Oranjestad, St. Eustatius – The Public Entity of St. Eustatius signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UNICEF The Netherlands on Tuesday, March 10th. The MoU outlines the terms of collaboration between the two parties on UNICEF The Netherlands’ Caribbean Netherlands Children’s Rights Programme which began in September 2019 and ends in December 2021. “We are very pleased with UNICEF the Netherland’s work to raise awareness and advance children’s rights on St. Eustatius, so we are happy to formalize the Public Entity’s long-standing working relationship with the organization”, Mr. Marnix van Rij, Government Commissioner, Public Entity of St. Eustatius.

In the MoU, UNICEF the Netherlands has agreed to, among other things, closely consult with the Public Entity throughout programme implementation on activity content, planning, organization, and participation. The Public Entity has agreed to, among other things, appoint a focal point within the local government who will advise on how UNICEF The Netherlands’ activities can best align with short and long-term objectives, priorities or plans of the Public Entity. The MOU is not a commitment of funds as the Caribbean Netherlands Children’s Rights Programme is entirely funded by the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations. “By committing to work closely together, we can ensure that our initiatives are consistently implemented in consideration of the needs of the local context and that they support the Public Entity’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the situation of children on the island”, La-Toya Charles, UNICEF The Netherlands Caribbean Netherlands Project Leader.

The Caribbean Netherlands Children’s Rights Program was developed partly on the basis of the outcomes of the 2019 Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in the Caribbean Netherlands, which was carried out in close collaboration with the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and partly on the basis of requests for support from each of the three Public Entities. The Programme continues the work UNICEF the Netherlands began in 2016 with primary and secondary schools on children’s rights education and participation.

The Programme also includes a second component on Communication 4 Development which focuses on building capacity among local stakeholders to raise awareness on the needs of children and advance targeted behavioral and social change. The third component on Monitoring & Evaluation focuses on building capacity among local stakeholders to assess the results their programmes and initiatives achieve.