The European Commission intends to support initiatives to prevent family and child separation, take children out of harmful institutions and provide appropriate and quality alternative care for those deprived of parental care. These initiatives should be based on a careful assessment and determination of their best interests, according to the UN’s 2009 Guidelines for the alternative care of children. The aim, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to reach the most vulnerable children left behind and in need of such care.

The global objective of this call for proposals is to ensure better outcomes for children by ensuring better implementation of the UN’s Guidelines for the alternative care of children in their entirety, so that children enjoy equal chances to reach their full potential in societies.

The specific objective of this call for proposals is to provide quality care for children through the following priorities:

• Enabling governments to provide and take control of quality alternative care provision to children who are deprived of parental care, in line with UN’s Guidelines on alternative care of children and/or
• Regulating and monitoring the quality of the alternative care solutions provided to children who are deprived of parental care and/or
• Supporting the transition from institutional to community-based care and
• Preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families.

The action will help public national and local authorities to reform their alternative care systems and implement existing legislation in order to build stronger child protection systems.