This event will address important questions around ‘why’ and ‘how’ to invest public resources in children and families, in particular the most vulnerable. The conference will reflect on implementation of the 2013 European Commission Recommendation ‘Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage’ and the broader Social Investment Package. It will look at how EU structural and investment funds can be better deployed in the next programming period to stimulate reforms and develop innovative practice.
The event is set within the overall context of States obligations to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which celebrates 25 years in 2014. The UNCRC Committee has agreed to develop a General Comment on the specific issue of ‘best use of resources’, to which this conference can provide valuable input.
The conference is organised in such a way as to provide rich content input as well as space to debate, share knowledge and network. It will include 3-4 keynote speakers, three key themes of social return on investment, evaluation methodologies, and public-private partnerships, poster sessions, study visits, a “children’s corner,” workshop sessions, and a panel debate.
Participants in this event include: government representatives, regional and local authorities, service providers, child rights activists, network organisations, children’s ombudspersons, academics and research institutes; philanthropic organisations; business and corporates, and inter-governmental organisations.
The deadline for application is 14 July 2014. For more information, and to register, please click here.