Priority Actions Identified to Improve Financing for Childre

On May 19, the expert team of the “Strengthening Child-Oriented Budgeting in Hromadas” project, implemented by the Institute for Budgetary and Socio-Economic Research (IBSER) with support from UNICEF, conducted a strategic meeting with representatives of the Mena hromada. The meeting was also joined by Andrii Kornienko, UNICEF National Consultant on Child-Oriented Public Finance Management, Investment, and Social Protection.
The aim of the meeting was to present and discuss the findings of a recent analysis on how the needs of children and youth are considered in the hromada. The analysis included expert conclusions and practical recommendations.
Vyacheslav Zubenko (General Director of IBSER), Viktoriia Pyrih (Project Manager), Serhii Losev (Education Finance and Budgeting Expert), and Tetiana Kovalchuk (Education Finance Expert) presented the key findings, which covered:
● the structure and volume of the hromada’s financial resources;● funding of educational services;● financing of healthcare for children, youth, and families with children;● social protection spending;● investments in clean water and hygiene;● financing for early childhood development;● local capacity to meet the needs of children, youth, and families;● youth policy funding.
Participants identified the most relevant and practical support tools for the hromada in each of these areas. They also discussed how expert support from the project team could enhance the quality and effectiveness of local investments aimed at meeting the needs of children, youth, and families.
The Mena hromada, with ongoing assistance from IBSER’s experts, will continue to implement targeted actions to improve planning, allocation, and use of resources — ensuring greater impact for children and youth.