Call for Projects: Strengthening Parent Networks for Disability Rights Advocacy in Ukraine

UNICEF is launching a child protection program in Kyiv Oblast focused on children with disabilities and their families. The initiative strengthens family-centered support, enhances policy frameworks, builds parental capacity, and promotes inclusive communication and advocacy to improve services and community engagement.

Overview

UNICEF’s program in Kyiv Oblast aims to create inclusive, family-centered systems that support children with disabilities and their caregivers. The initiative combines policy development, parental empowerment, community engagement, and inclusive communication to improve service delivery and visibility for vulnerable families.

Program Components

1. Policy Development and Institutional Collaboration

• Establishes a memorandum between the Coordination Center for Family Upbringing and Child Care Development and the Parents’ Organizations Network through 2026

• Develops methodological recommendations and legal expertise for inclusive policies

• Introduces draft legislation on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

• Creates guidelines to strengthen counseling and social work services for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, minority families, and parents navigating temporary or permanent institutional care

• Conducts stakeholder meetings to align institutional practices and enhance cross-sector collaboration

2. Capacity Building and Direct Family Support

• Implements training programs for parents and guardians of children with disabilities, targeting at least 100 participants

• Provides retreats, peer support circles, and family networks, engaging over 200 participants

• Strengthens local frameworks for disability services and promotes partnerships between parent organizations and local authorities

• Integrates human-centered design approaches to co-create meaningful solutions with families

• Offers mini-grants to enable community-driven initiatives and innovative service models

3. Visibility, Advocacy, and Inclusive Storytelling

• Shares at least 100 success stories through dedicated social media channels

• Develops a communication toolkit to standardize messaging and outreach

• Produces videos, publications, and podcasts highlighting families’ experiences

• Hosts events for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, engaging over 300 participants

• Launches the next season of the Hub of Inclusive TikTok to amplify youth voices and promote inclusive narratives online

Who is Eligible to Benefit?

• Children with disabilities residing in Kyiv Oblast

• Caregivers, parents, and guardians of children with disabilities

• Parent organizations, community groups, and local authorities involved in child protection and disability services

How It Works

1. Policy & Legal Frameworks: Develop inclusive policies and draft legislation, supported by stakeholder consultations

2. Parental Empowerment: Deliver training programs, retreats, and peer support networks to strengthen family resilience

3. Community Engagement: Implement human-centered design and mini-grants to create community-driven solutions

4. Visibility & Advocacy: Share success stories, conduct public campaigns, and promote youth voices online

5. Monitoring & Evaluation: Track program participation, policy adoption, and community impact to refine interventions

Why It Matters

• Strengthens family-centered support systems for children with disabilities

• Builds capacity of caregivers and local organizations to deliver inclusive services

• Promotes visibility, advocacy, and public awareness of challenges faced by families

• Encourages community-driven solutions and parent-led initiatives

• Supports policy and legal reforms for sustainable, inclusive practices

Tips for Success

• Engage families actively in co-designing programs to ensure relevance and effectiveness

• Document success stories to enhance visibility and advocacy

• Foster collaboration between parent organizations and local authorities for system-wide impact

• Prioritize inclusive approaches to reach marginalized or minority families

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who benefits from this initiative? – Children with disabilities and their families in Kyiv Oblast.
2. What types of support are provided? – Policy development, training, family retreats, peer support, mini-grants, and advocacy campaigns.
3. How are families involved? – Families participate in training, co-creation of services, and peer support networks.
4. What is the advocacy focus? – Inclusive storytelling, public awareness campaigns, and amplification of youth voices.
5. Are local authorities involved? – Yes, collaboration with local government and parent organizations is central to policy and service improvements.
6. How is progress tracked? – Through monitoring participation, adoption of policies, and evaluation of community-driven interventions.
7. What platforms are used for communication? – Social media, podcasts, publications, and the Hub of Inclusive TikTok.

Conclusion

UNICEF’s child protection initiative in Kyiv Oblast combines policy reform, family empowerment, community engagement, and inclusive advocacy to support children with disabilities and their caregivers. By strengthening systems, promoting parent-led solutions, and raising public awareness, the program fosters a sustainable, inclusive, and supportive environment that benefits both children and communities across the region.