UNICEF Europe & Central Asia

‘Where houses used to be, now there is only mud silt and stones.’ In Bosnia and Herzegovina, families have lost homes and loved ones in devastating floods and landslides. In Donja Jablanica, one of the most impacted towns, UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina staff are visiting damaged health centres and coordinating a response with partners: https://uni.cf/3A5DEIt

Across the region, young people are driving the solutions to confront the crises impacting them most: climate change and mental health. In our latest edition of "In the Spotlight", we’re focusing on key collaborations between leaders and young people driving progress to tackle mental health stigma, and the girls advocating for a future where every child can thrive.

In Montenegro, UNICEF Montenegro young reporters are the driving force behind a government decision to create a universal child allowance for low-income families. “I know families that can now pay for kindergarten,” says Arsenije. Learn more about their action to tackle poverty this #IDEP2024 👇.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, experts and decision-makers from Central Asia met this week at a Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), The World Bank Europe and Central Asia and European Union forum on Strengthening Financial Resilience and Accelerating Risk Reduction in Central Asia.   This comes at a critical moment in time.   Today, nearly 86% of children in Central Asia - about 21.6 million - are affected by heatwaves, 79% experience water scarcity, and many live in earthquake-prone zones.    Children living in poverty are both more vulnerable to disasters and suffer higher consequences in the aftermath.  By making social protection systems more shock-responsive and inclusive, we can protect children and their communities from being pushed further into poverty while providing the opportunity to recover when the crisis hits.  Following a decade of working on disaster risk reduction and resilience in Central Asia, we were proud to co-organize day two of this forum, on the power of social protection policies to boost resilience for #ForEveryChild and their families including by:    💙 Providing support to reduce the vulnerability of children and their families to shocks 💙 Scaling up cash transfers to families in times of crisis 💙 Acting as a powerful economic force, fast-tracking the recovery for families and local economies alike.  

We all have small moments of self-care that help us find calm and get through difficult situations. For Bekhruz Yusupov, music is his respite. Tell us about your tips in the comments 💙.

🌐🇰🇿🇰🇬🇹🇯🇹🇲🇺🇿 #CentralAsia is highly vulnerable to natural #disasters. Every year, around 3 million people are affected by floods and earthquakes. The economic damage caused by droughts, floods, and other consequences of #climatechange in the region is expected to reach 1.3% of GDP annually. Enhancing the region’s resilience to these challenges is crucial for protecting lives, property, and businesses. 🧭 This week, Almaty is hosting a forum that is organized under the Strengthening Financial Resilience and Accelerating Risk Reduction in Central Asia Program (#SFRARR) funded by the #EuropeanUnion. 🎤 The Forum brings together experts in social protection, finance, and disaster risk management from #Kazakhstan, the #KyrgyzRepublic, #Tajikistan, #Turkmenistan, and #Uzbekistan. 🤝 International experts, including representatives from the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), The World Bank, and UNICEF, also participated in the event. ✅ This two-day Forum marks the conclusion of the SFRARR program and serves as an important platform for sharing best practices and lessons learned in disaster response and strengthening Central Asia’s resilience to such challenges. 🔎 Learn more about the SFRARR program: https://lnkd.in/eXzKj37i European Commission Aleska Simkic Indu John-Abraham Stephan Zimmermann Dr. Johannes Baur UNICEF Europe & Central Asia European Union RED Risk Engineering + Development Elvira Torebekova Diana King Stuart Fraser Chyi-Yun H. Dinara Muldabayeva Tatiana Skalon Madina Nizamitdin, MPA Euan Guckian Dinara Salieva Anna Sukhova

At 20 years old, Ema Meçaj knows how disasters can impact children’s lives, having seen the destruction of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit her country, Albania, in 2019. For #DRRday she shares why child-sensitive disaster risk planning is critical to save lives. #AreYouReady24

Climate change is worsening the risk of disasters. Young people’s lives and futures are most at risk. That’s why, for #DRRday, young people are calling to be included in disaster risk planning and decision-making that will impact them the most. #AreYouReady24 United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) https://lnkd.in/eWj4Kmq3

#EnterTheChat with bravery. Stand up for others when they are being bullied and disrespected online. Find out more: https://ow.ly/9Hai50ToQQo

Being a girl shouldn’t determine what you can do, where you can go or who you can become.     But right now, that is the reality for many adolescent girls who are facing significant challenges just because they are girls.     It is possible to change this. There are solutions. Girls know this. They are powerful, leading change and advocating for themselves.     Let’s stand up for girls! With the right resources, investments and opportunities, girls are unstoppable. #GirlGoals UNICEF Montenegro