Eurocities and UNICEF Drive Scalability of Local Childhood Policies in Eastern Europe

From Pilot to Scale: Supporting Public Authorities Towards Sustainable Solutions for Childhood

This project addresses a common challenge in many Eastern European cities: how to ensure the continuity of innovative social programs launched in crisis contexts—such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the war in Ukraine—once extraordinary funding ends. In this context, Eurocities and UNICEF joined forces to support local governments in transitioning from temporary measures to structural, sustainable social policies focused on childhood, especially in vulnerable situations.

Project Objective

The main objective was to strengthen the institutional capacities of local governments so they can transform pilot interventions into lasting public policies, ensuring access to quality essential services for children. The project also aimed to respond to challenges posed by the reduction of emergency funds by promoting more stable institutional and financial frameworks.

Methodological Approach and Territorial Scope

The project was implemented in 10 cities across Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, with a regional scope but highly focused on the context and local needs of each city. The approach was eminently practical and adaptive, combining diagnostics, specialized mentoring, and collaborative training. Areas addressed included:

Strategic planning

Fundraising and sustainability

Social innovation applied to the public sector

Strategies for scaling public policies

A key milestone was the in-person training held in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) in May 2024, coinciding with the Eurocities Annual Conference.

Our Role

UpSocial was selected as the expert organization to design the training process, including methodology, content, and structure. Our role focused on:

Collaborating closely with Eurocities to ensure alignment between the training and mentoring program, guaranteeing an integrated and useful experience for local governments

Translating the needs identified by participating cities into a coherent, practical, and action-oriented training pathway

Designing participatory training based on co-design and aimed at strengthening key capacities for scalability

Results Achieved

Strengthened institutional capacities in 10 Eastern European cities, providing more tools to scale childhood-focused social policies

Practical, contextualized training that reinforces the sustainability of essential public services

Innovative approach connecting local social policies with institutional frameworks for stable financing

Alignment with the goals of protecting children’s rights and sustainable urban development

This project represents a significant contribution to the development of resilient urban responses, placing children’s rights at the center of public policies and consolidating an institutional culture committed to the long term.

Clients & partners

— Eurocities
— UNICEF