enhance key data management information systems and by building institutional capacity to undertake large-scale data collection on issues affecting children, in conjunction with international standards requirements.

We provide support to enhance the monitoring of the situation of children in Kosovo by developing a systematized data monitoring and analysis portal for child rights monitoring aligned with the core domains of the Convention on the Rights of the Child articles.

UNICEF supports the development of national research and evaluation capacities to provide timely evidence at the country level on the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the fulfillment of the rights of all children.

UNICEF in collaboration with the Kosovo Agency of Statistics is conducting a third round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) in 2025. The MICS conducted every five years, play a pivotal role in providing crucial insights into the health and development of Kosovo's families and children. In our research, UNICEF emphasizes the importance of disaggregated data, ensuring that information pertaining to vulnerable communities such as Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian is meticulously captured. Disaggregated data serves as an indispensable tool for monitoring progress in development initiatives and addressing disparities effectively.