IBSER and the Korosten Territorial Hromada Identify Priority Areas of Support to Improve Child- and Youth-Oriented Budgeting

On May 14, a working meeting was held between the expert team of the Institute for Budgetary and Socio-Economic Research (IBSER) and representatives of the Korosten territorial hromada. The meeting was organized within the framework of the “Strengthening Child-Oriented Budgeting in Hromadas” project, implemented with support from UNICEF. The event was also attended by Volodymyr Strokan, Regional Program Coordinator for Central Ukraine at UNICEF.
The main focus of the meeting was on improving the budgetary process to better reflect the interests of children and youth. IBSER General Director Vyacheslav Zubenko, Project Manager Viktoriia Pyrih, Education Finance and Budgeting Expert Serhii Losev, and Education Finance Expert Tetiana Kovalchuk presented findings from an in-depth analysis of how child and youth needs are currently addressed in the hromada. They also provided recommendations for enhancing the local budgeting process in this regard.
Participants discussed key areas identified for improvement, including education, healthcare, social protection, early childhood development, youth policy, and access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services.
Additionally, the hromada and the expert team jointly identified priority topics for technical support to be provided within the project.
Going forward, the hromada, with ongoing support from IBSER’s experts, will implement specific steps to improve planning, allocation, and use of public resources — ultimately aiming to deliver tangible, positive changes in the lives of children and youth in the Korosten hromada.