Care, Research, Culture, and Governance: The Istituto degli Innocenti Renews Its Mandate Commitments

In 2024, at the halfway point of the current administrative term, the Istituto degli Innocenti initiated a process of dialogue and reflection on its objectives, leading to an update of its strategic planning. The journey began with “Innocenti: a Resource for the Community”, an initiative which involved key external stakeholders and internal staff. The objective was twofold: to raise awareness of the Institute's various strengths and potential, and to gather input and proposals to improve its ability to respond to emerging needs. The mandate programme of the Board of Directors for the 2022-2026 five-year term was therefore updated in the light of the objectives already achieved in the first two years, the outcomes of the reflection process and some changes in the context.

Below are some highlights, with reference to the Institute's main areas of intervention.

AREA 1: Care, Education, Parenting Support

The programme update proposes new actions and objectives aimed at enhancing services for young children by supporting 0-6 education, family relationships and parenting. The priorities are: a) to consolidate and enhance the experience of the 0-6 Innocenti Centre; and b) to consolidate activities and services aimed at families and, in particular, the newly established Centro Famiglie.

To reinforce the role of the Istituto degli Innocenti in the caring community, the new commitments are: a) to strengthen the service system, skills and organisational model so that they can address new and diverse needs expressed by the community; b) to give visibility and proper representation to the Institute's commitment in the field of care; and c) to engage adolescents and families in raising awareness of their rights, listening to their needs, and supporting their participation.

AREA 2: Knowledge, Research and Innovation to Promote Children's and Adolescents' Rights

The main objective is to consolidate the Institute as a centre of excellence in documentation, research and technical assistance supporting policies for children, adolescents and families. To achieve this, the Institute aims to: a) give more visibility to technical and scientific activities at national and regional level; b) strengthen coordination between the various professionals involved; and c) promote and disseminate scientific culture through innovative projects capable of reaching new audiences and, in particular, the younger generations. Another strategic objective is to strengthen planning, experimentation and development at national and international level.

AREA 3: Protection, Enhancement and Promotion of Historical, Artistic and Cultural Heritage

On the cultural front, the aim is to further strengthen the vocation of the Innocenti Museum in relation to the Institute's current role and to enhance its role as an accessible place for broad and inclusive cultural enjoyment. In this regard, the renovated Frescoes Gallery, soon to be inaugurated, will offer new opportunities and visitor experiences. Particular attention will also be paid to promoting the Innocenti Library as a place for sharing knowledge, open to new audiences, with a focus on engaging younger generations.

AREA 4: Promoting and Popularising Real Estate Assets

Lastly, the commitment continues toward the conservation, protection and promotion of the real estate assets, through the planning of significant interventions aimed at completing the redevelopment of certain areas of the headquarters, as well as through the implementation of the plan for the disposal and recovery of external real estate assets.