UNICEF Europe & Central Asia

What a week! #Youth week for us at EBRD Kosovo with already second #youth-dedicated event! Today EBRD joined forces with the well-known and pro-active UNICEF Kosovo to promote together the youth engagement in #Kosovo’s green transition! #Youth and #Green – what a combination! The signed MoU is built on the recent EBRD Kosovo Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings Programme - #EUR80 million financing and technical assistance for the modernisation of up to 400 public buildings (25% of Kosovo’s total). The Programme is being implemented by KEEF - Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund under the great leadership of Driton B. Hetemi. EBRD and UNICEF Kosovo will cooperate in the following areas: - #Youth engagement in green transition, in particular support to #youth-led energy efficiency and environmental initiatives; - #Skills development and entrepreneurship by strengthening professional readiness and entrepreneurial #skills for #green careers; - Evidence-based policy-making through cooperation in #data collection and analysis. I am especially delighted to sigh the MoU with my great compatriot and friend Veronika Vashchenko, Head of UNICEF Kosovo. Together with Engjellushe Januzi, Esmeralda Shehaj Zhabjaku, Teuta Halimi, Laurat Raca

In the context of the unprecedented arrival of nearly 200,000 children and adolescents from war-torn Ukraine, in 2022 UNICEF joined forces with the Ministry of Education, Prague, Czech Republic and other partners to ensure children have access to quality education and support they need — and to strengthen the Czech education system’s preparedness and resilience. This week, together with Minister Mikuláš Bek and the Ministry team, we reflected on the joint results of our three-year partnership: 🎓 134,000+ children and young people from refugee and host communities benefited from formal and non-formal education programmes. 👩🏫 16,000+ teachers, school staff and assistants (including over 600 Ukrainians) trained to create safe and inclusive learning environments. 📚 New methodologies, language courses, information channels, analyses and campaigns improved access and quality of education. 🧩 National mechanisms for inclusion, psychosocial support and data-driven planning were strengthened within the education system. In the face of the unprecedented challenges, the Ministry’s efforts to innovate — building new capacities, methodologies and mobile teams to support children’s well-being and learning outcomes – have become an inspiration for other refugee-hosting countries in the region. Heartfelt thanks to Martina Běťáková for her steadfast leadership, coordination and personal commitment to inclusive and quality education for every child. This was truly a system-wide effort, with key contributions from Národní pedagogický institut České republiky, Vzdělávací institut Středočeského kraje, META, o. p. s., PAQ Research, Národní ústav duševního zdraví, and others. I would also like to acknowledge the vital role of teachers, educators, psychologists and school administrators who have been at the heart of this effort – helping Czech and Ukrainian children learn and thrive together. As we wrap up this partnership, UNICEF commends the Ministry’s commitment to sustain the support for refugee children and to making the Czech education system even stronger and more inclusive. I am also deeply grateful to my wonderful UNICEF team — and especially to our education colleagues Lucie Plešková, Karolina Emanuelová, Kristýna Valentová, Fushimi Akihiro, Ana Janelidze, and Tita Kaisari-Ernst — for their exemplary dedication and tireless efforts to uphold every child’s right to inclusive, quality education. #ForEveryChild, education