Eurochild supports Ukraine’s Coordination Center to leverage the EU accession to ensure children’s rights

Eurochild strengthens the capacity of the Coordination Centre for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development to engage with EU institutions to better leverage the EU accession process to sustain the reform of child care and protection systems in Ukraine.

Last week, Eurochild hosted a 2-day training session to enhance partnerships with the European Commission for care reform in Ukraine. Organised in collaboration with Maestral and UNICEF Ukraine, this initiative supported Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy and the Coordination Center, an advisory body to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in engaging with EU institutions to advance the ‘Better Care’ reform agenda.

During the training, we explored the structure of the European Union, highlighting key institutions, decision-making processes, and actors relevant to child protection and social inclusion. Participants also examined Ukraine’s EU accession mechanisms and funding tools, including the Ukraine Facility. A key focus was children’s rights in the accession process, including the EU acquis, and case studies. We provided the participants with practical tools for engaging with EU institutions, covering advocacy strategies and guidance on drafting effective messages to support the reform of the child care and protection systems. Martin Muehleck, Team Leader on Good Governance and Fundamentals at the Ukraine Service of DG ENEST, shared insights on Ukraine’s accession from the Commission’s perspective.

While all participants were highly engaged throughout the sessions, the training also featured interactive activities to apply the knowledge acquired. These included an analysis of Ukraine’s enlargement report and a review of other accession processes to identify key elements that contributed to child care system reforms.

Kateryna Novokhatnia, Deputy Head of the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Childcare Development

“We are sincerely grateful to Eurochild for two inspiring and productive days of training. This experience has deepened our understanding of EU institutions and provided us with practical tools to strengthen advocacy and coordination around the implementation of the Better Care reform in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession. As the Coordination Centre, we work to bring together government, civil society, and international partners around the shared goal of transforming the child care system in line with the National Strategy, European standards, and international commitments—so that every child in Ukraine can grow up in a safe, caring, and family-based environment.”

Iuliia Lutska, Partnerships Specialist at Child Protection section of UNICEF Ukraine

“Children’s rights must be protected and prioritized to improve child wellbeing and in-turn to move forward on Ukraine’s path towards European Union integration. This webinar offered a platform to further examine how to reflect the needs, voices, and wellbeing of all children in Ukraine. We are pleased to support this initiative to strengthen the Ukraine's capacity and to implement Better Care reform practices in the best possible way.”

Anna Jolly, Deputy Lead for the Better Care Ukraine project at Maestral International

"We are delighted to have supported this critical training for the Coordination Centre, in partnership with UNICEF and EuroChild. The session equipped the Coordination Centre with practical strategies for effective collaboration with the European Commission on the Better Care agenda, marking an important step towards our collective goals of establishing a sustainable foundation for child care reform in Ukraine, and ensuring that all children in Ukraine grow up in safe, nurturing families."

Ally Dunhill, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications at Eurochild

"At Eurochild, our extensive membership network and proven track record in shaping key policies and legislation make us a strong ally in supporting the Coordination Centre’s crucial work. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on children in alternative care, underscoring the urgent need for child protection to remain a top EU priority. As EU budget discussions unfold amid competing priorities, we leverage decades of expertise—both from our members and at the EU level—to ensure the rights of all children are upheld in Ukraine."

Strengthening the capacity of key allies dedicated to advancing children’s rights lies at the core of Eurochild’s mission. We are glad we could support this important work by sharing our expertise in children’s rights, key EU processes, and lessons learned from across 42 countries in Europe.