Inclusive Child Participation Networks, ICPN-project 2025-2026

Erilaisia lapsia rivissä hymy huulillaan.

Every child has the right to express their opinion on matters that affect them, and adults have a duty to take children’s views into account in decision-making. This can relate to issues such as parental separation or the need to conduct a child impact assessment when organizing maternity and child health clinic services – in both cases, considering the child’s perspective is essential.

Children’s participation in decision-making in Finland has been promoted nationally and locally through various measures, but the voices of younger children (ages 0–12) and those in vulnerable positions are still often left unheard. The project Inclusive Child Participation Networks (ICPN) addresses this need.

The objective of the ICPN project is to promote inclusive and systematic child participation in decision-making, from the local level all the way to the European level.

The aim of the project is o:

  1. Strengthen child participation mechanisms to ensure the participation of children​.
  2. Empower children to actively participate in decision making processes at both national and EU levels​.
  3. Strengthen capacity of national, regional and local authorities to make child participation inclusive and systemic.

The project aims to provide decision-makers, authorities, and professionals with knowledge on how to promote child participation in decision-making. Information about children’s right to participate will also be produced for children, in collaboration with them.

As part of the project, a pilot child impact assessment will be carried out in cooperation with the City of Joensuu and the Siun sote wellbeing services county in North Karelia. The project also includes an advocacy campaign with children on the right to participate, training for decision-makers, and strengthening a national and EU-level network of professionals and experts working on child participation.

Based on the project’s activities and outputs, the aim is to develop more effective ways to support advocacy especially with younger children.

ICPN-PROJECT

The ICPN project is a two-year (2025–2026) collaborative initiative funded by the EU’s CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values). It brings together 18 partners from 11 European countries.

The consortium is coordinated by Save the Children Italy. From Finland, the project includes Save the Children Finland and SOS Children’s Village Finland.

Other partners include:

The EU’s CERV funding programme supports the implementation of the EU’s common values and fundamental rights by primarily funding the work of civil society organisations. The programme has four specific objectives, which divide it into four thematic strands: 1) Union values, 2) Equality, rights and gender equality, 3) Citizens’ engagement and participation and 4) Prevention of violence, particularly violence against women and children (Daphne strand).

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Project: 101190368 — ICPNs — CERV-2024-CHILD

Contact information

ICPN-project coordinator: Save the Children Italy, Giulia Franchi, giulia.franchi@savethechildren.org

Project coordinator in Finland: Save the Children Finland, Satu Vasenius (Project coordinator) ja Annika Kabata (Project manager)

Satu Vasenius

Project coordinator

Annika Kabata

Advisor in child participation