UNICEF presents Theory of Change and Priority Results for 2023-2027

15 March, Ulaanbaatar - UNICEF held an online meeting to present the Theory of Change and Priority Results for the Country Programme 2023-2027 to its implementing partners. Ayako Kaino, UNICEF Deputy Representative, chaired the meeting, attended by 52 participants, including partners from the state and non-state organizations and UN specialised agencies. 

The Theory of Change represents the approach through which UNICEF addresses the needs of Mongolian children to enable them to survive and thrive. 

As emphasized by Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, UNICEF Country Representative, the identification of a Theory of Change and Priority Results “represents a milestone in the development of UNICEF Country Programme for the next years.” During the meeting, UNICEF highlighted the identified conditions and preconditions to address the deprivations of children in Mongolia, to enable achievement of the goals stated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) - the United Nations blueprint for supporting the member state in solving its socio-economic challenges and ensuring progress in meeting the country’s sustainable development agenda. The UNSDCF Vision for Mongolia 2030 says that : “By 2030, all people in Mongolia over their life course benefit from shared prosperity characterized by inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development, as well as healthy and safe environment; and thrive in a cohesive society based on rule of law and human rights.” 

Throughout the session, teams from each of UNICEF Goal Areas (the main areas of UNICEF intervention in Mongolia) presented their respective outcomes and the means through which UNICEF will aim to achieve those, including activities, targets, and indicators identified for each achievement that UNICEF aims at setting in place by 2027. 

In Goal Area 1, Child Health and Development, UNICEF overarching outcome for the next Country Programme aims at ensuring that ‘Children, adolescents and young people increasingly realize their right to survive and thrive in a healthy, safe and supportive environment’. 

In Goal Area 2, Education, UNICEF will ensure that: ‘Children, from early childhood to adolescents, including the most excluded, have equal quality learning opportunities to acquire foundational, transferable skills in a digitally integrated resilient environment.’ 

Goal Area 3 focuses on Child Protection and aims at achieving the following by 2027: ‘Children are empowered and protected from violence and exploitation in their homes, in their schools, in their communities, in institutions and online; and benefit from functioning, quality child protection system and services available including in humanitarian settings.’ 

Goal Area 4 focuses on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and climate change, and sets the following outcome: ‘Children and adolescents realise their right to safe WASH services and a safe, healthy and sustainable environment.’ 

Goal Area 5, Social Protection, aims at ensuring that by 2027, ‘Children benefit from evidence-driven and child-sensitive anti-poverty policies and programmes, including social protection thus progressively realizing their right to live free from poverty.’ 

Following the detailed presentations for each of UNICEF Goal Areas, the meeting continued with a plenary discussion during which representatives from state and non-state partners, other UN Agencies, have provided insightful comments and highlighted the willingness to work in cooperation with UNICEF to address the issue of child deprivations in Mongolia. As explained by UNICEF Representative, Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, “the insights and comments provided by implementing partners will be crucial in the development of UNICEF Country Programme Document for 2023-2027.”