Deadline: 06-Apr-2026
UNICEF invites civil society organizations to support child participation in developing Montenegro’s Child Guarantee National Action Plan. The initiative focuses on education, child protection, and social policy, enabling children aged 12–18 to conduct child-led research that informs policies addressing multidimensional poverty and social exclusion.
Programme Overview
This initiative is part of the European Child Guarantee mechanism, aimed at reducing poverty and social exclusion among children by ensuring access to essential services such as healthcare, education, childcare, nutrition, and adequate housing.
The Government of Montenegro, led by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, emphasizes meaningful child participation in designing the National Action Plan. The initiative ensures children are engaged safely, inclusively, and in an age-appropriate manner at all stages of research and policy input.
Focus Areas
- Education: Emphasis on out-of-school education and inclusive learning opportunities
- Protection: General child protection with attention to vulnerable groups
- Social Policy & Advocacy: Addressing social protection and multidimensional poverty through child-informed recommendations
Who is Eligible?
- Civil society organizations with experience in child participation, child-led research, and advocacy
- Entities capable of facilitating mentoring and training for children aged 12–18 across multiple municipalities in Montenegro
Target Population
- Children and adolescents aged 12–18 years
- Groups located in Podgorica, one northern municipality, and one southern municipality
- Each research group will consist of up to seven participants, supported by two experienced adult mentors
Key Activities
- Introductory Training: Deliver a four-day programme to build research skills and confidence
- Mentoring and Guidance: Provide ongoing support to child-led research teams
- Research Cycle: Children independently identify topics, develop methodologies, collect and analyse data, and propose solutions
- Presentation of Findings: Share results during a working group meeting and at a high-level conference with decision-makers and professionals
Expected Outcomes
- Formation of three child-led research teams
- Delivery of a four-day training programme
- Completion of the full research cycle
- Policy recommendations integrated into the Child Guarantee National Action Plan
- Enhanced responsiveness and inclusivity of policies addressing vulnerable children
How to Apply / How It Works
- Confirm Eligibility: Civil society organizations with experience in child participation and research
- Prepare Proposal: Include methodology for child-led research, mentoring structure, and engagement plan
- Facilitate Training: Conduct introductory training sessions for selected children
- Support Research: Guide children through topic selection, data collection, analysis, and solution proposals
- Report and Present: Ensure findings are shared with working groups and decision-makers
- Integrate Recommendations: Support the inclusion of child-informed recommendations in the National Action Plan
Why This Initiative Matters
- Amplifies children’s voices in policy-making processes
- Promotes inclusive, age-appropriate participation in social policy and education planning
- Strengthens child protection and advocacy mechanisms
- Provides a foundation for evidence-based policy development addressing multidimensional poverty
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Selecting participants without proper age-appropriate engagement strategies
- Neglecting structured mentoring and training plans
- Overlooking safe and inclusive research environments
- Failing to align research with Child Guarantee objectives
- Insufficient reporting and dissemination of child-led findings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who can apply?
Civil society organizations with experience in child participation, advocacy, and child-led research.
2. What age group is targeted?
Children and adolescents aged 12–18 years.
3. Which municipalities are included?
Podgorica, one northern municipality, and one southern municipality.
4. How many children per group?
Up to seven participants per research group, with two adult mentors per group.
5. What is the main activity?
Child-led research on education, protection, and social policy to inform the Child Guarantee National Action Plan.
6. How will the findings be used?
Results will be shared with working groups, high-level conferences, and policymakers to guide national policy.
7. What are the expected outcomes?
- Formation of child-led research teams
- Completion of research cycle and policy recommendations
- Enhanced inclusivity and responsiveness of national child policies
Conclusion
This UNICEF initiative empowers children to directly influence Montenegro’s Child Guarantee National Action Plan, fostering inclusive, evidence-based policy-making. By supporting child-led research, mentoring, and training, the program ensures that policies reflect the real needs and experiences of vulnerable children, strengthening their voice in national decision-making.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
