Fostering monitoring, evaluation, and child participation in child-related policies in Romania

Fostering monitoring, evaluation, and child participation in child-related policies in Romanians

The European Commission supports Romania’s Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity (MLFYSS) and the National Authority for the Protection of Child Rights and Adoption (NAPCRA), alongside partner institutions, in strengthening monitoring, evaluation, budget planning, and child participation. With EU funding via the Technical Support Instrument and UNICEF’s expertise, it develops data systems, participatory tools, and capacity building for effective, inclusive implementation of the European Child Guarantee.

Context

Romania has adopted the Child Rights Strategy (2023–2027) and the Child Guarantee National Action Plan (2023–2030), committing to reduce child poverty and exclusion. Yet fragmented monitoring systems, weak budget planning, and insufficient child participation hinder effective implementation. The amendment of Law 272/2004, making child participation mandatory, marked progress but requires operationalization. This project addresses these gaps by aligning with EU priorities such as the digital transformation of governance, resilience building, and social inclusion. It supports the EU Child Guarantee, the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, and indirectly contributes to the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the SDGs.

Support delivered

Who: UNICEF, with EU funding via the Technical Support Instrument, in partnership with MLFYSS, NAPCRA, line ministries, local authorities, civil society, and children themselves.
What: Technical support to map child-related data systems, design technical specifications for a digital dashboard, strengthen budget planning and expenditure monitoring, and develop operational guidelines for child participation. A common capacity-building plan underpins all components—digital dashboard, monitoring & evaluation, budgeting, and participation—implemented through joint trainings adapted to different administrative levels.
When: September 2025 – August 2027.
Where: National and local levels across Romania.
Why: To build lasting institutional capacity for evidence-based, inclusive, and accountable child policies under the Child Rights Strategy and European Child Guarantee.

Expected results

The project will deliver an integrated monitoring and evaluation framework through a centralized digital dashboard, a standardized methodology for budget planning and expenditure monitoring, and operational guidelines for child participation. A comprehensive, transversal capacity-building programme will strengthen institutional skills across all three areas, ensuring sustainability beyond the project’s duration. MLFYSS, NAPCRA and partner ministries will apply improved tools for policy design and tracking, while local authorities will use data more effectively for planning. Civil society will collaborate more systematically, and children will engage directly in decisions affecting them—advancing an inclusive, accountable, and evidence-based implementation of the Child Rights Strategy and EU Child Guarantee.