On September 27, 2022, as part of the project "The Impact of Public Policies on the Quality of Family and Working Life and on the Demographic Picture of Croatia - Spaces of Change", Cross-Sectoral Synergy Meetings were held simultaneously in 4 cities. The meetings were held in Križevci (organized by the Hera association), Split (organized by the Domine association), Poreč (organized by CGI Poreč) and Rijeka (organized by the PaRIter association). The general goal of the meetings was to establish meaningful and comprehensive measures, activities and recommendations for public policies for the harmonization of private and business life in accordance with the development specificities of the regions in which the project is implemented.
The specific objectives were to present the research of the University of Zadar conducted within the project, to conduct a structured dialogue and local consultations with decision-makers on at least one challenge/recommendation highlighted through the research findings that is regionally specific, and to create a joint, cross-sectoral plan for overcoming regional specificities/challenges identified by local stakeholders.
The University of Zadar presented the results of a public opinion survey on the reconciliation of private and professional life among parents of minor children in Croatia via Zoom. The results of the survey were followed simultaneously by participants in all 4 meetings in 4 cities, after which they were given the opportunity to ask questions to the research team in Zadar. After reviewing the survey results, the meeting participants discussed, each in their own city, the problems and needs of working parents of minor children and tried to devise potential solutions considering local specificities. After the group work was completed, the cities shared the results of their discussions via Zoom. What all participants noticed, regardless of location, was the lack of places in kindergartens and nurseries, the lack of extended and full-day programs, and limited flexibility of the workplace and parents' time. As a result of these meetings, the "4th Shift - Invisible Work" network will compile proposals for measures, activities and recommendations for public policies on the reconciliation of private and professional life.
Project 'The impact of public policies on the quality of family and working life and on the demographic picture of Croatia - spaces of change' started on 28.10.2020 and lasts 36 months. The value of the project is 3,599,941.69 HRK, of which 15% is financed from the state budget of the Republic of Croatia, and 85% from the European Social Fund. The project aims to strengthen civil society organizations included in the Thematic Network through partnerships, cross-sectoral cooperation with higher education institutions, and local and regional self-government units in order to achieve effective social dialogue with the purpose of developing and proposing adequate public policies, adapted to the cultural specificities of each region, in order to contribute to the harmonization of the private and business lives of citizens of the Republic of Croatia.
